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Chapel Hill-based singer-songwriter and cellist Pippa Hoover will celebrate the release of her single On the Mountaintop, Alone with a full-band show at Yonder Bar. The show will trace Pippa’s deepening relationship with the North Carolina Triangle, blending nature-rich songwriting with soulful vocals and plenty of cello. Best known as the cello half of the local folk pop duo Honey Magpie, Pippa is also a solo artist who has been performing in the Triangle since 2014. In 2018, she released her debut album Night Bird Singing, which established her signature folk-classical sound. Pippa is also an avid hiker and backpacker whose songwriting is deeply influenced by her experiences on trail.
Originally from California, Pippa spent several years in the Midwest and Russia before settling in the Triangle and launching her music career. But her connection to the region began much earlier: at age four she lived in Durham during her father’s sabbatical year, and in 2006, she helped her parents move cross-country to Hillsborough.
It was during visits home to Hillsborough that Pippa first explored Occoneechee Mountain, now one of her most cherished places. Before long, she had hiked every trail more times than she could count, and it was only a matter of time before scenes from the mountain made it into her music.
On the Mountaintop, Alone unites two of Pippa’s Occoneechee Mountain–inspired songs. The first track, “Rat Snake,” uses the image of a huge snake disappearing under fallen leaves on the Mountain Loop Trail in its wrenching exploration of unforgiveness. The more mellow title track describes a day in the life of a solitude seeker and concludes at Occoneechee Mountain’s overlook point.
At the show, Pippa will perform her new single in full, as well as old favorites from her first album and yet-to-be released songs, all organized to chronicle her connection to the Triangle. Pippa will sing about leaving home, ending a toxic friendship, and the tenacious pursuit of her dreams, and her whole set will be infused with imagery of the local forests, creeks, and creatures she has come to love.
Guest musicians Franklin Bellflower (guitar), David Criswell (bass), and Justin Ellis (drums) will join Pippa, providing full-band instrumentation.
Justin Ellis' Ravary will open the show.
On the Mountaintop, Alone will be available for presave on streaming services and preorder on Bandcamp on Friday, August 15.
There is a $12 suggested donation
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, 118 W King St, Hillsborough, NC 27278-2681, United States
