NC Stage’s production of The Book Club Play attempts to walk a fine line, displaying the transformative power of reading, all the while not being as pretentious, stodgy or boring as that premise might sound. It helps that the story, written by Karen Zacarias, is mostly played for laughs and never lets the proceedings get […]
Take a moment to wrap your head around this spectacle: "Performing as the voice of Ray Charles, Zach Deputy will pair up with the ultimate groove band and play a funky tribute to a music legend." That legend is Ray Charles. AKA “the only true genius in show business.” Or The Genius, for short. How […]
Despite metal music being listed as a factor in juvenile delinquency in certain academic reports, London-based metal outfit Orange Goblin describes the genre as "a motivating mindset, a positive force and an inspirational belief system." The quartet has been taking cues from progenitors like Black Sabbath, Black Flag and Thin Lizzy since the mid-90s, honing […]
Jefferson Pinder: Work A video installation at Warren Wilson College has left the Elizabeth Holden Gallery shrouded in total darkness. That darkness, though, is intermittently broken by Jefferson Pinder: Work, a series of flickering and quick-witted performance-videos that illuminate an artist’s physical-turned-social struggle against a working-class backdrop. In each piece, Pinder, an artist and associate […]
River Arts District studio stroll Don’t be fooled by the “studio stroll” title. Sure, this twice-a-year happening is about visiting the workspaces of the River District’s artists. But it’s really a weekend-long social event. Make plans to meet friends, gather out-of-town visitors or just go it solo: You can’t go to a RAD studio stroll […]
From cute to classic and sweet to ironic, we want to know about your favorite seasonal craft projects. Do you make your own wreath? Cover your tree in bottle-cap ornaments? Make homemade soap as gifts? Let us know!
Band of Horses’ front man, Ben Bridwell, ventures out on a solo mission under the quirky moniker Birdsmell. This solo tour will bring him to The LAB on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
The local noise-rock trio holds an album release party at The Odditorium on Friday, Nov. 8.
In advance of the band’s Nov. 5 return to The Orange Peel, keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna talked to Xpress about some changes in the band’s sound, how they keep the spirit of fun in their music, and one crazy appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Recently formed bluegrass band Unspoken Tradition (led by singer-songwriter Ty Gilpin) holds an album release party at The Bywater on Friday, Nov. 8.
This weekend is all about ghouls, goblins and backyard fungal farming. Podcast hosted by Theresa Amandi of Asheville Free Media’s Bombshell-ter Radio.
New songs, old favorites, singalongs and wardrobe changes. It all happened at the filled-to-capacity show on Wednesday.
Don’t have time for a full-length horror film this Halloween? This short music video should get you in the mood for All Hallows’ Eve.
Comedian Mike Lawrence kicks off a new comedy series, Funny Business at The Mill Room on Friday, Nov. 1. Want to win a pair of tickets? Look for this post on the Xpress Facebook page.
Local artist Gus Cutty is finishing up a new mural of Lou Reed in front of Static Records in downtown Asheville.
The vocalist, who came in second place on “American Idol” in 2010, brought the entire crowd to their feet in a rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” that my mother (who saw Joplin) described as, “Janis reincarnate!”
Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, making it hard to plan a party. But we’re sticklers for celebrating on the actual date: No early birthday presents for us, no pre-emptive Christmas stockings and no sexy Uncle Si costumes before Oct. 31. With that in mind, here’s where to trick or treat on All Hallows […]
[Editor’s note: Gwar is a satirical, crude, heavy-metal band that performs and interviews in character. Readers sensitive to profanity and disturbing images and themes may wish to avoid this article.] You’ve probably never worried about aliens oversleeping, but this reporter recently dealt with one self-proclaimed extraterrestrial who did just that. Oderus Urungus is the singer […]
Didn’t make it to Bonnaroo this year? There’s still time to check out Barnaroo, a locally produced festival and Western North Carolina’s only youth-run music event. Barnaroo was created in 2009 by Andrew Scotchie (the frontman of roots-rock collective The River Rats). He was 16 at the time and wanted to create a space for […]
