Boone-based folk trio The New River Boys performed at Son's Light Coffee House on Saturday with SalemSpeaks, a quintet from Winston Salem. Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian

Boone-based folk trio The New River Boys put on a free show at Son's Light Coffee House Saturday night, along with Winston-Salem's SalemSpeaks.

"We just like to perform," said Aaron Simpson, New River Boys mandolin player and senior anthropology major. "We've never been in it for the money."

SalemSpeaks played a set that included a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel," but at a higher tempo.

The New River Boys then took the stage and Simpson made plenty of jokes on stage - something he does at all their shows.

"I probably did more jokes at this show," he said. "It depends on the crowd. If they're quiet, then there's not as much interaction."

Simpson joked about the band, the audience and the sound crew about cellist and junior music performance major Everett Hardin's sound. Simpson makes fun of Hardin for his red hair at their shows.

"Don't turn the cello down too low," Simpson said. "We still want to hear that ginger spice."

The band closed out with "Forbidden Love," a song they always use to conclude a set. The song has an unexpected subject and Simpson said it's "a lot of fun."

"They don't know what to expect," he said. "That may have been the best reaction."

The New River Boys' EP, "Heart for Sale," which was recorded in conjunction with Son's Light.

Son's Light Coffee House and Son's Light Records are a part of Son's Light Ministries, a Boone-based, Christian organization that "seeks to empower individuals through a ministry of example," according to sonslightministries.com.

"We've always had a good relationship with them," Simpson said. "They've been real generous as far as working out a deal with the venue and everything."

Simpson said SalemSpeaks has an "indie kind of rock-folk" sound.

"They're a quality group coming up," he said. "It was a privilege to have them. We had a high bar set before us."

SalemSpeaks is a quintet featuring traditional live-band instruments - guitar, bass and drums - along with banjo, keyboard, accordion, fiddle and mandolin.

"We're all multi-instrumental - we switch up instruments to switch up the mood," said Zach Britt, SalemSpeaks guitarist and vocalist and freshman music industry studies major.

The band formed in Winston-Salem while the five members were in high school. Now, two attend Wake Forest and two attend Appalachian State University. A fifth member plans to transfer to Appalachian next semester.

Story: MICHAEL BRAGG, Lifestyles Editor
Photo: MAGGIE COZENS, Photographer