Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Saturday, November 18, 2023
Romare Bearden: Ways of Working Exhibition
Nov 18 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Romare Bearden (Charlotte, NC 1911–1988 New York, NY), African American writer and artist, is renowned for his collages. He constantly experimented with various techniques to achieve his artistic goals throughout his career. This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores his most frequently used mediums, including screen-printing, lithography, hand-colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage.

 

Bearden’s work reflects his improvisational approach to his practice. He considered his process akin to that of jazz and blues composers. Starting with an open mind, he would let an idea evolve spontaneously.

 

Romare Bearden: Ways of Working highlights Bearden’s unique artistic practice and masterful storytelling through art,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jerald Melberg Gallery to present these extraordinary works on paper in conversation with Bearden’s collage Sunset Express, 1984 in the Museum Collection (on view in the Museum’s SECU Collection Hall). This exhibition will also provide a glimpse into the cultural histories and personal interests that influenced his art-making practice, and we hope it encourages introspection and dialogue with our visitors.”

 

Jerald Melberg states, “Romare Bearden’s groundbreaking artistic practice continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With an unparalleled legacy of creativity and innovation, Bearden’s contributions to art remain deeply influential years beyond his life.” We have enjoyed organizing this exhibition with the Asheville Art Museum to showcase his artistic genius and inspire visitors from the Western North Carolina region and beyond.”

 

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Judy Appleton Fund. Many thanks to the Jerald Melberg Gallery for the loan of these important artworks and to Mary and Jerald Melberg for their long-standing support of the arts, artists, and the Asheville Art Museum.

St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church and Cemetery Tours
Nov 18 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church

Tours of the Historic Church and Churchyard at St. John

Tours of St. John in the Wilderness are sponsored and led by a team of volunteer docents who seek to tell the story of our historic parish. Tours are held every third Saturday of the month at 11:00am and last about one hour.

There is no cost to tour the churchyard. Please wear comfortable shoes, and meet in the Carriage Entrance of the church. Space is limited to 30 people per tour, and sign-ups using the button below are required.

The guided tours will be held the first and third Saturdays from July through September and
the third Saturday only from October through December.
They begin promptly at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. Participants are encouraged to wear
comfortable shoes. There will be no rain dates.
The historically significant churchyard contains graves of un-named 19th century people who
were enslaved as well as distinguished political figures, and local citizens.

Stella Alesi: SQUISH
Nov 18 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tracey Morgan Gallery

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of paintings by artist Stella Alesi in our project space. This is Alesi’s first exhibition with the gallery and is presented in conjunction with Hannah Cole: A Mirror, Not a Window in our main gallery space. A reception for both artists will be held Friday, November 3 from 6-8PM.

The works on view are from the SQUISHY series, a group of geometric, abstract oil on oil paper paintings. With the use of simple shapes and a limited color palette, these works explore the visceral experience of living at this current moment. Alesi’s colorful, “squishy” shapes bend to the demands placed on them by their seemingly heavy, unforgiving counterparts. With this work, Alesi confronts contemporary issues such as climate change and political turmoil, as well as personal trials, using basic shapes, both hard and malleable to express a state of being. The shapes are gestural, fluid, and animated – sometimes resembling body parts even in their minimalism. The effect is a playful interpretation of heavy topics – a visual play on the deep and multi-layer well of human emotions.

Stella Alesi works across several styles and mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, collage, and large wall works. Their practice is characterized by a willingness to try new approaches in the ongoing investigation into new materials and visual languages, always exploring new ways to represent the visceral nature of the human experience. Born on Long Island, New York in 1963, Alesi was raised in New Jersey. They studied at Parsons School of Design, New York City; University Hampshire, Durham; and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Their work has been purchased by many private and commercial collections. Career highlights include a recent solo exhibit (spring of 2023) at the Northern-Southern gallery, Austin, TX and a large-scale permanent installation in the lobby of The Foundry, Austin TX. Alesi currently lives and works in both Austin, TX and Asheville, NC.

