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.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025
The Witcher in Concert
Oct 8 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

The Witcher in Concert is coming to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the critically acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt! Witness the open-world RPG’s timeless score brought to life with a live orchestra performance, featuring special appearances by Polish folk metal band Percival, the original co-composers of the game’s soundtrack.

This cinematic experience combines breathtaking in-game visuals with live music, making it a must-see event for fans of The Witcher and epic orchestral performances alike.

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners
Oct 9 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville

Aaron Lewis, the Vermont-born powerhouse first found success with Staind – the 2000s-era hard rockers who injected meditative muscle into an era better known for mindless aggression. But while that band is still very much alive, it was never enough to satisfy Lewis’ creative drive. Embracing his roots to earn a rare second round of success, a series of solo Country projects have led to two No. 1 Billboard Country Album debuts – TOWN LINE (2011) and SINNER (2016) – plus a PLATINUM collab with heroes George Jones and Charlie Daniels (“Country Boy”), and a GOLD-certified Billboard No. 1 with “Am I The Only One” in 2021. Lewis’ 2022 solo album followed suit, with FRAYED AT BOTH ENDS emerging as the best-selling Country album in America but he never wrote songs for the stats. No matter the sonic setting, Lewis writes and sings to get his truth out and his latest album THE HILL (2024) is no different.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Oct 9 @ 8:00 pm
Grey Eagle Music Hall

The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band

Doors: 7pm // Show: 8pm
$20.91

Grey Eagle Music Hall
ALL AGES
STANDING ROOM ONLY
Three time BMA nominee’s The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band are “the greatest front-porch blues band in the world”. They are led by Reverend Peyton, who most consider to be the premier finger picker playing today. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Their last record Dance Songs For Hard Times went #1 on the Billboard, iTunes and Sirius XM Blues Charts and was produced by Grammy winner Vance Powell. The record was critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone, Relix, Popmatters, Guitar World, American Songwriter, No Depression, Glide, Wide Open Country, Paste, American Blues Scene and many more!
Friday, October 10, 2025
Ben Folds With The Asheville Symphony
Oct 10 @ 8:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Ben Folds With The Asheville Symphony is coming to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on October 10, 2025.

Joss Stone: Less Is More Tour
Oct 10 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Center

Bursting onto the scene at just 16 with her multi-platinum debut The Soul Sessions, Grammy and Brit Award-winning artist Joss Stone has captivated audiences around the globe with her stunning vocals and fearless artistry. With over 15 million albums sold and a billion streams in the U.S. alone, she’s a true force in modern soul.

Stone has shared the stage with legends—James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger, Sting, Gladys Knight, and more—and made history with her Total World Tour, performing in every country on Earth.

Her latest chapter is just as bold: a West End musical (The Time Traveler’s Wife), a critically acclaimed live album (20 Years of Soul), and a brand-new studio album on the way in 2025.

Chalk Dinosaur w/ Solar Circuit
Oct 10 @ 9:00 pm
Third Room

WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Friday October 10, 2025
DOORS: 8pm SHOW: 9pm
GENRE: psychedelic jam rock / jamtronic fusion
TICKETS: $15 adv. / $20 d.o.s.

PURCHASE: https://tixr.com/e/152971

Chalk Dinosaur:
WEBSITE: https://chalkdinosaur.com
HEAR SOME MUSIC: https://chalkdinosaur.bandcamp.com
SEE A VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_7Rk-D1vGEo?si=EUEEe68oOYw1eesw

Chalk Dinosaur was founded in 2008 as the artist project of Pittsburgh music producer John O’Hallaron, and is known for it’s colorfully diverse and prolific songwriting. Over the years, Chalk Dinosaur has released 28 albums and EP’s, ranging from indie and surf rock to psychedelic rock, electronic dance music, funk, and jam. Some albums are instrumental and some are vocally centered. Some are solo recording projects, while others are collaborative albums featuring the full band.
Chalk Dinosaur (Pittsburgh, PA) as a performance entity is a live electronic duo featuring a fusion of dance, funk and psychedelic rock. Distinctive melodic themes coupled with a groove-focused rhythm section augmented with synthesizers and electronic textures, the live shows are characterized by high energy and emotional diversity.

