"After many years in the wilds of non-fiction, I've returned to my first love, short stories," reads the notice atop author Steve Almond’s website. His new book, God Bless America, is, according to the New York Times Book Review, "a meditation on the American Dream and its discontents. In his most ambitious collection yet, Steve […]

Billing itself as the largest children's film festival in the Southeast, the AICFF returns for the third year, bringing more than 70 films from 25 countries to a 10-day screening marathon. Options include animation, features, shorts, historical films and "fantastic hands-on, interactive workshops for the filmmakers of tomorrow." Venues are Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Earth […]

Looking for a more mature film fest? Asheville Cinema Society (formed last year) presents this four-day affair, with screenings at the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium, Asheville Community Theatre and the Masonic Lodge in downtown Asheville. Workshops and discussions take place at The LAB. Opening night (with a gala reception) is Thursday, Nov. 3 with events […]

Cellos, feathers, corsets, punk-rock attitude, folkloric songs — this and more makes up dark cabaret trio Rasputina. The group is fronted by cellist/singer Melora Creager and recently added its first male cellist, Daniel DeJesus. Dawn Miceli rounds out the group on percussion. Rasputina returns to The Grey Eagle on Friday, Nov. 4. The Wilderness of […]

It's weird when you can say you've known someone for 20 years, or lived somewhere for 20 years, or did something 20 years ago. For jazz-fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood, that 20-year mark represents their career. To celebrate, they've been recording and releasing two tracks per month since March (there will be 20 in […]

In case you missed Kids These Days at Bele Chere (remember? the classically and jazz-trained musicians, ages 17-21, who filled in last-minute after Mambo Sauce dropped out?), here's another chance to see the Chicago-based collective. They bring their jazz, singer/songwriter and hip-hop-influenced sound to The Orange Peel on Friday, Nov. 4. Trombone Shorty & Orleans […]

Local roots-rockers Big Daddy Love have only been performing for the past two years, but fast friendships among the band members, well-crafted songs and a great mix of driving beats and supple Americana melodies make the group fan favorites. The band keeps busy with its "Love Bus Weekly" blog newsletter, and playing plenty of shows […]

Did you know that River Arts District theater The Magnetic Field hosts more than just plays? The Magnetic Music series brings (as the name suggests) music to the stage. Local Americana/roots/country/bluegrass act Dehlia Low, currently supporting new release Ravens and Crows (produced by the Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book) plays three shows: Wednesdays Nov. 2, 9 […]

Quarterly literary reading series Juniper Bends celebrates its second anniversary with (what else?) a reading. The event takes place at BoBo Gallery on Thursday, Nov. 3 from 8-11 p.m. and will run the gamut from prose to poetry. Listen to work by Shad Marsh, Brian Hart, Tamiko Ambrose, Charles Dodd White, Rick Chess, Holly Iglesias, […]

From kids' books to hard hitting political topics, there's a book for every type of reader. Which is great, but what's even better is meeting the authors behind the books. Asheville Bookfest, held Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., offers just that opportunity. The festival takes place on the lawn at the top of […]

It's not every day that you come across an event that is both family-friendly and "dripping with fake blood and shambling." Well, the day (Saturday, Oct. 22) has arrived, and the event is the annual Asheville Zombie Walk. And this year — on top of the gore, the groans, the cravings for brains — the […]

Local experimental/instrumental outfit Hello Hugo is Rosser Douglas, Nick Prather, Reid Weigner and Justin Holt. Douglas, Prather and Holt made up the band Seawhistle before Hello Hugo's inception. They describe their current sound as being "like steeping tea for the perfect amount of time." You decide: The band releases its debut CD with "a full […]

This one's a twofer. First, it's the biannual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, from Thursday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 23. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; $8 or free for children under age 12.) Second, it's hand-crafted mountain music with all-female Honey Holler. The local string band took home first place in […]

Though he's best known as the frontman for Asheville/Charlotte power-pop trio The Zealots, George Terry McDonald is also a visual artist. A host of renowned painters (Carravagio, Rembrandt, Warhol), cartoons, outsider artists and Manhattan’s Lower East Side influenced his work — vibrant and meticulous narrative scenes and landscapes. McDonald's paintings are currently on display at […]

You've heard of Record Store Day, right? Well, now independent video stores get their day, too. Saturday, Oct. 15 is to be the first Independent Video Store Day — a chance for VHS and DVD buffs to celebrate the local stores that thrive "on customer service, eclectic selections and a voracious dedication to the media," […]

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams makes a return trip to Asheville this year, this time to benefit Wild South. (The local nonprofit "aims to protect wild lands, wildlife and the wild character of the South.") Williams, who is touring in support of her 2011 album Blessed, will play Pisgah Brewing Company’s outdoor stage on Saturday, Oct. […]

What's better than having an annual weekend-long family-friendly festival of eclectic music, dancing, storytelling, poetry, visual and performance arts, jam sessions, kids activities and camping? How about having it twice each year? The fall installation of Lake Eden Arts Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 20-23. The lineup includes Sweet Honey In the Rock, Galactic, Leo […]

Castell Photography's newest exhibition, Manipulated, introduces 50 works by 32 artists, selected from a pool of nearly 400 entries. The show was juried by Ariel Shanberg, the executive director of The Center for Photography at Woodstock. Photographers who'd like to glean some of Shanberg's knowledge can can attend the Saturday, Oct. 15 social hour at […]

Soul singer Sidney Barnes made a bit of a splash earlier this year backing up local band The Secret B-Sides on their album Flowers & Chocolate. But Barnes has been performing longer than most of the Secret B-Sides' members have been alive. Barnes recorded with Motown stars, introduced George Clinton and his do-wop group Parliaments […]

This year, festival season started in West Asheville and it's wrapping up there, too. On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8, Drone Valley presents its fifth annual music and arts fest, showcasing regional artists in a number of local venues. The lineup includes The Death of Analog, Grammer School, Vincent's Missing Ear, Green My […]