On her debut solo album, A New Perspective, Frances moves ever so slightly away from the collaborative nature of those projects, and toward a collection of songs that displays her musical talents front and center.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/mary_frances_anp-330x330.jpg)
On her debut solo album, A New Perspective, Frances moves ever so slightly away from the collaborative nature of those projects, and toward a collection of songs that displays her musical talents front and center.
The Los Angeles band’s music — as showcased on its third and latest album, Freedom is Free, released March 3 — weds infectious soul grooves to thought-provoking lyrics, and draws from styles well outside the Latino music scene. Chicano Batman plays The Mothlight Wednesday, March 22.
Roedelius makes a rare North American appearance at The Mothlight on March 18 before heading to Knoxville for this year’s Big Ears Festival.
A couple of traveling, storytelling troubadours, a regional jazz collective and some Irish music just in time for St. Patrick’s Day — those are the topics of this installment.
“One thing we really try to do is honor the fundamentals that are so important to old-time and bluegrass music: the timing, the tones, the hard-driving rhythms,” says Stickley. Despite the adventurousness of the trio’s arrangements, Stickley says that he still often feels the he’s “playing music that could be done around the campfire with a couple of other people who know the songs.”
Often and unfairly pigeonholed as a Mexican-American rock band, Los Lonely Boys draw from many styles of music to create their original songs. The band comes to plays Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville on Wednesday, March 8.
Amandla is a studio creation of Claude Coleman Jr., an Asheville multi-instrumentalist best-known as the drummer for Ween. But unlike the decidedly acquired-taste music made by Ween, Amandla makes pure ear candy. Released Feb. 14, Laughing Hearts (Marshall Hotel Records) is the third album using the Amandla name. An album release party is scheduled for […]
The band came together in 2012 almost by accident, according to saxophonist Pauly Juhl. “A friend’s sister was getting married,” he recalls, “and she wanted a New Orleans-style brass band for her rehearsal dinner. My friend asked me if I could put a group together.”
We’ve got folk-jazz, folk-blues, electronica-jazz and straight-up New Orleans funk on tap.
Dr. Bacon took some time to develop its sound. Talbott says that the original group knew what it liked: “It was kind of alt-rock,” he says. “But when we started busking on the streets in Boone, we quickly learned that if you play bluegrass, you get paid to do it.”
All four of the acts spotlighted in this edition are American; none is from Asheville, but all are musically adventurous and intriguing enough to justify a trip out on a potentially wintry February (or early March) Asheville evening.
Cholmondeley relocated to Asheville more than a decade ago, and he plays shows as a solo act, and is guitarist in Wham Bam Bowie Band. But he spends a good portion of his time away, touring with a big-name act or leading Project/Object.
The career of violinist and singer Gaelynn Lea got a big boost when she won last year’s Tiny Desk Contest. That allowed her to perform on the popular NPR podcast hosted by Bob Boilen.
A look at the nexus where psychedelia and classical meet, a local jam, ukulele music, and an edgy singer-songwriter for the 21st century.
“A lot of these younger bands, you know, they tend to sound alike,” says Del McCoury. “But those boys, they have their own sound.”
While Andrew Scotchie’s celebration honors his late father’s memory, it’s anything but a solemn event. “As far as my heart and soul goes, it’s the best way for me to start the New Year,” he says.
This week’s roundup includes Dweezil Zappa, Wendy Jones, Airpark and The Legendary Shack Shakers.
Turchi headed back to his roots, recording Tallahatchie, a solo record in the truest sense of the word. “The only sort of natural and right thing to do musically — personally, too — was to get back to the most basic, square-one kind of music,” he says.
For several years now, Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval has crafted a special December program for audiences. He presents “Celtic Christmas,” a family-friendly performance that showcases not only Christmas traditions, but observances of older pagan rituals centered around winter solstice.
The final roundup of 2016 includes Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, The Nth Power, The Cheeksters and Marching Church.
From the standpoint of live music, this year has been another remarkable one for Western North Carolina. In addition to some superb homegrown/local talent, Asheville remains a popular destination for some of the very best touring musical acts.