 

 

Saturday, October 11, 2025
Before & Afterparty
Oct 11 all-day
Center for Craft

BEFORE + AFTERPARTY
Saturday, October 11
8:30–11:00 pm
Suggested donation $40
Open to all

I Spy an immersive projection experience in the Center for Craft’s Ideation Lab. Curated cocktails, DJ, hands-on craft activities with Print House and Swannatopia, and a dance floor.

Bring an object to cast in acrylic. Record a message for the digital time capsule. Don’t miss it!

Sliding scale entry to support the Center for Craft’s mission to resource, catalyze, and amplify makers and scholars.

Activation and music by Frisson Studios.

Graphic design by Maxwell James Sauls.

Winter Market 2025
Oct 11 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
WOLT

Winter Market 2025
Join us for our Winter Market filled with handmade treasures, unique vendors, and delicious food. Get ready for a fun and festive experience!
We still have a couple of vendor and food truck spots left. Please contact Third Day Design at [email protected] to reserve space at the Winter Market or any future event at WOLT. Vendor/Food truck fee is $20.

The Righteous Brothers: Bill Medley & Bucky Heard
Oct 11 @ 7:30 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS LOVIN’ FEELIN’ FAREWELL TOUR 

Prepare for a soul-stirring, nostalgic concert experience at the Lovin’ Feelin’ Farewell Tour of the legendary Righteous Brothers. The Righteous Brothers Lovin’ Feelin’ Farewell Tour promises a captivating musical odyssey, spanning the early days of rock and roll, the era of Blue-Eyed Soul and as far reaching as the movie Dirty Dancing.  From heartwarming ballads to energetic rock anthems, every performance is a testament to the enduring power of The Righteous Brothers’ music and their connection to fans across the globe. Take a journey through decades of timeless hits that have defined a generation, including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,'” “Unchained Melody,” “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” “Soul and Inspiration,” “Ebb Tide,” and “Rock and Roll Heaven.” Bill Medley has been entertaining audiences for more than sixty years.  His iconic bass-baritone helped earn The Righteous Brothers their place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and is interwoven with the cherished memories of a lifetime of fans.

 

Sunday, October 12, 2025
Country Brunch w/ Vaden Landers & C.Albert Blomquist
Oct 12 @ 11:00 am
Grey Eagle Music Hall

The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present

Country Brunch w/ Vaden Landers & C.Albert Blomquist

Show: 11am
– FREE SHOW!!!
– ALL AGES
– LIMITED SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
Country Brunch at The Grey Eagle – a music series for early birds. Country Brunch showcases a goldmine of local country bands that can usually only be found playing late nights in local and regional venues, and brings them out  into the light of day for lovers of an early matinee show. The series runs monthly with a different band each month.

FREE SHOW!!  Show runs 11am-1pm. Food and drink available from The Grey Eagle Taqueria. Family friendly show! Come fill your Sunday day with food, drink, fun and some of the best live music Asheville has to offer – all in one place.

Monday, October 13, 2025
Brennen Leigh w/ Hearts Gone South
Oct 13 @ 8:00 pm
Grey Eagle Music Hall

The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present

Brennen Leigh w/ Hearts Gone South

Doors: 7pm // Show: 8pm
$20.91 to $30.25
ALL AGES
SEATED SHOW
LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

When it comes to Brennen Leigh, there is no question. Always and assuredly precise in her ability to craft country music of the highest caliber, her latest album – the uncompromisingly titled Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love – is packed full of playful earworms, tender tearjerkers and honky tonk quintessence that two steps straight to the heart. 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Ben Sollee
Oct 15 @ 8:00 pm
Grey Eagle Music Hall

The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present

Ben Sollee

Doors: 7pm // Show: 8pm
$24.60 to $35.90

ALL AGES
SEATED SHOW
LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

Kentucky musician and composer Ben Sollee, has been blurring boundaries with his musical style and career for nearly two decades – his latest album, Long Haul (2024) is no exception. Drawing on tonal influences from the American and global south, Sollee’s vocals and unique cello style thread through each track binding seemingly disparate chapters of his journey – the Long Haul.

Thursday, October 16, 2025
LEAF- Lake Eden Art Festival
Oct 16 all-day
LEAF

Join us at LEAF Global Arts Festival to connect to the world and each other through cultural exploration, live music, dance, performance arts, healing arts, workshops, nature, and more.

