Josh Phillips
Local singer/songwriter/ping-pong champ Josh Phillips blends reggae, folk, rock and soul into songs that are both meaningful and party-ready. Phillips has been hard-at-work on a follow-up to his solo debut, Wicker. That next album — produced by Eric Sarafin (Ben Harper) — is now near completion, hence the Josh Phillips Folks Festival's album completion show (all-ages) at The Orange Peel on Friday, June 17. Three-song samplers will be given away; Ten Cent Poetry also performs. 9 p.m., $10 advance/$12 doors. theorangepeel.net
Prime Ribbing
There's one week left of the inaugural theatrical performance at Asheville's newest theater venue, The Altamont. Musical satire Prime Ribbing, by Broadway veteran-turned-Asheville resident Stephan deGhelder, is being hailed as "precise and hilarious." Xpress reviewer David Hopes says, "I’ve heard The Capital Steps on the radio, and Prime Ribbing is wittier, smarter, better sung." The show concludes this week with a Friday June 18 performances at 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 19 performances at 2:30 and 8 p.m. $22 adults/$19 seniors and students. thealtamont.com.
Solo Shots: Dance on the Rocks
Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre calls its upcoming performance a "not too traditional" evening of dance. Considering ACDT has a reputation for producing edgy and innovative work, that's saying something. The two-night run, Solo Shots: Dance on the Rocks features the work of the company's seven dancers and invited guests. It's a "concert of personal stories" and each dance is paired with its own cocktail. ACDT will also be auctioning and raffling prizes (e.g., a private sailboat cruise in the Caribbean) to raise funds for its international touring schedule. Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at 8 p.m. nightly, $15 adults/$10 students and seniors in advance, $17/$12 at the door. acdt.org.
Rising Appalachia
Sisters Leah and Chloe Smith “travel the globe learning folk traditions, acoustic instrumentation and harmonies, then tear into sound with a sensual prowess,” according to press for the duo. The New Orleans-based sisters have seen several iterations of their band (which draws on mountain melodies as much as hip-hop and indie rock) and have been playing area clubs and festivals for more than half a decade. Their newest album, The Sails of Self, came out last year. It includes a range on instruments from banjo to kalimba and includes Deep South-inspired tracks like “St. James Infirmary” and Otis Redding's "You Don't Miss Your Water." Rising Appalachia plays a two-night stand at BoBo Gallery on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19. 8 p.m. nightly, $10. risingappalachia.com.
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