This week’s installment features four internationally-touring acts who all have an Asheville connection of sorts.
Acoustic Asheville: Ian Fitzgerald
Ian Fitzgerald is widely hailed all over New England as the best singer-songwriter in the region, and recently made a tour stop in Asheville to help promote his latest record, ‘You Won’t Even Know Me When I’m Gone.’
Smart Bets: Back to music school week
Asheville Music School kicks off a week of free demos and lessons with a concert featuring its student ensembles at Barley’s on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The Stump Mutts celebrate ‘Love Hate’ with an album release party
The four-man group from Asheville unapologetically calls itself a rock band. The band celebrates the release of its fourth studio album, Love Hate, with a Friday, Sept. 1 show at The Grey Eagle.
Smart Bets: LAAF
The rebranded festival takes place on Lexington Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Show review: Portugal. The Man at The Orange Peel
Over consecutive nights downtown, the Portland rockers delivered plenty of musical thrills — albeit the same ones.
Legendary quintet graces The Double Crown
To mark the Double Crown’s 25th gospel night — on Thursday, Aug. 31 — venue owner Steve Mann booked one of the most influential bands in gospel music history. “The Swanee Quintet has been performing continually for 78 years with no sabbaticals,” he says.
Smart Bets: Beat Life
Mobley, Professor Toon, Vietnam Jerry and Raj Mahal play Asheville Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 1.
Faces in the crowd: WNC crowdfunding initiatives
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features the first album by local band Hustle Souls, a new location for Urban Dharma, and Poetry Cabaret’s reflections on performing at Capital Fringe Festival.
Local music videos by TEYG and Spaceman Jones & the Motherships
These art works ask us to think about the hardships our neighbors face and the disparities that Asheville’s white residents can easily ignore.
Acoustic Asheville: Caitlyn Deviney
Ahead of recent show at Good Stuff in Marshall, Deviney and her bandmates gave an exclusive performance of “Mama Said.”
Album review: ‘Youth Eternal’ by J. Atkinson
Jonathan Atkinson has a background that includes immersion in the Asheville punk and indie scenes, but the musical fingerprints of those experiences aren’t readily obvious when listening to his latest release
RBTS WIN and Foul Mouth Jerk host new album release parties
Electro-soul group RBTS WIN commemorates the release of its fourth album, Sensitivity Kit, with a performance at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Aug. 25. Hip-hop artist Foul Mouth Jerk drops his latest effort, Scofflaw, with a Saturday, Aug. 26, show at Isis Music Hall.
Smart Bets: RiverFest
RiverLink’s annual day of food, music and fun takes place Saturday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m.
Smart Bets: Jackie Venson
The Austin-based guitarist/vocalist plays Isis Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 25, at 9 p.m.
Durand Jones & The Indications bring DIY energy to old-school soul
Over the past year, that unique sound has led Durand Jones & The Indications to tour the country and perform gigs at festivals including South by Southwest and Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. The group now brings its funky grooves to The Mothlight on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
Smart Bets: JEFF the Brotherhood
The Nashville power-punk duo return to The Odditorium on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 9 p.m.
Conscious Party: Deep River
Proceeds from Deep River’s 10th Asheville anniversary show on Aug. 26 at The Grey Eagle benefit the Asheville Humane Society.
30 Days Out: A look at upcoming concerts
This time around, it’s an all-locals edition (well, three actual local artists and one honorary local).
Acoustic Asheville: Jamil Apostol and the Goodwills
There’s a sort of rag-tag, vagabond sound to Jamil Apostol & the Goodwills. Maybe it’s from the time Apostol spent on the road, playing music and finding influences everywhere he went.
Celia Verbeck brings new songs to The Mothlight, Aug. 29
Verbeck — a local composer, ethereal vocalist and Girls Rock AVL band coach — has been steadily at work on her second album, a follow up to her dreamy, electro-pop-flavored self-titled debut.