on may 24 starting around 4pm, i’ll be hosting fireside collective at sunnyside—an afternoon of live music alongside a thoughtfully curated selection of hors d’oeuvres, inspired by yacht rock classics and the feeling of long, easy days at the beach on this lovely memorial day weekend!
this isn’t just a venue with live music in the background, friends. every piece of this is intentional. the food, the setting, the pacing, the sound. when you come to one of my events, you can expect something a little different… something that feels fabulous, unique, intimate, and just a bit exclusive (in the best way).
i really believe that when music and food meet, something shifts. people settle in, hearts soften, conversations open up, and there’s this kind of collective effervescence that takes over.
the experience invites deep listening—not just to the music, but to each other, to the moment.
fireside collective feels like the perfect band for this. rooted in bluegrass but constantly expanding—improvisational, a little funky, a little rock n’ roll—they create these flowing, alive sets that you can really sink into… with a few yacht rock favorites sprinkled in for fun. ⚓️
it’s going to be relaxed, soulful, and just a little bit playful as tropical island chic attire is encouraged—bring the sunshine and show off your breezy style!
come hang, eat something beautiful, boogie a little, and let yourself get carried away by the music.
$45 — includes yacht style hors d'oeuvres + live performance
sunnyside
may 24 | food at 4 with music to follow
seats are limited—grab yours if this strikes your fancy.
love,
Aimee
p.s. stay tuned, menu coming shortly!
“We hope our audiences get a chance to escape the confines of time and the pressures of modern life” explains Jesse Iaquinto of Fireside Collective, “We prioritize groove so our listeners can dance and let loose. The pinnacle is when we all transcend our individual selves, both onstage and in the audience, and become one entity experiencing the precious nature of life. We are all one, and music allows us to experience that.”
Inspired by the burgeoning art scene, close knit community, and natural beauty of Asheville, North Carolina, newgrass turned eclectic jam band Fireside Collective has spent a decade working towards this very pinnacle. Original band members Joe Cicero, guitar, Jesse Iaquinto, mandolin, Tommy Maher, resonator guitar, and Carson White, bass, began playing together in 2014 when Iaquinto gathered the group of bluegrass enthusiasts to back up some of his original songwriting. At the time, Iaquinto was waiting tables at the Biltmore Estate and studying early folk and country music, Cicero, Maher and White were similarly balancing odd jobs and college classes while diving deep into roots music.
When the band first began, they hoped to integrate elements of bluegrass, folk and acoustic music, but focus mainly on original songs and compositions. But a few years in, the band took a hard dive into bluegrass and newgrass, inspired by Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, and Bela Fleck among others. Fireside Collective spent years touring the bluegrass circuit, playing bluegrass festivals, and attending the IBMA conference and awards shows. They saw relatively quick success, winning the 2016 band contest at MerleFest, and charting #3 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts with their 2020 release, “Elements”.
But the Covid pandemic gave the band a chance to stop, reflect, and move forward with intention. While many bands disintegrated during the long and challenging pause in live music, Fireside Collective took the opportunity to reimagine their future as a band, incorporate their new interests and musical growth, and simultaneously look back on the original intentions behind the bands’ formation.
When they began touring again, Fireside drew inspiration from jambands like The Grateful Dead, the group’s agreed upon North Star. There was significantly more improvisation, changing setlists from night to night, and longer musical movements. With the introduction of Michael Tillis on drums in late 2023, the sound expanded to include heavy funk elements as well as classic rock and even ventured into techno and world music. By the end of 2024, Fireside Collective had become a true hybrid, with a strong foundation in bluegrass and folk, and healthy doses of rock n’ roll and funk, all blended together in a unique and colorful amalgam of original music.
Iaquinto, Cicero and Maher all contribute original music to the group’s repertoire. Iaquinto explains that the band hopes their music will be accessed by fans on many different levels, from a surface level party environment to a more philosophical introspection when the time is right. “I draw a lot of influence from Robert Hunter, Bob Dylan and the Beatles.” he says. “I hope to write songs that provide comfort and warmth to the listener while giving them a chance to look deeper if they wish”
The Little Cheerful is where tasty food and live music converge into an unforgettable, heartfelt experience.
