Americana, Indian music and icons of indie-rock and funk are all showcased in this edition.
Acoustic Asheville: Peter Karp
Peter Karp is first and foremost a rock/blues/Americana musician, but he’s got a story to tell, as well. His songs are infused with a genuine candor and realness to go along with the occasional dash of humor.
Album review: ‘Mountain Overture’ by Balsam Range
As impressive as are both Balsam Range and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble, the unsung hero of Mountian Overture is Wes Funderberk; on all but one tune, it is his arrangement skill that creates the seamless musical blend between the bluegrass and orchestral players.
Music Video Asheville puts local talent on the big screen
More than a decade into its celebratory chronicling of the local music scene, MVA is still evolving. One specific and ongoing goal is to make the competition as inclusive as possible.
Jonathon Keats shares his Universal Orchestra at UNCA and BMCM+AC
Keats will conduct the Universal Orchestra at UNCA on Thursday, April 19. He’ll take part in a listening session at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center on Friday, April 20.
Smart Bets: Talent! A Show
The star-studded benefit for Our VOICE is set for April 23 at The Mothlight.
NPR’s Bob Boilen headlines the Creative Sector Summit
The keynote address from the NPR host and panel discussions with local music industry representatives and advocates explore the arts’ economic impact on the Asheville area.
New festival/conference examines the intersection of art and social justice
Panels discuss everything from the experience of women in media and entertainment fields to the process of turning a story into a song. Saturday night concludes with a superband made up of Ben Sollee, Big Chief Juan Pardo, Leeda “Lyric” Jones, Jaze Uries, Jacob Rodriguez and others.
Smart Bets: Toubab Krewe
The Asheville instrumental quintet plays Ellington Underground, April 20 and 21.
Video premiere: ‘Two Thousand Forty Seven’ by Brook van der Linde
Local poet Brook van der Linde was invited by by creative director Joel Vannfuller to join The Mermaids’ Song project, which deals with climate change and, specifically, with sea level rise.
Smart Bets: Asheville Music School’s Sound Effects
The Asheville Music School benefit concert takes place April 19 at Isis Music Hall.
Conscious Party: Highland Games benefit concert
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games rock headliner Seven Nations and the Piper Jones Band play Jack of the Wood on April 20.
Acoustic Asheville: Jelly Ellington
The Austin, Tex.-based musician was was born and raised in Asheville and has played stages big and small all over the region.
Video premiere: “Alabaster” by Spaceman Jones and The Motherships
“We wanted a video that bubbles darkly and tells the story of someone who is striving for a different life. A better life,” says Cliff B. Worsham of Spaceman Jones and The Motherships.
AMBY blends classical music sensibilities with a modern aesthetic
Abrianna Brown’s forthcoming album, Dysthymia, slated for a September release, focuses on themes of depression and anxiety. “It’s forced me to think about these topics that I don’t want to think about,” she admits.
Smart Bets: Minds & Rhymes
The local and regional hip-hop showcase takes place April 14 at Sly Grog Lounge.
Smart Bets: Southern Sirens Songwriters Showcase
Sparrow Pants, Melissa Hyman, Ashley Heath and Cynthia McDermott take to The Mothlight stage April 12.
30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts
Live and local shows featuring Americana, indie rock, boundary-pushing electronic music and raw rock ‘n’ roll are highlighted in this roundup.
Acoustic Asheville: Isaiah Breedlove and Alma Russ
With his first solo EP now out, Isaiah Breedlove is hoping to make a splash on the local music scene. The four song EP is called All Around Your Sleepy Head and is available now on Bandcamp.
Album review: Jonathan Wilson’s ‘Rare Birds’
While Wilson’s earlier material filtered his love of FM radio-style rock of the 1970s though a singer-songwriter sensibility, his sixth album, Rare Birds, finds the multi-instrumentalist fully immersed in those classic rock textures.
Chuck Lichtenberger celebrates a solo album release
Lichtenberger is the first to admit that he likes things a certain way. “I like being really prepared,” he says. “I like keeping a schedule. It keeps me sane and it makes me productive.” So the degree to which he gave producer Jonathan Scales free rein in making this album is remarkable.