Ya dig?

Posted on by Kent Priestley

If you’re a fan of old-time or bluegrass music, this Saturday night, Sept. 1, is your last chance of the season to amble down to Martin Luther King Jr. park in Asheville for the summer music tradition known as Shindig on the Green.

Banjos, fiddles, cloggers and a surfeit of Western shirts and crinoline await you. Much of the pickin’ is informal, but stage performances also take place throughout the evening.

Two summers ago, Shindig was bumped from its longtime site, City/County Plaza, by the Pack Square renovation project. But banjo-players and dulcimer strummers thrive on adversity, and by all measures the show has gone on.

So whether you love traditional Appalachian music or just take a certain anthropological interest in its practitioners, consider dropping by. According to tradition, Shindig begins “along about sundown” which sources tell us is a quaint way of saying “just before twilight.” See you there.

— Kent Priestley, staff writer

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

6 thoughts on “Ya dig?”

  1. timothypeck

    “So whether you love traditional Appalachian music or just take a certain anthropological interest in its practitioners”

    I demand a retraction.

  3. timothypeck

    “You mean there are people who don’t love traditional Appalachian music?”

    I certainly hope not.

    But I do wonder if the writer would characterize inner city progressive sophisticates as merely curious anthropological creatures.

  4. Kriss

    “But I do wonder if the writer would characterize inner city progressive sophisticates as merely curious anthropological creatures.”

    Indeed. I thought I noted a slight tone of condescension in the piece, but wasn’t sure. Now I am sure.

  5. Kent

    The writer happens to play both old-time and bluegrass music and was simply having fun with the widespread perceptions of the music and its players.

    And yes, I do think “inner city progressive sophisticates” are “merely curious anthropological creatures,” as we all are.

    As an add on, let’s not forget that outside of a very few communities in the South, “inner city progressive sophisticates” are the people who managed to resuscitate old-time music (Mike Seeger, et. al.)

    But enough of all this carryin’ on. Let’s pick.

  6. Kriss

    I just got back from the last Shindig of the season and apparently a lot of fans did amble down to the park tonight. I think it was the biggest crowd I’ve seen all summer. Great weather, great music! Good way to end the season. Can’t wait till next year.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.