Local singer-songwriter Anna Crosby is gearing up for her show at Untapped Art Festival, which will be her first time performing her original music with a full band accompanying her.
“That part is a big deal to me — the fact that people are pulling together to learn my material,” said Crosby, who will be joined by Michael Duff on lead guitar, Tyler McCarron on drums, Leon David on cello and Chris Williams on saxophone. There will also be performances by garage soul duo The Mobros and folk duo Dark & Bitter.
Untapped Art Festival, formerly called For the Love of Art Festival, will be held outdoors at Tradesman Brewing Co. Dec. 4 from 12 to 6 p.m., organized by local artists Chad Dyar and Julie Glass of Charleston Artist Guild. Attendees can enjoy art of all types, including paintings, mixed media, photography, pottery, jewelry and sculpture from more than 25 artists.
As for the music, Crosby said an important aspect for her is addressing the winding road of mental health, which has been a central theme in her lyrical content.
“It’s not necessarily about the sound, it’s the story — reaching out to help people who need to hear something personally for their journey,” Crosby said.
“I would say the biggest thing I’m seeing in a new light is the energy of reminding myself to keep going,” she said of gaining a footing in the Charleston music scene, which began for her back in 2020 when she started performing with The Real Good News band.
“You have the power to push yourself and make it happen even if it seems impossible,” she said.
Untapped Art Festival is free to attend with free parking on site. Donations are welcome in support of the Lonon Foundation, a nonprofit that helps children affected by a caregiver’s cancer diagnosis. Food trucks include Victor’s Lab and KJ Style BBQ.
“We’ve all experienced so much loss in the past year and a half,” Dyar said. “I believe we’re still in a time of healing, and hopefully, growth. Art is such a healing thing, whether it be the process of creating it or consuming it.”
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