Welcome to the 34th annual Bele Chere. To some, the festival translates as “beautiful living”; to others it means “leave town.” If the first applies to you, please proceed. Lift your eyes for a moment and take in the hordes: of people, food, music, art and heat. Before you disappear into this confetti of entertainment, […]
Throughout Bele Chere weekend, a block of Lexington Avenue becomes a stage, hosting dances, community music sessions and more. Visit the Interactive Performance Area at Lexington and Walnut to get into the fabulous fray. Friday, July 27 5-6 Ballroom dance with Lisa Puckett Bader 6:15-7 Urban Arts Institute 8-10 Community drum circle Saturday, July 28 […]
Friday, July 27 Coxe Avenue Stage 5 – 6 Spicy Moustache & the Flavor Saviors Funk 6:30 – 7:45 The Buchanan Boys Country 8:15 – 9:45 Blackberry Smoke Southern Rock Biltmore Stage 5 – 6:15 Whitney Moore Latin/World 6:45 – 8 David Mayfield Parade Americana 8:30 – 10 Lucero Rock Battery Park Stage 4:30 – […]
Antique Firearms This year has been the year for local indie-rockers Antique Firearms. Actually, the musicians have only been a band for about a year, but already they've released a substantial EP, developed a noteworthy atmospheric sound and headlined a local showcase at The Orange Peel. The smart, sonically intriguing quintet is made up of […]
To local hip-hop band CrazyHorse & Colston, playing Bele Chere is a big deal — partly because the duo (Max Hupertz and Bryan Godleski) both grew up in Western North Carolina, and partly because at last year’s festival, hip-hop fans voiced their disappointment about the lack of the genre on the lineup. “It does feel […]
According to Blackberry Smoke singer/guitarist Charlie Starr, the term “Southern rock” isn't a bad thing. "It's not an insult to us," he says. "Just don't short-change us: We're not a tribute act and we're not a cover band." There is plenty about the quintet that suggests the '70s, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers — […]
For most of its excellent and exuberant duration, Lucero’s 2009 album 1372 Overton Park occupies the all-out-party-and-subsequent-fallout cycle of the band’s previous efforts. Bolstered by horns for the first time in its career, the Memphis-based sextet barrels through barroom punk anthems about the women and wonders that slipped through their fingers as booze slipped through […]
While most kids his age were dreaming about becoming astronauts and professional athletes, David Mayfield was touring the country in his family's bluegrass band. By his early 20s, the Ohio native was surviving as a "gun-for-hire" in Nashville, writing songs for other artists and eventually stepping into the world of producing, where he earned a […]
Saturday, July 28 Coxe Avenue Stage 12:30 – 2 Michael Reno Harrell Singer-songwriter/Folk 2:30 – 4 Sanctum Sully Folk 4:30 – 6 Aunt Martha Folk/Country 6:30 – 8 ArtOfficial Hip-hop/Funk 8:30 – 10 Dr. Dog Indie Biltmore Stage 12:15 – 1:45 The Archrivals Jazz/Rock 2:15 – 3:45 Grown Up Avenger Stuff Alternative Rock 4:15 – […]
ArtOfficial Hip-hop/jazz/funk ensemble ArtOfficial is considered (at least by one vocal fan) to be the best band in Miami. Formed from two defunct bands (one hip-hop, one jazz), ArtOfficial prides itself on an original sound, eschewing drum machines and samples in favor of "organic instrumentation." http://www.artofficialmusic.net Aunt Martha Few bands subtitle their names. Folk-country outfit […]
If you're wondering who The Critters are, you're probably not from around here. The psych-pop quartet has seen a meteoric rise in WNC, releasing its debut EP, performing at last year's Bele Chere festival, filming a session for Moog's AHA AVL series and landing in the Xpress' Best of WNC readers' poll, all in the […]
It’s starting to seem like Dr. Dog has a crush on Asheville. The Philadelphia-based five-piece performed at the Orange Peel in March, it headlines this weekend's Bele Chere festival and it's slated to return again in August for a slot at nearby Boone's Music on the Mountaintop. Not to mention the gushing endorsements for Asheville's […]
Sunday, July 29 Coxe Avenue Stage 1 – 2 Baby Rattlesnakes Folk/Jazz/Rock 2:30 – 4 Jonathan Scales Fourchestra Jazz/Rock/Fusion 4:30 – 6 David Wax Museum Americana Biltmore Stage 12:30 – 1:30 Ten Hollow Americana 2 – 3:30 Balsam Range Bluegrass 4 – 5:30 Brandi Carlile Pop/Rock Battery Park Stage 12:45 – 1:45 Lacy Green Country […]
Baby Rattlesnakes Originally called “The Lonely Christmas Band,” the band that would become Baby Rattlesnakes played holiday covers for their friends. But the chemistry of the group inspired them to expand beyond the seasonal repertoire, writing their own material inspired by elements of soul, pop and Appalachian folk. The Asheville-based six-piece band melts hearts with […]
Brandi Carlile isn't just playing Bele Chere because some booking agent somewhere routed her tour through Western North Carolina. She loves this town, she tells Xpress. And, having played the Grey Eagle and the Orange Peel already, "I thought I'd try something different." A festival seems just about right for the singer-songwriter (and Lillith Fair […]
It’s easy to image that the passports of David Wax Museum’s three core players (frontman David Wax, Suz Slezak and Greg Glassman) are dog-eared and stamped to capacity from use. In addition to touring the U.S. and traveling to Mexico to collect field recordings for September release Knock Knock Get Up (it was produced on […]
There are some foodies out there who scoff at all things fried and turn up their noses at any sort of what-have-you on a stick. These two staples of the festival food group are exactly what Bele Chere vendors have in spades, so what’s a gourmand to do? Relax. In Asheville, you can have kale […]
There’s more to a festival than rock bands, misting tents, funnel cakes and sunburns. There’s shopping! And Bele Chere doesn’t just have a few booths; it’s lined with vendors from end to end, selling everything from lawn art and broomstick skirts to paper hats and leather jewelry. Whether you’re planning to knock out your holiday […]
Depending on whom you ask, anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 music, art and street-festival seekers are about to descend on our city. The streets will once again cram with temporary tenements selling everything from jewelry to kabobs. And among the myriad visitors and locals in attendance are dozens of visiting and local artists exhibiting work […]
Friday, July 27 ARCADE: DJ Abu Dissaray, 9 p.m. Asheville Music Hall: Common Foundation (reggae) w/ Chalwa, Dub Kartel & Marrietta's Palm, 10 p.m. Athena's Club: Mark Appleford (blues, folk, rock), 6-10 p.m. — DJ, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Boiler Room: Decline of Western North Carolina showcase, 8 p.m. Club Hairspray: Dance party w/ DJ Lil […]
