Viv & Riley
Thursday, October 3
Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno play young old-soul roots music, combining tradition with melodies of future-leaning indie-folk and the tight vocal harmonies of the old-time and classic country music they came from. They grew up on opposite sides of the country–Riley in Seattle and Vivian in Lexington, Virginia–the two instantly connecting musically upon meeting in 2018. The pair has collaborated since then, playing hundreds of shows across the US, UK, and Canada, and recording multiple albums to acclaim from NPR Music, Rolling Stone, and No Depression.
Rooted in the folk tradition, the pair reframe their music into experimental territory, crafting songs that speak to finding a path forward into adulthood in an uncertain world. Based in Durham, North Carolina, they’ve tapped into the area’s eclectic and collaborative music scene. Their songwriting has evolved to include world-weary, stripped-down country songs and tunes at turns sweetly sad and gently sardonic. Viv & Riley also play in The Onlies, an award-winning old time string band that Riley co-founded at age 7 in Seattle. In preserving traditional music and bringing their own original folk music to new audiences, Viv & Riley have much to do with the present and future of roots music.