A Soulful Christmas Gospel Concert

On Saturday, Dec. 21 the Bethel Youth Ministries Department presents “A Soulful Christmas” gospel concert at Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church. The event will feature the Bethel Chorale, Bethel Gospel Choir and the Gospel Sensations (pictured) from Greensboro, NC. Tickets are $10 per person and proceeds from the concert will benefit the Bethel Bears Pathfinder Club. A Holiday Market featuring local business will be held after the concert.

Sound Check: Balsa Gliders

Last week, Charlotte/Raleigh/Philadelphia-based Balsa Gliders blew through town for an all-too-brief visit. Before the band’s energetic set at The Odditorium, they talked about keeping the creative impetus going and remaining current in the regional music scene. Click through for the video interview and exclusive performance. Photo by The Balsa Gliders on Instagram.

Five (or more) Questions with Free Radio

Local hip-hop band Free Radio, fronted by Austin Haynes and Johnny Reynolds, will play the exclusive Pre-Jam (kicking off the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam) this Thursday. In advance of the show, Austin talks to Xpress about Free Radio’s new as-yet-to-be-named backing band, what it means to represent Asheville at the Christmas Jam, and why sharing a stage with his uncle is such a big deal. Photo by Nick King.

Still going strong: Christmas Jam celebrates 25 years of benefit concerts with two-night blowout

Reflecting on his 25 years of annual Christmas Jam benefit concerts, Warren Haynes says there’s been “too many highlights to list.” The event’s grown from a small concert at the now-defunct 45 Cherry nightclub into one of the city’s biggest entertainment events, held this year on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, at the U.S. Cellular Center. With proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity, the shows are meant to celebrate Asheville’s philanthropic and artistic values, says Haynes.

Five (or more) questions with Sai

After a stint in Knoxville, electronic musician and producer Sai (aka 9th Phoenix) moved her family back to Asheville. She holds a release show for her new album, “Iyen,” on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Club Metropolis. That event includes sets by E8 electronique, Sonen and Dj Arque, and a runway show by fashion designer Danielle Miller of Royal Peasantry. Photo by Rudy Aguilar.