This weekend brings outdoors, crafts, music and more. As always, Xpress highlights the best in low-cost weekend events.
Quality over quantity
Samantha Crain returns to Asheville in support of her new album, “Kid Face.” She plays Isis Restaurant & Music Hall Lounge (with Dulci Ellenberger) on Tuesday, June 25. Photo by Todd Roeth.
Finally timely
Kylesa binds current trends into music that is both heavy and accessible
Siren Mountain Jam is this weekend
Xpress will give away a pair of weekend passes to the female-led music and arts festival, held in Boone on June 21 and 22. Click through for details on how to win.
Smart Bets: Community Choreography Projects
Secrets: Freeing the Hidden Story, this year's production by Community Choreography Projects, weaves together storytelling, drama, dance and multimedia. The performance troupe, led by artistic director Barrie Barton, guides locals (many without theater backgrounds) through the process of self-expression and movement. Film artist Erika Czerwinski, filmmaker and photographer David Huff, author Gregg Levoy, spoken-word poet […]
Tell me everything
“You know, I don’t have any secrets,” Fiora Lizak says when asked about her role in Secrets: Freeing the Hidden Story, Community Choreography Project’s latest production,. A smile slowly spreads across her face and she bursts out laughing. CCP artistic director Barrie Barton knows the challenges of getting people to openly admit or discuss, let […]
Quality over quantity
Not many opening acts get standing ovations, let alone return to the stage for an encore. But singer-songwriter Samantha Crain did when she opened for William Elliott Whitmore at The Grey Eagle last September. That night, she also played a couple of new songs: “Paint,” with the wrenching line, “I’m almost young this year, now […]
Shout it out
Mikal Cronin can’t help doubting himself. At seemingly every turn on MCII — the San Francisco garage rocker’s bright and buoyant sophomore effort — he’s questioning something he has just declared with certainty. “I want it now!” he cries with brazen intensity on “Shout It Out” before defusing his ardor with the very next line: […]
Finally timely
There is a profound difference between music that is ahead of its time and music that understands its time. Striking when the moment is right, solidifying growing trends into something iconic, that’s the stuff that breeds success in the near term — providing listeners with a sound they’ve only just realized they want. Breaking ground, […]
Smart Bets: The Whispering Tree
There's a pretty romantic story behind folk rock duo The Whispering Tree: classically trained vocalist Eleanor Kleiner and French bassist Elie Brangbour met at music school in London and decided to not just take their show on the road, but around the world. Their 2010 debut, Go Call The Captain, was influenced by their globe […]
Smart Bets: BZDesign fashion show
Smart Bets: Resonant Rogues
The Resonant Rogues journey through a variety of folk traditions. With their band, Asheville songwriters Keith Smith (guitar, percussion, vocals) and Sparrow Pants (accordion, banjo, vocals) blend Balkan, klezmer and Gypsy music with hot jazz and old-time mountain standards. The adventurous group will take these roots music explorations across the country this summer, on a […]
Smart Bets: Foster the People
Who didn't get pumped up by "Pumped Up Kicks," that viral dance song by L.A.-based pop band Foster the People? The trio was formed by Mark Foster, who found little success as a commercial jingle writer but reached No. 1 on the Billboard alternative chart with that single from Foster the People's 2011 debut, Torches. […]
Camera ready
When the director calls "Action!" at the 48 Hour Film Project kickoff, it's no joke. Everyone involved, from writers of costumers to actors and camera crew better move at top speed because that 48 hour deadline is hard and fast. Short films are expected to be scripted, shot, edited and submitted in two whirlwind days. […]
Calendar highlights: June Jamboree, Grand Bohemian Gallery exhibit, Art in the Park
Clubland features: Neutopia, Blank Tapes, That’s a Thing
Psychedelic textures: Cody Sarabia and friends invite local art lovers to “indulge all of your senses in a surreal environment filled with audio/visual textures” during Neutopia, an art installation and potluck with musical performances by Minima Moralia, I Am Just a Pupil and Artifax. The multimedia smorgasbord unfolds on Saturday, June 22 at Apothecary. Summer […]
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers at the Grey Eagle
Click through for the recap and slide show from last week’s performance. Photos by John Zara.
The Urban Gypsy Trunk Show returns
The retro and vintage pop-up clothing sale will be held above Mountain Lights (30 N. Lexington Ave.) on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23.
Strings and Suds Festival redux
Relive last weekend at Pisgah Brewing where Keller Williams and The Travelin’ McCourys (the backing band for guitarist/vocalist Del McCoury) took the stage, along with sets by Hot Tuna Acoustic and Jill Sobule, and Asheville’s own bluegrass act Sanctum Sully performing late-night on the indoor stage. Click through for videos.
CalCast: June 14-16
Hear traditional music at the Bluff Mountain Festival, celebrate dad and see The Importance of Being Earnest this weekend. Podcast hosted by Theresa Amandi.
Harry Seidler: Architecture, Art and Collaborative Design
The exhibition, which takes an intimate look at some of the pivotal moments in Seidler’s upbringing and the relationships forged with those around him, opens tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center. Photo of Walter Gropius and Harry Seidler.