5 questions (LEAF edition) with Travers Brothership

Photo from the band's Facebook page

LEAF is almost here — the festival’s 40th iteration runs Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10. In advance, Xpress is talking to performers about what they have planned and why being part of LEAF’s 20th anniversary is so special.

Travers Brothership, founded by twin brothers Kyle and Eric Travers, has been performing around Asheville since the siblings were 12. Drawing on influences of rock, blues, soul, funk and jazz, “Travers Brothership’s goal is to provide an atmosphere that conveys a message of community and emotional fulfillment with grooves that are sure to get you on the dance floor,” according to the band’s bio.

Mountain Xpress: You recently released your I Don’t Mind EP — are these songs from your forthcoming full-length? Can you tell us a little bit about the new album that you’re working on?
Kyle Travers:
Due to the way our sound has progressed in the past year, we have decided to make our first full-length effort a live album. The band is really doing something unique live, and we want to capture that. We will be recording the live album at Pisgah Brewing Co., Thursday and Friday, July 2 and 3. All are welcome to join the fun. Early bird tickets will be available soon.

You grew up in Asheville — how do you think the local music scene and the area has informed your music?
We are so proud of our hometown. I’ve been all over, and Asheville stands out as one of the most musically diverse cities in the U.S. I think this diversity formed the versatility of our sound, not to mention all the things we’ve learned from jamming with the fantastic musicians around Asheville.

Why is it important to you to perform at LEAF?
This is a landmark performance for Travers Brothership. It’s a great honor to perform alongside so many great acts, this close to home. The LEAF programs are amazingly progressive for the cultures of the world, and we are happy to be able to contribute our music to the cause. Also some of the band [members] attended LEAF throughout their childhood and dreamed of one day performing at the festival, so this is going to be a really special show for them.

What acts are you most looking forward to seeing at LEAF?
The whole lineup is incredible. I am personally looking forward to seeing Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, Bombino and Xavier Rudd and the United Nations.

What’s coming up for the Travers Brothership this year?
We are going to be busier than ever. We will be releasing a live album in the fall, and will be working in various studios on our third release in between tour dates. We also have our third national tour in the works this summer. This band really has fun playing live, so we are on the road nearly every week. You can subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our constant touring schedule.

Learn more at facebook.com/traversbrothership; send inquiries to info@traversbrothership.com.

Travers Brothership performs in Eden Hall on Saturday, May 9, 6-7:15 p.m.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.