Steve Trisman

Steve Trisman bridges the gap between Asheville's traditional mountain music heritage and its vibrant contemporary scene, wielding his fiddle as both acoustic storyteller and electric dance catalyst. As a cornerstone of "The Boys of Buncombe," Trisman brings contra dance floors to life alongside accordionist Steve Burnside, proving that the most authentic mountain music happens when tradition meets community celebration.

This versatile fiddler moves seamlessly between projects—from the gypsy jazz explorations of One Leg Up to the electric energy of Bayou Diesel and Jupiter Coyote—but it's in the contra dance community where his musical philosophy truly shines. While equally commanding with electric sound, Trisman can make his acoustic fiddle sing that essential contra dance music that transforms Monday nights at the Ivy Building into weekly celebrations of connection and movement.

Whether performing as part of Windmill with keyboardist Laurie Fisher or leading dancers through intricate patterns with The Boys of Buncombe, Trisman understands that the best fiddle playing serves something larger than technique—it creates the rhythmic heartbeat that allows entire communities to move as one. In his hands, every bow stroke becomes an invitation to dance, proving that some music is meant to be felt with your feet as much as your heart.