Mark your calendars for August 24, 2024, as The Little Cheerful and Alleghany Outdoors host a spectacular day on the river featuring Larry Keel Experience, Songs from the Road Band, and local faves, The Rob Slusser Band, James Deboe, Caleb Carpenter and Sam Bookman.
Enjoy a river adventure by a kayak or canoe, or explore the greenway on an electric bike, while savoring the delicious smells of comfort food as the soulful sounds of live music surround you.
Hi, I’m Aimee! I’ve discovered that when you mix homemade comfort food with live music, something truly special happens. It’s a beautiful recipe with heaping amounts of vulnerability and trust, creating a warm, joyful experience that you can feel in your heart. In these moments, as flavors mingle with laughter and stories, the proof is in the pudding: TLC and scrumptious food could indeed kindle the flames of deep emotional camaraderie.
At The Little Cheerful, we focus on engaging all your senses—taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. Notably, it’s the feeling in your heart that makes it truly magical. Come join this one-of-a-kind gathering on the beautiful Jackson River and experience this feeling for yourself.
The Little Cheerful will be on-site in all her glory, making sure everyone is well-fed, musicians are good and primed, and we are all present—body, mind, and heart—while enjoying the late summer day.
The menu is looking pretty yummy (as you can see below), and I’ve added a list of available float trips for you to check out, too.
Deepen your heartfelt experience and spend the night… come see what the beautiful Allegheny Highlands has to offer!
Looking forward to spending the day on the river with all you lovers!
Your ticket includes parking, a beautiful setting, a free TLC tubing experience, and exclusive and intimate live music sets where you feel like you are part of the family.
Come play with us. I pinky-promise you'll have a beautiful day!
Love,
Aimee
Larry Keel is an award-winning innovative flat-picking guitarist and singer/songwriter hailing from Appalachia and currently residing in historic Lexington, VA. Raised in a musical family steeped in the mountain culture of the region, Keel began from an early age to forge a distinctive sound, taking traditional music and infusing it with modern light. With the acoustic guitar Keel has brought the flat-picking form to its highest level of sophistication and sonic power with his muscular, yet refined style of playing. As a composer and singer, Keel integrates raw honesty and charming grit to form a unique brand of music he considers ‘experimental folk’, songwriting that is filled with reality, imagination, imagery, and mood. He has appeared on over 20 albums, 12 of which he produced, and has written songs that have been recorded and performed by distinguished artists including Grammy-award winners Del McCoury and The Infamous Stringdusters. He continues to merge creative forces with some of the greatest artists in modern roots music such as Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Keller Williams and Sam Bush, to name a few. Keel has been revered by critics at Relix, JamBase, Bluegrass Today, AXS, and Rolling Stone, who dubbed him “one of the finest flat pickers around” and described his unparalleled live performance “taking songs up a notch with psychedelic hillbilly shredding."
Spring 2024 finds Keel in the midst of a song-writing surge, penning and recording a profusion of new music to cast to audiences and listeners everywhere. Some writing collaborators Keel is currently working with include: Peter Rowan, Jeremy Garrett (Infamous Stringdusters), Colby T. Helms, Mason Via (Old Crow Medicine Show), Adam Aijala (Yonder Mt. String Band), Charles Humphrey III (Steep Canyon Rangers / Songs from the Road Band) and John Weisberger.
Keep up to date by checking out the Larry Keel site at: https://larrykeel.com.
Songs from the Road Band is an award winning Ashville, North Carolina based bluegrass band featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Warton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). Their most recent single “Outside of Omaha” went to number one on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets.