Explore the #1 Kids Festival in Western North Carolina, and one of the best FAMILY festivals in the world. All of LEAF is family friendly with activities spread throughout the magical setting. Family Adventure activities are throughout LEAF and designed to engage and inspire. Watch performances, create, play, and discover whimsical Puppetry shows. Support children’s crafts, hoop and flow, and play boffer games. Immerse into cultural creative arts in Easel Rider with LEAF teaching artists. Swing in the Jelly Dome. Play sports with a global community. Jump, roll, pet, climb, and retreat: life-sized hamster ball, climbing wall, launch rockets! Each festival has different offering and tradition- you. may find Toy Trains on the hill, paper rockets, and Giant slides & bounce houses!

If you have little ones, Elfhaven Childcare in Buckeye Lodge is a world of wonder and time for parents to go play.

2025 Rhythm & Brews Concert Series
Oct 16 @ 5:15 pm – 9:30 pm
South Main Street

The Rhythm & Brews Concert Series unfolds as a casual and welcoming event, occurring on the third Thursday of each month from June to October. South Main Street in Hendersonville transforms into a hub of local entertainment, where community members gather to enjoy live music, craft beverages, and family-friendly activities. Doors open at 5:15 p.m., initiating the evening with an opening act at 5:30 p.m., followed by the headlining performance from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

2025 Rhythm & Brews Concert final concert of the season:

October 16: BonaFide Soul [[Jazz/Funk/Soul] with Congdon Griffin Band [[Folk/Americana/Rock]]

The Beer & Wine Garden, a focal point for adults, features offerings from local establishments such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Bold Rock Hard Cider, Guidon Brewing Co., Oklawaha Brewing Co., Dry Falls Brewery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, and Flat Rock Cider Company. Notably, all net proceeds from adult beverage sales contribute to the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Downtown Program.

For families, the Hendersonville Honeycrisps & the Hendersonville Toy Company Kid Zone provide a range of kid-friendly activities, including hula-hooping and interactive exhibits.

Attendees are encouraged to bring camp chairs and picnic blankets to create a relaxed atmosphere. However, coolers and pets are best left at home to ensure the comfort and safety of all participants. Join us for a laid-back summer evening, filled with music, local brews, and community connections in the heart of Hendersonville.

AMS Silent Auction
Oct 16 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage

Asheville Music School and The Mule have teamed up for a silent auction fundraiser to benefit Asheville Music School’s scholarship and outreach programs through the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund. Up for bidding will be luxury regional experiences, vacation getaways, wine tasting events, fine art, pampering packages, restaurant and wellness gift certificates, concert tickets and more. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Patrons can hit the cash bar serving wine, local beer, cocktails, and NA beverages, and dine on regional food by local chefs. The evening will also feature live music showcase performances by AMS students.
The funds we’re raising through this auction are going to help fund the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, which provides need-based scholarships for music lessons and instruments, as well as music-based community outreach.

Keith Urban High and Alive World Tour
Oct 16 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Keith Urban is bringing the HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR with special guests Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen and Karley Scott Collinsto to Bon Secours Wellness Arena 10/16! Tickets on sale Friday 12/13 @ 10AM.

Tickets are available at the GSP International Airport Box Office located at the arena from the on sale through show day while supplies last. Box Office hours vary but we are generally open M-F 10AM-2PM.

Momenta Quartet’s Tribute to Stefan Wolpe & John Cage
Oct 16 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

On Thursday, October 16 the Momenta Quartet pays tribute to the groundbreaking musical legacy of Black Mountain College with a program of modernist works by its two most iconic American composers: Stefan Wolpe (1902-1972) who was Music Director of Black Mountain College from 1952 through 1956, and John Cage (1912-1992) who taught there in the summer of 1952 and was in residence is the summer of 1953. Momenta will open the program with two works written in 1950: Wolpe’s Set of 12 Pieces for String Quartet which the group premiered after it was transcribed from manuscript by the Stefan Wolpe Society, and John Cage’s String Quartet in Four Parts (1950). They will close the program with one of Wolpe’s late works, his String Quartet (1969).

This event is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College. The Momenta Quartet will also perform as part of Aphorisms, a Tribute to Ursula Mamlok, on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14th-15th.

