The Suspect: Jen Foster
Originally from Houston, Foster moved to L.A. to go to college and pursue her dream of becoming a rock star. She never found the success or record deal she was looking for on the West Coast, so she eventually put down stakes in Nashville. In 2003 she released her first CD, Everybody’s Girl. She won the OUT Music song of the year in 2006, and in 2009 she released her response to Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl,” called “I Didn’t Just Kiss Her.”
Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Thursday, Aug. 19.
RIYD (Recommended if You Dig): Catie Curtis, Melissa Ferrick.
You Should Go If: Come To My Window is your ringtone; your hair has “wings”; you’ve slept with all your friends; your primary motivation for getting out of bed is The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The Suspect: Edwin McCain
As McCain’s website says, his is “…the voice that is romance incarnate, has launched a thousand marriages and stirred up Southern soul for over 20 years.” This native of Greenville, S.C., never dreamed that one day over a million Dr. Phil viewers would vote his ‘90s hit, “I’ll Be,” the best wedding song ever written. He just released a CD of 16 of his greatest hits, including the new song, “Walk with You,” a ballad about a father walking his daughter down the aisle. Love it or count as just one more reason to elope.
Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Friday, Aug. 20.
RIYD: Hootie and the Blowfish, Sister Hazel.
You Should Go If: You’ve read everything that Nicholas Sparks has ever written; your favorite songs get made into life insurance commercials; you spend hours on YouTube watching romantic comedy montage sequences; your primary motivation for getting out of bed is a deep conviction that your soulmate is out there looking for you.
The Suspect: Nataraj
Translated from Sanskrit, Nataraj means “king of dance.” This five-man Asheville world music band combines drumming, bass and stringed instruments, and hopes to inspire listeners to “find the freedom to authentically move and dance.” If the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire made you want to jump up and bust a move, get thee to Nataraj!
Can Be Found: The LAB, Saturday, Aug. 21.
RIYD: A.R. Rahman, Jodhaa Akbar, Ye Ishq Hai.
You Should Go If: Your herbalist is on speed dial; you haven’t owned a pair of shoes since 2005; you’ve changed the way you spelled your name since you moved to Asheville; your primary motivation for getting out of bed is your world peace meditation group.
The Suspect: Danny Ellis
The stage version of Ellis’ latest CD, 800 Voices, was performed in the spring at Diana Wortham Theatre. The music is based on the real-life experience of Ellis’ childhood spent in the infamous orphanage the Artane Industrial School for Boys in Dublin, Ireland. John Ellis (no relation), director of Diana Wortham Theatre, called it “one of the most moving performances it has been my pleasure to have on our stage.” Danny Ellis returns to Asheville with his songs, guitar and folk-rock style for this fully seated show.
Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Sunday, Aug. 22.
RIYD: Andy Irvine, Christy Moore.
You Should Go If: You’ve read Angela’s Ashes three times; you look for any excuse to don a kilt; it brightens your mood to think about all the people more miserable than you; your primary motivation for getting out of bed every morning is new opportunities for the “personal growth” that other people might call “problems.”
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