Asheville’­s pop-country artists move into the spotlight

“Country music in Asheville is becoming a thing now, and that’s awesome,” says Joe Lasher Jr. The Weaverville native got his start at 16 and now, at 19, splits his time between WNC and Nashville where he writes songs. “In Nashville, it’s country and rock in every music venue. Asheville is very unique in its music. It’s made me appreciate all music more.”

5 questions with North of Nashville

“America’s two-man outlaw country band” is the tagline for North of Nashville, the collaborating between Jay Basiner (acoustic guitar, lead vocals, harmonica, percussion) and Andrew Martelle (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals). As the duo’s name suggests, they’re located north of Music City. Far north. In Maine. But Basiner and Martelle have a pitch-perfect country sound, from […]

Sound Check: D. Striker

Longtime Nashville resident (by way of Athens, Ga.) D. Striker mixes a serious love of country music with a knack for satire. He publishes RR, a zine that “tackles Nashville’s past and present while throwing up a salute to revelry and crazy people,” every Friday the 13th. And his new album, Come Over Here, deals […]

Smart bets: D. Striker

Friday promises to be country-strong: First, Texas songwriter Hayes Carll headlines Downtown After Five. And later, Nashville-based musician D. Striker plays a set at Jack of the Wood. Of the tracks on his new album, Come Over Here, Striker says, “‘Three Dudes In An Office’ questions the sincerity of chest-thumping country boys singing redneck odes […]