The Steel Wheels open for Americana artist Josh Ritter at The Orange Peel on Wednesday, May 18.
NewSong winners Max Hatt/Edda Glass share their debut album
Max Hatt and Edda Glass decided to enter the annual NewSong Contest. They won the grand prize, which included a recording session at Echo Mountain Studios.
Smart bets: William Wild
The Knoxville-based artist plays a free show at Town Pump Tavern on Tuesday, May 17.
Smart bets: Claire Elizabeth Barratt
Weaverville Yoga hosts Barratt as she presents an art project that harnesses the self and the natural world as inputs for multi-modal expression. Events take place Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15.
Show review: Kamasi Washington at The Orange Peel
Saxophonist, composer and arranger Kamasi Washington has been selling out venues around the country and being praised as the savior of American jazz. At The Orange Peel on Thursday, Washington and his band, The Next Step, proved they were worth the hype.
30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts
This week’s roundup includes Buckethead, Susto, Cha Wa and Shantih Shantih.
Fashion, food and fundraising
The Pizza PanDemonium (now in its second year) offers pizza, beer, music and fashion, all while benefitting The Appalachian Angels and Eblen Charities.
5 questions with The Deslondes’ John James Tourville
New Orleans-based group The Deslondes effortlessly mixes up genres. The music has clear antecedents in country, zydeco, jazz, soul and even rock ‘n’ roll. They’re currently in pre-production on a follow-up to their self-titled 2015 debut. The Deslondes return to Asheville for a May 12 show at The Grey Eagle.
Sound Track: “A White Light that Sings” by The Moon and You
Husband-and-wife musicians Ryan Furstenberg (vocals and guitar) and Melissa Hyman (vocals and cello), blend their voices and instruments and ideas into a comprehensive work.
RiverMusic season launches with Greyhounds
Andrew Trube and Anthony Farrell have performed together for a decade and a half. They call themselves a “junkyard band,” but what the duo (sometimes a trio with versatile drummer Anthony Cole) plays is a soul flavored by blues, funk, rock and psychedelia.
Smart bets: The New Stew’s tribute to Bill Withers
The recently formed supergroup performs at The Orange Peel on Wednesday, May 11.
California Honeydrops bring their dance party back to Asheville
An encapsulated sense of happiness — an open invitation to the party — is at the heart of a Honeydrops show. Following an enthusiastic reception at LEAF last fall, the Oakland, Calif.-based band returns to Asheville for a show at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Friday, May 6.
Show review: stephaniesid at Diana Wortham Theatre
But the group’s May 1 performance was especially charged — the musicians had triumphantly sold out the venue, but they were also there to say good bye. The show marked the end of the local pop-noir outfit’s decade-long run, at least for now.
Asheville Electro Music Festival showcases high technology on a human scale
A local group of musicians has focused on the nexus where music and technology intersect, creating the Asheville Electro Music Festival to showcase local and international music. The event takes place Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, in Black Mountain.
Spring LEAF celebrates Cuban music and art traditions
Juan de Marcos and the leaders of MarchFourth! and Clan Destiny Circus discuss Cuban music and improving relations between the island nation and the U.S.
Smart bets: Posh Hammer
Catch the trio of teen sibling during their EP release show at Asheville Music Hall on Friday, May 6.
Joshua Davis from “The Voice” plays The Grey Eagle
If you’re a fan of “The Voice” you might remember singer-songwriter Joshua Davis. He was the earnest dad with the warm, raspy voice who ultimately lost out to a teenager with pretty hair and a bowler hat. That’s simplifying the situation, but really, Davis probably did well to leave the show with a following, some […]
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 unique, two-part song that resulted from pianist Nathan Shirley’s musical twist of fate, Piper Jones Band’s new recording project Crossing the Sabine, and Asheville Humane Society’s interactive pet fundraiser.
Acoustic Asheville: Corb Lund
The latest featured artist for Acoustic Asheville is Canadian cowboy folk singer Corb Lund. He was at The Altamont Theatre for a recent tour stop in support of his latest record, Things That Can’t Be Undone.
Poliça at the Mothlight, May 1
In advance of the sold-out show, a producer shares a mini-documentary on the band.
Smart bets: Woods
Ultimate Paining opens for Woods when the band’s national and international tour stops at the Mothlight on Wednesday, May 4.