Tours of the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness
Nov 18 @ 11:00 am
Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness

The church and churchyard (cemetery) tours are sponsored by the St. John Episcopal Church
Docents. They will begin inside the Carriage Door entrance of the church. Reverend Josh
Stephens said, “The response has been overwhelming since we resumed tours last year to
learn about this historic church and churchyard. Beginning in 1836 and to this day, a vibrant
congregation has welcomed all to come to this sacred place and share in the story of St. John
in the Wilderness.”
The tours are free but advance reservations must be made online through the church’s
website, www.stjohnflatrock.org/tours.  Space is limited for each tour.
The guided tours will be held the third Saturdays in November and December.
They begin promptly at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. Participants are encouraged to wear
comfortable shoes. There will be no rain dates.
The historically significant churchyard contains graves of un-named 19th century people who
were enslaved as well as distinguished political figures, and local citizens.
The church is located at 1895 Greenville Highway. For more information call the church
office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

In 1827, Charles Baring, a member of the Baring banking family of England, built a home in
Flat Rock. He and his wife, Susan, wanted a summer place to escape the oppressive heat,
humidity, and malaria of the South Carolina Lowcountry where they lived.
The Barings built a chapel on the property of their newly constructed home. Soon after it was
built the small wooden structure burned down in a woods fire. In 1833 work began on a
second church built of handmade brick.
In August of 1836 the Barings deeded their chapel to the Diocese of North Carolina and 20
members of the Flat Rock “summer colony” formed themselves into an Episcopal parish. In
the 1890s when the Missionary District of Asheville (later Diocese of Western North
Carolina) was formed, St. John in the Wilderness transferred its affiliation. It is the oldest
parish in the diocese.
With almost all the church members traveling back to the Lowcountry after the summer
season, the church mainly operated during summer months for its first 120 years. So rapid
was the growth of the Flat Rock community during the 1830s and 1840s that the parish
membership outgrew the capacity of the small chapel. In the early 1850s the decision was
made to rebuild the church, essentially doubling its size. With only a few minor modifications
the structure was completed in 1852. It is the one that stands today.

Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection
Nov 18 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. Several artists of the Studio Glass Movement came to the region, including its founder Harvey K. Littleton. Begun in 1962 in Wisconsin, it was a student of Littleton’s that first came to the area in 1965 and set up a glass studio at the Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. By 1967, Mark Peiser was the first glass artist resident at the school and taught many notable artists, like Jak Brewer in 1968 and Richard Ritter who came to study in 1971. By 1977, Littleton retired from teaching and moved to nearby Spruce Pine, North Carolina and set up a glass studio at his home.

Since that time, glass artists like Ken Carder, Rick and Valerie Beck, Shane Fero, and Yaffa Sikorsky and Jeff Todd—to name only a few—have flocked to the area to reside, collaborate, and teach, making it a significant place for experimentation and education in glass. The next generation of artists like Hayden Wilson and Alex Bernstein continue to create here. The Museum is dedicated to collecting American studio glass and within that umbrella, explores the work of Artists connected to Western North Carolina. Exhibitions, including Intersections of American Art, explore glass art in the context of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works from the Museum’s Collection.

Democratic Women of Buncombe County Political Forum
Nov 18 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party

Once the Times Square ball drops, ringing in 2024, be ready for a fast-paced 9½ weeks in preparation for your Annual Precinct Meeting in February and the Primary Election on Tues., March 5th.

2024 is an Election Year. If you want to accomplish your goals, engage your volunteers, and get voters to the polls in November, create a well-organized plan of action now. Don’t wait until January. Start now to plan, design, and map your 2024 year.

Led by professional trainer Barrie Barton, this workshop leads you through Map Your Year, a step-by-step approach to plan the year ahead. To receive the greatest benefit from this 1.5-hr. workshop, we encourage all 3 officers and key volunteers from your precinct to attend. By the end of this workshop, your precinct team will leave with goals, strategies and actions to make 2024 a successful year.

Who should attend: All precinct officers and key volunteers

Forest Bathing
Nov 18 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

  • Special, discounted rate of $55/person (includes parking!)
  • Occurs on select dates each month
  • Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs at The North Carolina Arboretum in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours

REGISTER HERE!

Want to reserve a different date? Custom times for private groups are available daily pending property availability. Please reach out to 828-407-0711 or visit our website to inquire about your desired date/time.

PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure”
Nov 18 @ 2:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center- Asheville

PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure”

PAW Patrol Live! sets sail with a pirate adventure!

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay and Ryder will need all paws on deck as he and the PAW Patrol discover a secret treasure map while on a mission to rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern. It’s up to Chase, Marshall, Skye and all their heroic pirate pup friends to save the day and find the pirate treasure before Mayor Humdinger finds it first!

