Empyrean Arts observes its fourth anniversary with Freakshow, a showcase of student performances (and birthday cake) on Saturday, July 27.

Empyrean Arts observes its fourth anniversary with Freakshow, a showcase of student performances (and birthday cake) on Saturday, July 27.
This year’s Xpand Fest takes place Saturday, June 8, in the South Slope neighborhood. Nashville-based funk-rock collective Dynamo headlines a lineup of otherwise Asheville-area entertainment.
Performing aerial arts — aka aerials — such as silks, trapeze and hoop may seem to require an almost superhuman amount of strength. But as new circus-arts studios and collectives have opened throughout Asheville in the past decade, opportunities for both serious performers and beginners have grown.
This week: an aerial arts training space, a moaning art installation and a way to look out for some fuzzy friends.