Cumberland Is Quietly Becoming a New Stop for National Roots Artists

A sold-out audience gathered at the Ferleman Gallery for an evening that brought together nationally recognized artists and emerging regional voices in contemporary roots music. The performance featuring Jake Blount, Megan Jean Klay, and Corduroy Brown marked a notable moment for a venue increasingly positioned within a broader national arts conversation. The concert took place within Gallery Stage, a dedicated listening room at the Ferleman Gallery designed to prioritize sound clarity and audience engagement. The venue is part of a broader cultural model that integrates visual art, live performance, and, with the forthcoming RootsTable, a sustainable farm-to-table dining experience. “This wasn’t just a great night of music—it was a convergence of voices that are shaping where this genre is going,” said Rebecca Ferleman. “You could feel the audience leaning in, not just reacting, but really listening. That’s what makes a space like this matter.”

Opening the night, Corduroy Brown represented a new generation of Appalachian-rooted musicians gaining wider recognition. Based in Huntington, West Virginia, Brown has recently been featured in Rolling Stone’s coverage of the Healing Appalachia festival. His style—often described as “Appalachian rock & roll”—reflects an evolving regional sound that is increasingly resonating beyond its geographic origins. “The goal has never been to simply bring bands into the room,” said Thomas Ferleman. “It’s to create an environment where important work can be experienced the way it was meant to be—without compromise, and without distraction. When artists like this choose to play here, it says something about what Cumberland is becoming.”

Blount, an award-winning musician, scholar, and recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, has become one of the most influential figures in contemporary folk music. His work reinterprets traditional African American music through a modern lens, challenging long-standing narratives about the origins and evolution of the genre. With critically acclaimed recordings and performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Newport Folk Festival, and Library of Congress, his appearance in Cumberland reflects a growing interest among nationally recognized artists in meaningful and intimate listening-focused spaces.
Megan Jean Klay, performing with Byrne Klay on banjo and Hannah Livingston on fiddle, brought a contrasting but complementary energy to the evening. Known for an independent career built through extensive touring, she has developed a distinct voice within Americana that blends blues, rock, and folk traditions. Her performance underscored both the durability and adaptability of artist-driven careers operating outside traditional industry structures. The night was curated and presented in a collaboration between the Klays and the Ferleman Gallery.

That model continues to expand. Founders Thomas and Rebecca Ferleman have recently acquired a significant art collection from the historic Barnett-Aden Gallery, founded in 1943 in Washington, D.C. and widely recognized as the first Black-owned art gallery in the United States. The collection is expected to be exhibited in 2027.