The famous spoon player Abby Roach, known as the Spoon Lady, is moving back to her hometown of Wichita, Kansas. She shocked fans of her unique style by announcing her departure from Asheville in front of city council Tuesday night. Roach said she hasn’t been able to make enough money as a street performer to support herself in Asheville, and she wants to spend more time with family.
Born on October 29, 1981 in Wichita, Abby Roach spent most of her early years hopping on and off freight trains to travel across America. It was during these times she studied American folk percussion and music and found a love for storytelling. She later went on to win recognition as one of the best street performers in the world and appeared in a horror film and documentary.
Her work as a storyteller and percussionist has earned her millions of views on YouTube and the attention of local and international press. She’s also been an advocate for free speech and street performance, founding the Asheville Buskers Collective.
Her recent collaboration with Chris Rodrigues on guitar has gone viral. Their version of Angels in Heaven has more than 60 million views on YouTube and shows off the amazing talent of both musicians. The pair play together at festivals, within venues and even on the sidewalk as they entertain crowds. They have strong ties to Asheville as members of the folk and global music group Rising Appalachia, which plays a 6:30 p.m. show July 9 at Salvage Station with Zydeco Ya Ya opening.
