LENOIR, N.C. – Grassroots Appalachia, which has been closed since mid-October for some essential building repairs, is reopening this Wednesday, Nov. 4. Our Art Exhibit, “The Spirit of Appalachia” has been updated and expanded and will be on display through the holidays.

To celebrate our reopening, Lenoir musician Andrew Massey is lending a big hand, working to bring music lovers, emerging musicians and established musicians together in our intimate environment.

Massey says, “Are you interested in learning songwriting, or sharing your songs in an encouraging and safe environment? Well here’s your chance. On Monday, November 9 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. I will be at Grassroots Appalachia facilitating a song circle. This is for newcomers and veterans alike. Bring an instrument and a few songs to share. If you don’t play an instrument bring a poem. If you don’t have a poem sit and listen and ask questions. All are welcome. Hope to see you there.”

Six days later, In celebration of Grassroots Appalachia’s reopening, Massey will be playing an intimate house show. It will be Sunday, Nov. 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Andrew Massey is a cofounding member of the band Sycamore Bones as well the leader of the band Andrew Massey & the Midnight Americans. He facilitates a songwriting class monthly at the Patrick Beaver Public Library in Hickory and is the current organizer of the long running Caldwell Musicians Showcase.

As we reopen, we will do so with additional creators and items for our Appalachian Fair Trade Arts & Crafts store. More will continue to come in. Visit the Grassroots Appalachia website to learn more.

When you support Grassroots Appalachia, you support local artisans, musicians, craftspeople and educators. Box stores do not offer what we do – a merchant that knows every creator (vendor) personally. We enjoy partnerships with roughly 50 creative people from Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Catawba and other nearby counties in Western North Carolina and one from West Virginia. They are all invested in this outreach one way or the other. To reopen is something we can all be proud of – it exemplifies our current art exhibit, “The Spirit of Appalachia.”

Learn more here. We do hope you’ll visit.

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026.