Martha Spencer & Lucas Pasley + A Bright Abyss
A Night of Folk Music and Appalachian Magic
I was thrilled to welcome Martha Spencer and Lucas Pasley to Indianapolis for an intimate evening of Appalachian music and dance.
Mountain Music in Indiana!
Martha Spencer, a singer-songwriter, dancer, and multi-instrumentalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She stoped through Indianapolis on her Midwest tour, and brought her rich mountain roots to the Clear Vibes House Concerts living room where she shared the traditions she grew up with. Along with it came her sweet accent, memorable voice, and wonderful storytelling! Martha played guitar, fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer at the concert.
She was joined by the equally talented Lucas Pasley, an old-time fiddler, banjoist, guitarist, and songwriter from Sparta, North Carolina. Together, the pair shared a set that blended traditional country, old-time tunes, and original songs, and their genuine love for the music they play was obvious.
A Dance Floor in the Living Room
One of the highlights of the evening was witnessing flatfoot dancing, an Appalachian step dance. Flatfooting has Scotch-Irish, African-American, and Native American roots. It’s not something Hoosiers get to see often, and the room lit up as both Martha and Lucas took turns dancing while still keeping the music flowing. Their dancing became its own instrument and added rhythm to the sound of their tunes.
Martha also delighted guests with stories of her musical upbringing and the history behind her instruments, including a fiddle topped with a hand-carved chicken head. At one point, she even played a tune using a toothpick as a bow—a quirky trick she learned from her father. After plenty of rosin and a lot of laughter, she pulled it off beautifully.
A Bright Abyss Sets the Tone
Opening the evening was A Bright Abyss, a thoughtful and ethereal local duo (formerly Sister Sinjin). With Elizabeth Duffy on guitar and Kaitlyn Ferry on fiddle, their harmonies created a peaceful hush in the room. Their songwriting carries a calm emotional depth—just as described in their bio:
“Going deeper doesn’t mean getting darker—our music is about finding creativity and wholeness in the depths.”
They even treated us to a soft, beautifully reimagined cover of Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police. Indianapolis folks can catch more of their music at the 2025 Tonic Ball.
It was, simply put, a wonderful evening of connection, culture, and new experiences.
Clear Vibes House Concerts offers a shared space where artists from near and far can bring their craft to an intimate, appreciative crowd. Guests were attentive, generous, and fully engaged—tapping, clapping, stomping, and smiling throughout the night.
