ALAMOSA — Once again, the fine folks at Society Hall are gifting the San Luis Valley with a night of memorable music that would be hard to find anywhere else. A very unique band out of Knoxville, Tennessee named Redd & the Paper Flowers is bringing their rooted yet fresh take on Appalachian Folk to Alamosa.

And that’s not all.

Opening the show will be the popular and revered Denver-Boulder singer-songwriter Megan Burtt.

As music reviewer David Knowles with Americana Highway writes of the band, “I always feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy when I discover a new artist or band, and that’s how it feels with Redd & The Paper Flowers. Musically, they’re equally folky and bluegrassy with a healthy dollop of jazz and contemporary influences mixed in as well. The band’s original material is fresh, clever and inviting. Despite not being familiar with the songs, I loved what I was hearing and really look forward to hearing more.”

The first lyrics of the band’s original “Regrets of Mine” are a testament to Knowles’ praise as Daugherty’s sweet, clear, somewhat haunting voice both blends and emphasizes the musical artistry of the other three members.

Bury, oh bury me / Beneath that old dogwood tree where the Appalachians meet the Smokies
I've been this way for a long, long time don't know how much more to mind
Walking around these old gravel roads / Oh, I just wish I had time to say goodbye

Appalachian music is unlike any other, sometimes haunting, sometimes joyful, often personal in its telling stories about events that make up a person’s life in a way that feels straightforward and true. While the familiar image of older, grizzled men sitting on a porch playing banjos and fiddles has its own authenticity, Appalachian music is much more expansive than that.

Its roots are as diverse as America with influences from the Irish, English, Scottish and German immigrants who settled in those mysterious blue and smoky mountains in the 1800s. These new Americans brought with them both their music and their instruments.

But another equally strong influence came from the music of the transatlantic slave trade, which brutally forced millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean and into enslavement dating all the way back to the first ship that docked in Virginia in 1619.

Despite unimaginable hardships, their music persisted through the oral tradition of passing music from generation to generation without the help of written words and, instead, by ear and memory.  The call-and-response singing, dance rhythms, instruments related to the banjo, and the old-time clawhammer banjo playing style are West African in origin and foundational to Appalachian music.

The story of the Redd & The Paper Flowers is both heartbreaking and inspiring. It all began in 2022, when Katie Adams (upright bass), Colleen d’Alelio (cello), Gavin Gregg (mandolin), and Redd Daugherty (guitar) met through mutual friends at a local open mic night in Knoxville, just as the pandemic was coming to an end.

The combination of instruments and voices – especially Daugherty as lead singer playing rhythm guitar – formed the strong foundation of a very talented band. Within a few short years, they released their debut album, Appalachian Bell Jar, a record that is a testament to East Tennessee and greater Appalachia’s beauty, struggles with government support, and their experiences in the area.

The band has grown extremely close over the past three years, particularly in touring. In 2025 alone, they were on the road for 22 out of 26 weeks. But it wasn’t just the time spent together that formed the closeness; the band also grew through the tragedy of Redd Daugherty losing her dear friend, Jason Cooper.

 Cooper owned a local Knoxville music store named Rush’s Music which has been a staple of the Knoxville music community for just a few years shy of half-a-century. From Coop's tragic death, Redd found out he willed her the business, his estate, and his dog, Ando, who, sadly, passed in April 2024.

Redd owns, operates, and works at Rush’s where, with the help of Katie and Gavin during their off time from touring, the store services more than 90 schools in the area. But, as is true of Appalachia, hard work never got in the way of creating good music, and their second album, “Dead Little Thing”, highlights the struggles from this experience and is planned for release in 2026.

Special guest Megan Burtt will be opening the show. For years, Burtt has been one of the most popular and revered musical artists in the Denver-Boulder music scene. Along the way she has garnered an impressive number of accolades, winning six awards from prestigious groups since 2015.

Honestly, it would be pretty difficult to imagine a more amazing, memorable night of music with its fresh take on music born of the blue, smoky and mysterious hills of Appalachia. And, as always, it’s happening right here in Alamosa.

The board of Society Hall, a 501c-3 non-profit organization, invites you to another wonderful musical evening with Redd and the Paper Flowers, a great band of kindred spirits, all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee. Megan Burtt will open the show.

The concert is on  Saturday, May 23^rd at 7:30 pm. Megan Burtt will open the show. Doors will open at 6:30. Tickets are $20.00 and are available online at www.societyhall.org, or in Alamosa at the Green Spot. The concert will also stream live on the Society Hall Facebook page and You-Tube channel.

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