Readers Theatre Showcase: Dial M for Murder
Nov 18 @ 2:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Take a trip into the world of Noir. A simple door key, an interrupted phone call, blackmail, and suspicion combine to produce a darkly complex mystery which will keep you riveted on the edge of your seat.

Accessibility

All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.

Content Awareness

This production contains violence and scariness and is rated PG.

Storytime and Craft
Nov 18 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
LEAF Global

Children’s book author Marsha Almodovar, who is also LEAF’s Easel Rider and ULEAF Community Events Coordinator, will be sharing her new book, Mucho Mucho. Copies will be on sale at the event for $23.

Mucho Mucho is a Spanish-language book (with English subtitles). Its principal character is an Afro-Latina child from Puerto Rico who talks about the things in the world she loves that all kids have access to regardless of where they come from or their economic background. It’s a big topic told in a very simple way. The book’s demographic is early-elementary children.

Regular entry free to LEAF Global is a suggested donation of $5.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra | The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Nov 18 @ 4:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Rock out this holiday season with TSO as we bring back ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More’! We’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this winter tour is our best show in years.

Outlaw Sound music festival
Nov 18 @ 5:00 pm
Revolve

**Outlaw Sound Festival Takes Center Stage at Revolve Gallery**

“Outlaw Sound” is a one-day musical event that promises to redefine the concert experience as a one-of-a-kind event for music enthusiasts of all generations, with a special focus on electronic and experimental artists.

Date: Saturday, November 18th
Time: Starting at 5:00 PM
Location: Revolve Gallery

Outlaw Sound Festival lineup artists include:

– Mark Hosler of Negativland, with his first solo performance in five years.
– We Are Ants to Them, a project by Andre Chomondeley, known for touring with legendary rock artists such as Pat Metheny, Adrian Belew, and Steve Howe. Chomondeley creates captivating soundscapes using modular synthesizers.
– Mike Holmes, known as Nostalgianoid, and the rising local artist Robin T100 Banks.
– A screening of the short film “Attempt to Move a Building” by A. Eithne Hamilton.
– Stoolsampler, who crafts unique dance tracks from a collage of voicemails left for Firestorm Books.

In addition to the outstanding musical performances, the event will feature an array of wares by talented artists and vendors, including Robin Gelberg’s ceramics, Edwin Salas Art, and offerings from Firestorm Books.

Outlaw Sound Festival is not just about the music; it’s about supporting the community. This event will contribute to the growth of Revolve Gallery and extend a helping hand to the Aston Park Defendants.

Produced by the Pipsissewa Movement Project and Peter Speer, the Outlaw Sound Festival promises a night of unforgettable music, art, and community spirit. Join us on Saturday, November 18th, for a unique and exciting experience.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. We hope to see you there!

For more information and tickets, please visit
https://withfriends.co/event/16937305/outlaw_sound

Since 2015, Revolve has been a thriving hub of artistic experimentation in the vibrant city of Asheville, North Carolina. In 2021, we evolved into a dynamic co-op contemporary art space, dedicated to fostering creative energies on the bedrock of inclusivity, accessibility, and unbridled experimentation.

LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
Nov 18 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Mountainfilm on Tour – Asheville
Nov 18 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
New Belgium Brewing

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming to Asheville, bringing a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado.

Held at New Belgium Brewing Company on Saturday, November 18, 2023, the shows will explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission: to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

Mountainfilm on Tour in Asheville is hosted by Muddy Sneakers, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit outdoor science education program serving North Carolina’s fifth-grade public school students.

NewSong Music Performance + Songwriting Competition
Nov 18 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Citizen Vinyl

In celebration of its 22nd anniversary, NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will welcome eight finalists to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection on Saturday, November 18, 2023. The internationally recognized event, previously held at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, has since found a home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. NewSong is proud to partner with Citizen Vinyl, a multifaceted event space in downtown Asheville, to present the finale showcase.

VIP PACKAGE: Join us as a patron of the arts for a pre-concert gathering. Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, an exclusive meet & greet with this year’s finalists upstairs in the historic WWNC Studio, preferred seating for the evening and a gift to remember the evening. Doors at 5:30PM. $100

GENERAL ADMISSION: General admission seating will include concert style and cafe tables as well as some bar stools. Seating is first come first serve. Doors at 6PM / Show at 7PM. $30

2023 FINALISTS:

• MaisCéu (Lenoir, N.C.) — 2023 LEAF/NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition Winner

• Cloudbelly (Turners Falls, Mass.) — Early Bird Finalist

• Beth // James (Austin, Tex.)

