Contemporary folk quartet Life Like Water will join forces with global sound ensemble Free Planet Radio for a memorable double bill at the Grey Eagle on August 13th. Both bands are based in Asheville with a focus on bringing together world music from a variety of influences.

Since 2001, Free Planet Radio has been bringing its exciting and innovative world-jazz-classical music blend to both concert stages and classrooms. Based in Asheville NC, this musical partnership began with a clear mission statement as “the shared vision of three multi-instrumentalists exploring the infinite and seamless relationships between musical cultures through the universal language of sound.”

Free Planet Radio performances expertly weave the improvisatory element of jazz, and the subtleties and harmonic vocabulary of Western classical music, with Middle Eastern, Indian and North African melodic and rhythmic structures. Performing mostly original compositions, even while playing extremely complex melodies and time signatures, the trio always maintains a sense of accessibility, spontaneity and easy engagement with the audience. They have performed with jazz singer Lizz Wright, poet Robert Bly, Turkish instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek, bluegrass violinist Casey Driessen, flute virtuoso Rhonda Larson, Armenian singer Mariam Matossian, and Persian violinist Farzad Farhangi. In 2014, Free Planet Radio was awarded a prestigious grant from Chamber Music America commissioning and performances of a new set of works with the Opal String Quartet. In 2016, the trio traveled to the People's Republic of China for a 20 city tour of their finest concert halls.

Free Planet Radio consists of River Guerguerian on an extensive array of global percussion instruments including Middle Eastern frame drums and doumbek, the Indian kanjira, African djembe, and Western drum set; and Chris Rosser exploring melody on the 17-stringed Indian dotar, Turkish cumbus oud, guitar, piano and melodica.

Life Like Water is the creation of multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, David Matters. It was initially started as a way for him to process his turbulent past and navigate an uncertain future, but it has since evolved into a communal effort to celebrate the human experience. Though the compass of the project once pointed in the direction of folk and Americana music, things inevitably began to change when he met his bandmates.

Megan Drollinger (violin/vocals), Charles Furtado (percussion), and most recently, Connell Sanderson (flute/Irish whistles) have slowly joined the band over the four years since its creation and have shifted its course with their collective talents. Each member brought with them a unique musical background which has contributed to the blending of styles that the band has become known for.

In addition, this event will kick off fundraising efforts for Life Like Water’s upcoming album. “It has been two years since our last release,” Matters explains, “and we are more than ready to share what we’ve been creating. Along with adding a new member since the release of our last album, I Am Listening, we have also added new instruments and all kinds of creative inspiration to the band. Our sound feels more complete than it ever has and we are incredibly proud of this new material. All we need now is the funding to make this dream a reality! We will be launching a crowd funding campaign starting August 13th and will need all the help we can get to pull this thing off. Thank you in advance for your contribution!”

Life Like Water and Free Planet Radio take the Grey Eagle stage on Saturday, August 13 at 8 PM. Doors open at 7 PM, and all ages are welcome to attend. This is a seated event, with a limited number of premium seats available. Tickets are on sale now.