“Songs From The Road Band" Is one of my favorite collaborations to ever come out of the Asheville music scene. I've known Mark Schimick since he was a 17 year old kid, standing in my kitchen at 4 o'clock in the morning wailing on the mandolin. The rest, Ive met in recent years, but it's like I've known them all of their lives.” Steve "Big Daddy" McMurry
the revel will be held rain or shine and there are no refunds. no outside food or glass and coolers welcome.
come experience the effects of straight to the heart comfort food paired with the deep grooves of my friends
and you’re on the path to a mighty fine sunday, indeed, my friends.
hello… i’m Aimee and I’ve learned that when you consume food made with love and good vibes, something truly magical happens, your heart softens and opens; making room for magic!
come feel the magic with us on Sunday, August 24th from 11–3 at Sunnyside in the Gap — my happy place for all things TLC: food, music, wellness and love… join us and let’s make some memories together!
put your thoughts into action, and reserve your spot as this is an advance reservation only gathering. a limited number of tickets will be sold for this event to keep it nice and intimate... and boy, do we like it intimate!
heads up, friends!
the brunch ticket is separate, so don’t forget to pre-order yours! one of the perquisites of pre-ordering? you’ll get one of my adorable vintage plates to use—and yes, that means you can make as many trips to the kitchen as your heart desires. what a treat!
start nourishing yourself and those you love from the inside out with my
brunch starts at 11 and music around 1.
Jon Stickley Trio is a genre-defying and cinematic instrumental trio who’s deep grooves, innovative flatpicking and sultry-spacy violin moves the listener’s head, heart, and feet. “It’s not your father’s acoustic-guitar music, Instead Stickley’s Martin churns out a mixture of bluegrass, Chuck Berry, metal, prog, grunge, and assorted other genres—all thoroughly integrated into a personal style,” -Guitar Player Magazine. Premier Guitar says, “Stickley’s trio… is not a traditional bluegrass group by any means… they are just nimble and ambitious enough to navigate EDM-style breakbeats as effortlessly as the old timey standard ‘Blackberry Blossom. With inspiration ranging from Green Day to Duran Duran, Tony Rice, Nirvana, The Dead, Grisman and beyond, the Trio is making waves with their unique sound. “
“In a time when a lot of instrumental music feels more like math than art, Jon Stickley Trio reminds us of the pure joy that can be created and shared through music,” -Anders Beck (Greensky BG)
yogi and true self advocate, comfort food enthusiast, curator of fun and your ever so gracious hostess,
my journey in the music industry began as the "backstage mama" for local music festivals in the Southeast. i recognized the need of a comforting kitchen while the musicians were away from home. the relief on their faces when they saw my shiny, vintage airstream set up backstage was heart felt, they knew they would be well taken care of while on site.
The Little Cheerful (TLC) became known for understanding people's needs while creating a welcoming atmosphere to promote wellbeing while on the road. as band members relaxed under the colorful awning, enjoying dishes like bacon-wrapped dates, deviled eggs and pulled pork over mac & cheese, they found space for meaningful conversations. comfort food and TLC inspire genuine connections cultivating the perfect space for magic.
during 2020-2023, i focused on local experiences, bringing the magic to our homestead ‘in the woods’ and deepening my heart-centered lifestyle while promoting music and food gatherings.
presently, we have just renovated the old hull’s market in to a community hub for all things TLC i lovingly refer to as SUNNYSIDE!
at sunnyside, i offer weekly yoga classes and weekly pre orders for backstage faves to nurture your rock star spirit, monthly community dinners, wellness events and my heart forward dining and live music experiences.
join us at sunnyside and experience the magic for yourself.
The Little Cheerful airstream kitchen will be on site to provide you with one of the best brunches of all time. if you're interested in a locally sourced, mindfully curated, family style brunch, please see below, where you can kindly pre order your brunch ticket. food will also be available a la carte day of so come hungry!
dogs, lawn chairs, coolers welcome, please no outside food.
Yay! let’s get this show on the road, friends!
love,
Aimee
p.s. It will be worth the drive, i pinky promise!
the best of both worlds and the ingredients needed to actually feel the magic.
TLC comfort food brunch + bluegrass with Mason Via = LOVE!
dine with the musicians while enjoying your all you can eat brunch and enjoy the music as a package! limited supply, friends. please don’t hesitate on this one of a kind experience!
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