• Damon K. Clark (Dallas, Tex.)

• Natalie Price (Austin, Tex.)

• Reece Sullivan (Lafayette, La.)

• Senobia (Midway, Ga.)

• Stacy Antonel (Nashville, Tenn.)

The finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical chops to Asheville to perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner who will receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 500 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl.

Citizen Vinyl, established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland, is North Carolina’s first vinyl pressing facility, and boasts a variety of amenities including a full-scale recording studio, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

Now in its 22nd year, the NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. This crowd-sourced effort seeks to identify the truly exceptional artists within our communities and to work closely with them to develop their careers and introduce their music to a broader, international audience while building a supportive community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music and levels of skill.

ASHLEY GAVIN
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm
The Orange Peel
All Ages

FULLY SEATED SHOW

Ashley Gavin is a stand up comedian based in New York City. She’s been featured on Netflix is a Joke, Hulu, Comedy Central, but is best known for her viral crowd work videos on TikTok and her top charting podcast We’re Having Gay Sex.

Ashley is admired for her confidence, authenticity, and unrelenting energy on stage. She is the only angry lesbian beloved by all, including old, straight, white guys. If you don’t believe it, she was Carnival Cruiseline’s first openly gay comedian. She exploded on the internet this year by showcasing her rare ability to authentically engage and improvise with guests on her podcast and audience members while on stage.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey

Crisp Comedy Downtown
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Noble Cider & Mead Downtown

Every Saturday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. Crisp comedy features the best local comics and our favorites from all over.

Hosted by Clay Jones

Featuring Brandi Agustus, Julia Macias and more!

ages 18+

doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Enter the Garden
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

We cordially invite you to partake in “Enter the Garden”, an enthralling sensory movement experience that embarks upon a poignant voyage of sexual reclamation. This event showcases an exquisite array of dance performances by talented local and national pole, chair, and burlesque dancers.

This event is for those 21 years and older.

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

The Spitfire Grill
Nov 18 @ 7:00 pm
The Porter Center At Brevard College

The Spitfire Grill

Music and Book by James Valcq

Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley

Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff

A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. The Grill is for sale, but there are no takers for the only eatery in the depressed town, so newcomer Percy convinces Hannah to raffle it off. Entry fees are one hundred dollars and the best essay on why you want the Grill wins. Soon, mail arrives by the wheelbarrow and things really start cookin’ at the Spitfire Grill.

In keeping with our Mission Statement, BC Theatre Dept. seeks to encourage student and community growth and purposeful interaction with a range of ideas. We mindfully tell this story with the deliberate aim of ensuring both open-mindedness and personal safety.

Buddy K’s Big Band
Nov 18 @ 7:30 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Formed in 1983, The Buddy K Big Band is the longest-running big band in Western North Carolina. Composed of 19 talented musicians, the band plays big band classics from Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, and other renowned artists. The band has performed in many venues throughout the Southeast and plays such favorites as Moonlight Serenade, In The Mood, Moon River and Satin Doll, just to name a few.

 

Hendersonville Theatre’s Hometown Sound Music Series is supported by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, the City of Hendersonville, the Community Foundation of Henderson County and The Fresh Market. Showtime is at 7:30 pm. The concert’s run time is approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission.

 

Since 1966, Hendersonville Theatre has provided an inviting and nurturing environment for live theatre, as well as high-quality, affordable entertainment for the residents of Hendersonville and surrounding areas. Hendersonville Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking behind and in front of the theater. The theatre offers concessions and a cash bar and accepts cash and credit cards.

 

Hendersonville Theatre is located at 229 South Washington Street. For tickets or more information contact us at 828-692-1082 or online at HVLTheatre.org.

