"This immensely talented band from Asheville, N.C., was my favorite discovery at this year's Americana Music Festival. River Whyless builds its music around fiddle, guitar and harmonies, with imagination and textures that set the band apart from many of its acoustic and folk-based peers." -Bob Boilen, NPR Music

Director: Simon Biswas Executive Producer: Karen Nagy Post Production: Simon Biswas Music: River Whyless Special thanks to Mountain Gardens, Joe Hollis, Western North Carolina Nature Center, Chris Gentile, Emily Easterly, Katie Benson, Alyson Gary, Lauren Van Epps, Kelly Rhodes, Janna Nielsen, Timm Donohue, Neely Neu, Bonesteel Films, Patti O'Donnell and Geoff & Lester.

All gallery photographs by Halli Anderson, Daniel Shearin and Ryan O'Keefe

Drumming is an activity that, unlike writing, delivers me not more deeply into thought, but out of it, away from it. Here, behind the kit, I am a man without words (much as I love them), the whole train of language behind me now where I sit cutting into time with the sharp axe-edge of raw existence. The blade bites nicely (on the good days) and there is nothing else. No fear or niggling ambition. No need to seek meaning. Just me and the shimmering axe-edge and the sweet spattering of woodchips.