Open Streets Asheville will celebrate homegrown businesses, local connections and healthy and safe physical activity with a car-free festival that will close selected downtown streets on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 18.
Tag: Bele Chere
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An interview with Asheville Downtown Development Specialist Dana Frankel
New downtown development specialist and Asheville native Dana Frankel took time from her busy schedule to speak with Xpress about growing up in the city, her role among downtown stakeholders, facilitating equity around the central business district and what makes Asheville special to her.
Letter writer: Black people are denied justice and truth
” I would say the repeated, almost daily, killing of unarmed and nonviolent black men, boys, women and girls is absolutely heartbreaking, soul-destroying and completely depressing.”
The changing landscape of Asheville’s free music festivals
Walking the streets of downtown Asheville can be a musical experience. Most evenings bring encounters with an assortment of buskers, drummers and dancers. The city also hosts a large, if ever-changing, calendar of free music events and festivals scattered throughout the year. Some have been around for decades, while others are preparing to launch.
Asheville City Council preview: Of food and festivals
Next Tuesday, Sept. 24, Asheville City Council will consider an overhaul of the city’s agricultural ordinances to allow for growing more food in more places. Council will also contemplate making official inquiries into partnering with private organizations to find an event to replace Bele Chere.
Kishi Bashi revisited
We’re still thinking about the incredible Bele Chere set by multi-instrumentalist K. Ishibashi and his band. Here’s a video of his song “Intro/Pathos, Pathos.”
The Booty Band’s ode to the posterior
Asheville’s funk collective performed “Badonkadonk” live at Bele Chere. Click through for the video.
Rolling the credits
While Doc Aquatic’s Sunday show at Bele Chere was not the final set of the festival, the local band’s potent mix of psychedelic experimentation and relaxed indie-rock played like the final word on a weekend’s worth of music. Photos by John Zara.
Bele Chere day 3 roundup
Click through for photos (by John Zara) of Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Doc Aquatic and Mountain Goats.
In photos: The Bele Chere music lineup
Check out this slideshow of the full weekend’s worth of bands.
Asheville remembers Bele Chere
Whether you mourned the loss or celebrated its final days, Bele Chere has now been packed up and laid to rest after 35 years. To help with the grieving process, Xpress asked the community to share how they felt about Bele Chere’s final chapter. These are some of the parting words, pictures, videos and more about the summer street festival’s last celebration.
Bele Chere day 2 roundup
Click through for photos (by John Zara) of Matrimony, Space Capone, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, David Holt, Moon Taxi, Son of Bill, Kishi Bashi, The Birchtree Band, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and videos (by Jesse Hamm) of Kishi Bashi and the Booty Band.
Bele Chere dies in the streets at 35
Three and a half decades of taxpayer-funded and city-organized fanfare and fury for an annual festival celebrating the region’s art, music and cuisine set amidst a backdrop fire with social, business and financial love and despair came to end on Sunday afternoon. Bele Chere was 35.
Bid farewell to Bele Chere
It’s time to say goodbye (or good riddance) to Bele Chere, and Xpress wants you to help write the festival’s obituary. Use #RIPBeleChere to be part of the fun this weekend.
Soundtrack for a summer evening
Kishi Bashi headlined a magical Saturday night at Bele Chere. Photos by John Zara.
Putting the party in street party
Local funk ensemble Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band kicked off Bele Chere’s Saturday night with style to spare, and a fierce horn solo or two. Photos by John Zara.
Matrimony at Bele Chere
The family band from Charlotte, N.C., put their own spin on roots-rock during an energetic and uplifting set. Photos by John Zara.
Bele Chere day 1 roundup
Click through for photos (by John Zara) of Bright Lights Social Hour, Dan Deacon and Wanda Jackson, and videos (by Jesse Hamm) of CrazyHorse & Colston and Chuck Brodsky.
Leisurely lunch: Have a look at what folks are eating at Bele Chere
Gyros prove popular near Pritchard Park, and Taste of Asheville holds (food) court at the Vance Monument.
CrazyHorse & Colston at Bele Chere
The local hip-hop act opened the festival in style, with a set of songs that celebrated the South (and specifically, Asheville) with plenty of swagger. And lots of guests.
Last stop shopping
Even if this is the final Bele Chere, the arts, crafts and wares for sale are as good as ever. Shop on Haywood and College Streets; Patton, Battery Park and Biltmore Avenues; and in the Art Park on Patton Avenue.