Emerging Black Playwright Staged Reading Series: JUKED by Mildred Inez Lewis
Nov 18 @ 7:30 pm
Tina McGuire Theatre

Two years ago Different Strokes! partnered with American Myth Center to create “A Different Myth“, which seeks to amplify stories that center Black voices and characters. After reading through 48 submissions from emerging Black Playwrights, we selected three playwrights as members of our 2022 cohort and have spent the last two years working with them to develop new plays. Two of those plays (Dear God by Lisa Langford, and Juked by Mildred Inez Lewis) will see a full production later this season, but before that happens, we have one more phase. As part of the development process, each playwright has had the opportunity to hear actors read their words and get their feedback but now they are ready to hear from an actual audience about how the work impacts them.  These live, fully cast, staged readings (script in hand) of the plays, allow the audience to engage with the material and provide feedback afterward. Your thoughts and observations as theater enthusiasts will be crucial in shaping the future development of these exciting new plays.

Emerging Black Playwright Staged Reading Series: Juked written by Mildred Inez Lewis
Nov 18 @ 7:30 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Juked will premiere for the first time in front of an audience as part of the Emerging Black Playwright Staged Reading Series. Juked is a retelling of Sophocles’ tragedy Electra. This version is set in 1950s Asheville and the “kingdom” is a chain of drink houses (private homes offering illegal alcohol) owned by the well-off, African-American Memnon family. Juked examines the relationship between Electra, her mother, and her sister, and asks what happens after tragedy. How do we recover? Juked is directed by Mikayla Wilson, and features Stephanie Hickling Beckman, Bjorn Goller, Righteous Luster, Alex Mbuthia, Donna Marie McMillan, Rodney Smith, and Sharvis Smith.

Meet The Playwright

Mildred Inez Lewis writes and directs for theatre, film and the digital space. Recent honors include an AGE Legacy Playwright (ALP) grant (2023), the Samuel French OOB Festival finals (2022), Grand Jury Award from Fusion (2022), the 2021 L.B. Williams award, and Humanitas’ PLAY LA (2018).

A member of the Dramatists Guild, she writes for Antaeus Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA Playwrights Unit, PlayGround-LA and Towne Street Theatre. She is an associate artist with Rogue Artists Ensemble.

Upcoming productions in 2023 include JUKED a commissioned adaptation of Sophocles’ ELECTRA for A Different Myth (Asheville, NC). Mildred will also create work for Ohlone College students. 2022 productions included THE MUSEUM ANNEX for Central Works (Berkeley, CA), /kom’plisit/ (staged reading) at Moving Arts (Los Angeles), BONWIT TELLER’S REVENGE for The Workshop Theatre (NYC), and Purity, UnPledged for the Playground Experiment’s Faces of America.

Her plays have been published by Applause Books, Broadway Play Publishing. LazyBee (UK), Breathe Fire literary magazine and elsewhere.

Mason Jennings
Nov 18 @ 7:30 pm
Asheville Masonic Temple
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
ALL AGES
– FULLY SEATED SHOW
– AT ASHEVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE (80 Broadway St, Downtown Asheville)  
When Mason Jennings started writing songs for his new record, Songs From When We Met, he was in a setting he had never written in before. “I was living out at a farm for a month and walking through some old woods on the property every day. There was a river. And each day an owl would come find me, and then perch above me, day or night. I saw lots of snakes. Songs just came to me there. They were coming in so fast they just about took my head off. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before,” recalls Jennings. In Native American animal medicine snakes symbolize rebirth, owls symbolize seeing what others cannot and turning darkness into light. Both are themes throughout the album and the music has a clear hopeful feeling.
Songs From When We Met pulls you in from the start, with Jennings telling the listener, “Get into my car now…let’s leave the city”. “Cursive Prayers is the first song I wrote for the album. I hadn’t written anything in a long time and any time I tried writing things I wrote were very dark. This song is so hopeful and full of love it surprised me. I think it was the beginning of things getting better in my life, like a message from another dimension.”
“The last record was made in a real dark time for me. I was battling a lot of dark energy. Since then I’ve healed a lot and a lot of changes have taken place. I got divorced. I’ve been healing from agoraphobia. It’s been a rough patch but thankfully this record is about healing and hope. I fell in love and got married so it is mostly about love.” A great ambassador for the album is the slow grooving “I Know You”.