WNC Songwriter sessions featuring Cary Cooper, Jenny Reynolds & Todd Hoke
Oct 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

THUR 10/16 – 7-9 PM – Songwriter Sessions return with Cary Cooper, and Todd Hoke. An evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the beautiful and historic Brandy Bar. Another trio of wonder filled songwriters will be sharing their lyrical and musical offerings for our October session at the coolest bar in Hendo These musicians will delight your senses, tickle your funny bone, and adjust your alignment (metaphorically). All that and delicious cocktails? Yes, please! Join us with Cary Cooper, Jenny Reynolds, and Todd Hoke. With hosts Annie Wenz & Todd Hoke.
Cary Cooper is a whimsical singer-songwriter whose heartfelt lyrics and warm, pop folk-rooted melodies invite listeners into stories of love, loss, and resilience. Award winning (Kerrville, Rocky Mountain, Telluride), longtime touring artist and founder of RealPeopleRealSongs, she blends wit, wisdom, and intimacy, creating music that feels like conversation.
For information contact [email protected]

Friday, October 17, 2025
LEAF- Lake Eden Art Festival
Oct 17 all-day
LEAF

Join us at LEAF Global Arts Festival to connect to the world and each other through cultural exploration, live music, dance, performance arts, healing arts, workshops, nature, and more.

Explore the #1 Kids Festival in Western North Carolina, and one of the best FAMILY festivals in the world. All of LEAF is family friendly with activities spread throughout the magical setting. Family Adventure activities are throughout LEAF and designed to engage and inspire. Watch performances, create, play, and discover whimsical Puppetry shows. Support children’s crafts, hoop and flow, and play boffer games. Immerse into cultural creative arts in Easel Rider with LEAF teaching artists. Swing in the Jelly Dome. Play sports with a global community. Jump, roll, pet, climb, and retreat: life-sized hamster ball, climbing wall, launch rockets! Each festival has different offering and tradition- you. may find Toy Trains on the hill, paper rockets, and Giant slides & bounce houses!

If you have little ones, Elfhaven Childcare in Buckeye Lodge is a world of wonder and time for parents to go play.

Neon Dreams: Spooky Disco Edition
Oct 17 @ 8:00 pm – Oct 18 @ 2:00 am
One World Brewing West

Come get down to some spooky, groovy, and funky disco house tunes!

Feat. a stellar lineup of local talent:

– Sketchy Decks
– Earl Grae
– Interstellar Noise
– Double Helix

$10 entry. Don’t miss this one!

Saturday, October 18, 2025
LEAF- Lake Eden Art Festival
Oct 18 all-day
LEAF

Join us at LEAF Global Arts Festival to connect to the world and each other through cultural exploration, live music, dance, performance arts, healing arts, workshops, nature, and more.

Explore the #1 Kids Festival in Western North Carolina, and one of the best FAMILY festivals in the world. All of LEAF is family friendly with activities spread throughout the magical setting. Family Adventure activities are throughout LEAF and designed to engage and inspire. Watch performances, create, play, and discover whimsical Puppetry shows. Support children’s crafts, hoop and flow, and play boffer games. Immerse into cultural creative arts in Easel Rider with LEAF teaching artists. Swing in the Jelly Dome. Play sports with a global community. Jump, roll, pet, climb, and retreat: life-sized hamster ball, climbing wall, launch rockets! Each festival has different offering and tradition- you. may find Toy Trains on the hill, paper rockets, and Giant slides & bounce houses!

If you have little ones, Elfhaven Childcare in Buckeye Lodge is a world of wonder and time for parents to go play.

Barn Dance with Zydeco Ya Ya
Oct 18 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Mon Cher let’s get to it! Most requested faves Zydeco Ya Ya are back in the Big Barn for zydeco, swamp pop, second line, and Cajun swing. These guys always provide a fabulous groove and engaging show that makes you want to hop out onto the floor- or bob and weave from your chair, cold one in hand.

  • HNG will be running a bar with local beers, NA beverage and snack cart.
  • Barn Door Ciderworks will provide some sweet and snappy sips of their legendary cider brewed right here in Fairview.
  • The Garden Foodtruck by chef Simone Jaramillo will be serving seasonal, sustainable, food-as-medicine MAGIC!
  • Pro tip: we have picnic tables, benches & patio sets, but always bring a backup folding chair or picnic blanket JUST in case. It can get packed!

