When Dar Williams (who plays Saturday at The Grey Eagle) released her debut album, The Honesty Room, in 1994, she was pretty sure any career she might have would come from writing books about natural food stores. The music thing, she imagined, would probably just be something she did on the side. She showed up […]

A handmade piece of artwork, whether it’s a ceramic mug or a one-of-a-kind painting, is an insight into the personal narrative of the artist. Buying directly from an artist’s studio is a chance for the collector to connect to that artist’s process in a way they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Denise Cook, executive director […]

Growing up in Ireland, I was well aware of the Artane Boys Band. Famous throughout the country, the group was called upon to play at every important event: St. Patrick’s Day parades, football finals, state occasions. But the Artane Industrial School, the infamous orphanage that spawned the group, had been shut down in 1969, and […]

A write-up in The New Yorker is a powerful validation. Both immensely respected and incredibly visible, it’s the kind of publication that can help kickstart a project in its infancy — and provide a valuable confidence boost to an artist seeking wider appreciation. Dave Hartley, who creates hypnotic soundscapes as Nightlands, had his first solo […]

The daylight hours are almost at their shortest, which means it’s prime time to make use of long evenings. Holiday-themed events around Western North Carolina do just that: Shops remain open late, historic homes receive visitors, carolers come out in droves and candles are burned at both ends. (Well, maybe just the one end.) Here’s […]

As the days grow shorter and the mist over the Blue Ridge thickens into a cold, icy fog, Western North Carolinians will be rushing around the region, buying and wrapping gifts, decking their halls and eagerly awaiting the first real snowfall of the season. But in between all of the hustle-and-bustle splendor of the hectic […]

Kristin Schoonover, of Benyo Pottery, puts a creative spin on the typical night out. The next Pottery Party is Friday, Dec. 6.