The album features Mason on guitar, piano, bass and drums. He is accompanied by one of his favorite bands The Pines. “They are magic. They got inside these songs and really brought them to life. I produced an EP for them last year and it reminded me how good we worked together. It is always a pleasure working with them. They are Great humans”.  The album was recorded with Grammy winning engineer Brian Joseph (Paul Simon, Bon Iver). “His studio has tons of windows. It is an old renovated barn in Eau Claire Wisconsin. He’s got tons of amazing wasp nests, bones, books, hanging lights. The walls are covered in ropes. It’s so beautiful. He’s got bees out back. The studio sits on beautiful land and lots of natural light. Very helpful”. Then the recordings went off to Los Angeles to be mixed by another Grammy winner, producer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War On Drugs.) “He’s an amazing person and sound engineer who has mixed three of my albums. He’s another magic being. He brings out the essence of a recording and makes it hit so hard. He’s a rare guy. I’m happy for him that he’s winning Grammys now. He deserves it”.

SILVIE
Silvie is an indie-pop artist based in Nashville, TN. Although the project began more than five years ago, her sound and story have evolved as she herself has transformed in the last few years through pain and healing. With her poetic lyrics, honest story-telling, and unique pop-rock sound, it’s hard not to feel connected to the stories she’s telling as you listen. Her latest EP, Eleven Twenty-Eight, is a deeply personal journey through Silvie’s adulthood, divorce, and identity that only leaves you wanting more of her stories.

Babyface
Nov 18 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Babyface (born April 10, 1958) is a 12-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the ‘Producer of the Year’ category four times, three times of which was in consecutive years (1995-1997); a record he holds to this day. Babyface is also co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and Pink.

A prolific artist and producer, boasts a remarkable five-decade career marked by consecutive multi-platinum albums like Tender LoverFor the Cool in You, and The Day. His Grammy-winning collaboration with Toni Braxton resulted in the album Love, Marriage & Divorce in 2014. Notably, Babyface’s songwriting and production talents have graced the works of numerous music legends, from Madonna to Michael Jackson, making him a driving force behind over 800 million records sold and 125 Top 10 hits. In 2022, he released “Girls Night Out,” a collaborative project featuring contemporary R&B stars, earning Grammy nominations and chart-topping success.

Throughout his illustrious career, Babyface has collected an impressive array of accolades, including 80 Grammy nominations, 51 BMI Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 5 Soul Train Awards, and 5 NAACP Image Awards.

Live Music at The Draftsman
Nov 18 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

Join us for a rhythm-filled weekend at The Draftsman with David DJ Zeus! Elevate your Saturday night with an electrifying live music performance from local performers while sipping on our unique cocktails. Unwind, tap your feet, and indulge in a perfect blend of melodies and mixology.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra | The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Nov 18 @ 8:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Rock out this holiday season with TSO as we bring back ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More’! We’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this winter tour is our best show in years.

Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter
Nov 18 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY

VICTORIA VICTORIA

Tori Elliott’s deep love of harmony is the driving force that shapes her soul-pop musical endeavor, Victoria Victoria. Her craft in songwriting is the seedbed for intricate vocal arrangements, creating a layered, ethereal experience; one that translates dynamically from her albums to her live shows.
2022 saw the release of Victoria Victoria’s album, To the Wayside, which is a collaborative effort with guitarist and producer, Charlie Hunter. “Writing these songs with Charlie was an otherworldly experience,” says Elliott, who engineered and produced her lead and background vocals in her home studio. “Arranging these songs for our live show was even more incredible.” Hunter and Elliott teamed up to write glossy anthems of self acceptance such as Over My Shoulder and Move Right On, and enticing tunes of invitation like Really Really and Keep Up.

January of 2023 marked Victoria Victoria’s debut tour with Charlie Hunter on hybrid guitar, her brother, Noah Elliott on keys and vocals, her dear friend and collaborator, Maia Kamil on vocals, and renowned Memphis drummer, George Sluppik. The rhythm section makes for a sturdy foundation for transcendent vocal performances and inviting banter. The charisma and kinship between the band members left listeners with the sense that each Victoria Victoria show is truly a family affair.
ASHLEY GAVIN
Nov 18 @ 9:30 pm
The Orange Peel
Ages 18+

FULLY SEATED SHOW

Ashley Gavin is a stand up comedian based in New York City. She’s been featured on Netflix is a Joke, Hulu, Comedy Central, but is best known for her viral crowd work videos on TikTok and her top charting podcast We’re Having Gay Sex. Ashley is admired for her confidence, authenticity, and unrelenting energy on stage.

She is the only angry lesbian beloved by all, including old, straight, white guys. If you don’t believe it, she was Carnival Cruiseline’s first openly gay comedian. She exploded on the internet this year by showcasing her rare ability to authentically engage and improvise with guests on her podcast and audience members while on stage.