By purchasing your ticket online you will be on our Will Call list, admission will be checked in at the Cabana!

Tauren Wells
Oct 18 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Tauren Wells: Artist, Author, and Faith Leader

Tauren Wells is a multi-platinum recording artist, bestselling author, and dynamic faith leader who has inspired millions through his music, message, and ministry.

With 10 GRAMMY® nominations, eight GMA Dove Awards, seven #1 radio hits, and over 1.6 billion global streams, he has become one of the most influential voices in contemporary Christian music.

In 2025, Wells released his debut book Joy Bomb: Unleash Jesus’s Explosive Joy for an Extraordinary Life, which quickly became a #1 Amazon New Release and ECPA bestseller. At the same time, his breakout single Take It All Back earned RIAA Gold certification and topped multiple radio charts.

His RIAA-certified singles—platinum hits Known and Hills and Valleys, and gold singles God’s Not Done With You and Famous For (I Believe)—continue to resonate deeply with listeners.

Known for blending gospel, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, Wells has collaborated with a wide range of artists, from H.E.R. and Elevation Worship to Lecrae and Tobymac. Having previously toured with legends including Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey, he has captivated audiences worldwide.

Beyond music, Wells continues to lead both on and off stage—most recently with the launch of Church of Whitestone in Austin, TX, where he and his wife serve as co-lead pastors—uniting creativity and conviction to awaken the spirit of a generation.

Driven by a commitment to bring his family closer to their collective faith, Wells creates music as a testament to this purpose—an intent that infuses his 2025 EP Let The Church Sing and his bestselling literary debut Joy Bomb, both out now.

KOAN Sound w/ Tunic, Cpt Hyperdrive & Hausmaus
Oct 18 @ 9:00 pm
Third Room

WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Saturday October 18, 2025
DOORS: 8pm SHOW: 9pm
GENRE: glitch hop / idm / neurofunk
TICKETS: $25 adv. / $30 d.o.s.

Formed in Bristol in 2008, KOAN Sound, comprised of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow, is a dynamic electronic music duo renowned for blending intricate sound design with profound musical compositions. Their music integrates a diverse range of electronic genres, alongside funk, ambient, and cinematic elements, all marked by the duo’s distinct style—which fields electronic production, both live and in the studio, like an instrument itself.

Influenced by a mix of underground electronic music and bands like Rage Against the Machine, Incubus, and The Prodigy, KOAN Sound quickly gained recognition.Their musical journey evolved with the release of the Funk Blaster EP on Skrillex’s OWSLA label, which hit number one on Beatport and displayed a broader range of styles, including notable funk influences.

Sunday, October 19, 2025
LEAF- Lake Eden Art Festival
Oct 19 all-day
LEAF

Join us at LEAF Global Arts Festival to connect to the world and each other through cultural exploration, live music, dance, performance arts, healing arts, workshops, nature, and more.

Explore the #1 Kids Festival in Western North Carolina, and one of the best FAMILY festivals in the world. All of LEAF is family friendly with activities spread throughout the magical setting. Family Adventure activities are throughout LEAF and designed to engage and inspire. Watch performances, create, play, and discover whimsical Puppetry shows. Support children’s crafts, hoop and flow, and play boffer games. Immerse into cultural creative arts in Easel Rider with LEAF teaching artists. Swing in the Jelly Dome. Play sports with a global community. Jump, roll, pet, climb, and retreat: life-sized hamster ball, climbing wall, launch rockets! Each festival has different offering and tradition- you. may find Toy Trains on the hill, paper rockets, and Giant slides & bounce houses!

If you have little ones, Elfhaven Childcare in Buckeye Lodge is a world of wonder and time for parents to go play.

RAY BONNEVILLE SUNDAYS ON THE RIVER IN OLIVETTE
Oct 19 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
OLIVETTE RIVERSIDE PAVILION

Acclaimed raconteur Ray Bonneville strips his bluesy Americana down to its essentials and steeps it in the humid grooves of the South, creating a compelling poetry of hard living and deep feeling.

