Hiroya — who will be will be performing at Isis Restuarant & Music Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 2 — began his musical journey on this most Appalachian of instruments, though growing up in rural Japan didn’t make it easy for him to learn
Tag: world music
Showing 1-14 of 14 results
The Juan Benavides Group moves its weekly residency to The Millroom
The local world music outfit has outgrown its popular spot at 5 Walnut. The move to The Millroom triples capacity and promises room for dancing.
Rising Appalachia goes more global and more local
Rising Appalachia’s eighth album, Wider Circles, has just been released, and the group (also featuring percussionist Biko Cassini and bassist/guitarist David Brown) will appear onstage in its current hometown, at New Mountain’s amphitheatre on Saturday, June 13.
Sound values: How LEAF’s eclectic lineup defines the festival’s ethos
The 2015 lineup for LEAF, which prides itself on its globally conscious reach, is unsurprisingly excellent. Topping the bills each night are acts that range from soul revival firebrand Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires to Australian world-roots act Xavier Rudd & the United Nations, demonstrating the festival’s knack for mixing quality bedrock American music with an eclectic range of styles that span the Earth.
Smart bet web extra: Nataraj
The ecstatic dance band will perform at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Saturday, March 8.
Border crossing
Abigail Washburn debuts her new genre- and culture-blending trio, The Wu Force (with Wu Fei and Kai Welch), at The Grey Eagle on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Sound Track: Moonflower
The 20-track double-album by local chant and world music group Shantavaani is a collection of ancient and modern spiritual songs and writings from Asian, paired with contemporary folk originals.
Smart bets web extra: Kirtan leader Jai Uttal returns to Asheville
The Grammy-nominated performer presents a concert and workshop this weekend.
Adron: Easily digestible, culturally rich
Toubab Krewe has no shortage of enthusiasts in Asheville. But fans of exotic pop music have another compelling reason to catch the band’s Jan. 19 show (part of a two-night run) at The Orange Peel.
REVIEW: World-class guitarist Pierre Bensusan wows the Altamont
Bensusan’s gorgeous music is hard to pigeonhole, as it draws upon a wealth of styles from Celtic to middle-eastern to jazz and beyond, in a seamless blend that’s definitely more than the sum of its parts. “Astonishing” was the word overheard from the adjoining table, and it fits.
Bombino: Star in the making
The North African songwriter and guitarist has already lived through war, played in bands for half of his life, worked with Keith Richards and Angelina Jolie, and achieved fame in his homeland. He plays Grey Eagle on Thursday.
Sound Track web extra: River Guerguerian
Xpress got to listen to an advance copy of Grooves for Odd Times by local percussionist River Guerguerian.
Soundtrack
When Arundas plays, the crowd is a mix of friends and family, belly dancers and the broad array of Asheville freaks who want to get down and boogie. Arundas plays a range of collaborative music that explores fantasy-like mystical rhythms, incorporating sitar, dun-duns, chanting and heavy, heavy drumming. Arundas tunes in to far-flung inspirations and […]
Soundtrack
It's a well-documented fact at this juncture: Asheville's sound is a melting pot, a smorgasbord, a sonic gumbo. But just in case you needed further proof, this week's roundup — pulled at random from a stack of submitted CDs — turns up rock, Americana, world/spiritual, bluegrass and jazz guitar. Consider it potluck listening. Shed by […]