Instead of a packed house, musician April Bennett and local hip-hop band Lyric played to a nearly empty space at the Orange Peel for the May 15 livestream of Downtown After 5. “It was definitely weird playing in one of the biggest rooms in the city with no people in it except for the staff who were recording it,” she remarks with a laugh. “But I was really glad for that [opportunity]. It was definitely a much-needed morale boost during these crazy, crazy times.”
Downtown After 5 goes digital to kick off its 2020 concert series with a pair of local bands.
In a celebration of all things voted Best of WNC in 2018, Mountain Xpress and Highland Brewing Co. (winner in several beer and brewery categories) partnered to throw a party for the second year in a row. With nearly double the attendance from the previous year, the fun was flowing in Asheville.
Asheville-based R&B artist Leeda “Lyric” Jones debuts the music video for her new single “Focus On Us” at The Social on Thursday, March 15.
The spoken word series’ second installment takes place Nov. 12 at The Mothlight.
The star-studded benefit concert for the Reynolds Community Center takes place Oct. 28 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Compassion, and possibly shared frustration, is the basis of Together We Stand, a series of dance performances onstage at the Diana Wortham Theatre Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24.
The event, now in its second year, showcases Asheville’s soul musicians. The production takes place at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 13.
The concert was part of a fundraiser event for local nonprofit MountainTrue, benefitting French Broad River conservation.
Lyric will open for iconic vocalist Mavis Staples at an upcoming benefit for MountainTrue. The Orange Peel hosts the show on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Asheville GreenWorks’ upcoming fundraiser, which features dancing and barbecuing, takes place at Asheville Outdoor Center on Thursday, Sept. 29.
The Other Way Around tackles many of these big-picture themes, but LaMotte’s approach is subtle. “I don’t like songs that are all message-y, that hit people over the head,” he says. His music almost always has an objective, “but I want to make the point artfully, in such a way that people can interpret it as they like.”
MG Road hosts a Persian feast to support Hadaya Toys, Coffee for Champions project partners with local coffee shops to raise money for Buncombe County Special Olympics, Corner Kitchen rolls out a summer menu and the 1LUV Food & Music Festival offers 25 food trucks and local beer along with four days of music and fun.
As we pin our shiniest hopes and dreams on 2016, it makes sense to see its predecessor out in style. Whether that entails peaceful chanting, serious rocking, communing with the undead or benefiting a worthy cause, Xpress has a party for every reveler.
The Mountain Soul Party will feature plenty of room on the dance floor. Coupled with the venue’s well-regarded acoustics, that open space should make for an uptempo evening.
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features local band Lyric’s forthcoming EP plus one cat lover’s cozy and eco-friendly invention for felines.
The Lee Boys help close out the final RiverMusic installment of the season Friday, Oct. 9. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. with Lyric; Fred Wesley & The New JBs headline at 8:15 p.m.
While past Barnaroos have unintentionally focused on rock and blues acts, this year includes groups like Les Amis, Danielle Howle and Bare The Traveler. The sixth annual festival is held at Frannie’s Farm Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27.
Tickets for the second Western North Carolina Battle of the Burger are on sale this week. Plus, local restaurants and wineries have special events planned for Independence Day.
From funk to soul, roots to rock ‘n’ roll, here’s the full lineup of bands playing free sets in Carrier Park Friday through Sunday, May 22-24.
2015 marks the fourth year of River Link’s al fresco music series aside the River Arts District’s beloved French Broad River. The concerts, held on five separate Friday evenings from May through October, “assemble a top notch mix of quality national acts and local favorites” at no charge to attendees.