Jim Withers (Montreal Gazette) describes his sound as “folk-roots gumbo… a languid Mississippi Delta groove, seasoned with smooth, weathered vocals and a propulsive harmonica wheeze.” Whether performing solo or fronting a band, playing electric or acoustic guitar, Bonneville allows space between notes that adds potency to every chord, lick, and lyric.

Mustang McGee & Freedom Junction (of Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country)
Oct 19 @ 7:00 pm
Third Room

WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Sunday October 19, 2025
DOORS: 6pm SHOW: 7pm
GENRE: rock n’ roll / jam / funk
TICKETS: $25 GA

PURCHASE: https://tixr.com/e/156199

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind night of music as two powerhouse bands from the Cosmic Country family take the stage together for a special co-headline show at Third Room in Asheville, NC.

Together, these two artists bring their individual styles and visions into focus, while celebrating the roots they share. It’s a night of funk, rock, and soul that promises to push boundaries and light up the Asheville scene.

Freedom Junction is fronted by the electrifying Sugarlegg, best known for his work with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. With high-energy vocals and a fearless stage presence, Freedom Junction delivers a groove-heavy blend of funk, rock, and soul that’s equal parts raw and uplifting.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Music of John Cage, Lou Harrison, Arnold Schoenberg, and Amy Williams by Asheville Symphony Orchestra
Oct 21 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

On Tuesday, October 21 at 7 pm, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, will present a chamber concert featuring the music of John Cage, Lou Harrison, Arnold Schoenberg, and Amy Williams. The program highlights music that reshaped 20th century sound and celebrates the experimental spirit of Black Mountain College. This event is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College, on view at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (September 5, 2025 – January 10, 2026).

This concert resonates with the history of the 1944 Summer Music Institute at Black Mountain College. That gathering brought together many of Schoenberg’s closest colleagues, including Edward Steuermann, Ernst Krenek, and Roger Sessions, and marked the largest celebration of Schoenberg’s music in America at the time. Sessions later described it as “the most important thing that has ever happened in musical education in America.”

About the program:

The evening begins with pianist and composer Amy Williams performing excerpts from John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano. Written between 1946 and 1948, this cycle of twenty short pieces uses bolts, screws, and other objects inserted into the strings of a piano to create shimmering, bell-like sounds. Cage was influenced at the time by Indian philosophy and the writings of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, which shaped the meditative and balanced character of the music. First performed at Black Mountain College in 1948, Sonatas and Interludes is now considered one of Cage’s most important works.

Joanne Shaw Taylor
Oct 21 @ 7:30 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

MaxxMusic presents: Joanne Shaw Taylor

Tue, Oct 21 7:30 pm

Joanne Shaw Taylor was discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16, quickly earning a spot on tour with his supergroup, D.U.P., and launching a remarkable career. Celebrated for her extraordinary guitar skills, Joanne has garnered acclaim from notables like Jimmy Cliff, Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Wonder, and Annie Lennox. By her 30s, she became one of the most sought-after guitarists in rock.

Joanne released her debut album, ‘White Sugar,’ in 2009 on Ruf Records, showcasing her distinct soulful voice and advanced songwriting. She followed with critically acclaimed albums like ‘Diamonds In The Dir’” (2010) and ‘Almost Always Never’ (2012), which included the UK radio hit “Soul Station.” Her subsequent albums, ‘The Dirty Truth’ and ‘Wild,’ continued to build her reputation, leading to a performance on BBC’s “Later With Jools Holland.”

Her career milestone came with ‘Reckless Heart’ (2019), which broke into the UK Top 20 Album Chart, followed by ‘The Blues Album’ (2021), produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Her next album, ‘Blues From The Heart Live,’ also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Album chart in 2022.

Her latest album, ‘Heavy Soul,’ also produced by Kevin Shirley, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Album chart. It has been celebrated for its fusion of contemporary soul-pop and traditional blues roots, praised for its powerful lyrics and soul-stirring melodies. This album marks a significant evolution in her career, showcasing her growth as an artist and solidifying her status as a dynamic force in the blues-rock world.

 

Water for Elephants Musical
Oct 21 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

The critically acclaimed bestselling novel WATER FOR ELEPHANTS comes to “thrilling, dazzling” life (Time Out New York) in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical! Hailed as a Critic’s Pick, The New York Times calls it “stunning, emotional, heart-filled and gorgeously imaginative.”

After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life—and love—beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.