The East Asheville Welcome Table is an engaged and committed partner of ours who host and serve free weekly dinners.

The East Asheville Welcome Table is run by a group of volunteers who love interacting with their community. In the past 6 months, The East Asheville Welcome Table has distributed 3,623 pounds of food, while serving an average of 500 meals each month.

East Asheville Welcome Table’s weekly meals include live music performed by community members, games of cards, and knitting.

The Welcome Table’s dedication to creating a food secure community, however, goes beyond their walls. At the beginning of the pandemic, Welcome Table volunteers leapt into action and served meals to folks staying at the Ramada Inn.

We are thankful to have such a remarkable partner like East Asheville Welcome Table, who consistently do all they can to ensure their neighbors have access to food with dignity. If you or anyone you know lives near East Asheville and could benefit from a free dinner, be sure to stop by the East Asheville Welcome Table from 5:00-6:30 PM on Thursdays.

Are you looking for a way to develop your Spanish language skills or a way to keep your skills fresh? Join this friendly and welcoming Spanish Language Practice Group organized by Pack Library. Newcomers are always welcome on the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. This group meets online and is focused on providing an intermediate level, immersive discussion experience. This event is free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.

The Jukebox Jumpers is a local AVL blues & soul duo who celebrate and spread their passion for country blues and African American vernacular musical styles. Using piedmont and delta blues traditions as a launching pad, their performances expand into classic southern soul from Memphis, Muscle Shoals and New Orleans, as well as Chicago blues and early rock n’ roll. Additionally, they write original songs inspired by mining the those deep musical veins. Leas singer Parrish Ellis simultaneously plays guitar/bass parts while playing two drums with his feet. He is joined by either Steve Trismen on fiddle, or Jason Moore on saxophone, or both (as is the case for the G.E. patio show).

Within one set of music you will hear songs by such American musical icons as Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Earl King, Al Green, Dr. John, James Brown, Charley Patton, Howlin Wolf, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Lee Dorsey, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mississippi John Hurt, Alvin Robinson, Slim Harpo, Junior Wells/Buddy Guy, Nina Simone, Robert Johnson and Little Walter. At the core of this carefully curated musical mix is the common thread of the high energy, funky good-time party and dance music that originally arose from barrel houses and juke joints in the American south during the 1920s through the 1960s.

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

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• 6:00pm – 8:00pm

  Open mic comedy every Thursday from 6-8pm at Ginger’s Revenge Tasting Room.

  Rotating hosts each week Clay Jones, James Burks and Katy Hudson

  No cover
  Signup starts at 5:30, and signup order will not necessarily be show order. Each comic gets 5 mins of stage time

Jessie B. Telfair, Freedom Quilt, 1983, cotton with pencil, 74 × 68 inches. American Folk Art Museum, NY, gift of Judith Alexander in loving memory of her sister, Rebecca Alexander, 2004.9.1. Image Gavin Ashworth.

In conjunction with American Perspectives, Asheville Art Museum and Buncombe County Libraries present Live Story Telling at Pack Memorial Library by storyteller, Michael Reno Harrell.

American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection has been organized by the American Folk Art Museum, NY, with support provided by Art Bridges. Originally curated for installation at the American Folk Art Museum February 11, 2020–January 3, 2021 by Stacy C. Hollander, independent curator. Tour coordinated by Emelie Gevalt, Curator of Folk Art and Curatorial Chair for Collections, the American Folk Art Museum.

Asheville Sister Cities celebrates our sister city in Nigeria with a screening of the PBS film Sacred Journeys. The film follows the Festival of Osun-Osogbo, an annual pilgrimage from Osun to Osogbo, Nigeria. It celebrates the goddess of fertility, Osun, and renews the contract between humans and the divine.

This ceremony is part of the Yoruba religion, which has upwards of 100 million practitioners, and is one of the world’s 10 largest religions. Door open at 6:00 pm for Refreshments and followed by film viewing and discussion FREE to Attend! Donations accepted. The Collider, Downtown Asheville

Jean-Marcel St. Jacques, Mother Sister May Have Sat in That Chair When She Lived in This House Before Me, 2014, wood, nails, and antique hardware on a plywood backing, 84 × 96 inches. American Folk Art Museum, NY, gift of Jean-Marcel St. Jacques, LLC, 2014.18.2. © Jean-Marcel St. Jacques.

THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE

On select Thursdays, local musicians enliven our spaces with music to complement your visit. As you stroll the galleries, a variety of tunes adds new dimensions to your viewing experience.

Come enjoy $1 Beers and $1 Cokes every Thursday, thanks to Catawba Brewing Co.!

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Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

Blood at The Root written by Dominique Morisseau – BLOOD AT THE ROOT is a striking ensemble drama based on the Jena Six; six Black students who were initially charged with attempted murder for a school fight after being provoked with nooses hanging from a tree on campus. This bold new play by Dominique Morisseau (Sunset Baby, Detroit ’67, Skeleton Crew) examines the miscarriage of justice, racial double standards, and the crises in relations between men and women of all classes and, as a result, the shattering state of Black family life.

“Bursting with youthful exuberance, critical race issues, emotional authenticity, and astonishing beauty.  It is powerfully auspicious“-DC Theater Arts

“Blood at the Root vividly illustrates the near impossibility of getting through one’s teenage years-fraught in the best-case scenario-unscathed when also having to tackle larger societal problems. It’s a necessary and evocative production all-around.” – Chicago Reader

Night after night at their live shows, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal leave it all on the table, bringing crowds palpably authentic music. This is a real working band; music for the people, by the people. You hear the veracity in Hoyer’s voice. You hear the strife of a guitar amp being pushed to its limits. You hear keyboards hammering notes home while emboldened horns soar over the top of a rhythm section akin to a freight train. The raucous Funk and real-deal Soul emanating from the stage dutifully pays homage to the past Soul/Classic R&B giants while simultaneously charging forward, piloting themselves into the modern era. This IS soul music.

Hoyer formed Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal in 2012 in famed blues town Lincoln, Nebraska. The award-winning six-piece band includes some of the area’s most revered and accomplished musicians. Joining Hoyer (keyboards/vocals) is James Cuato (saxophone) Blake DeForest (trumpet), Mike Keeling (bass), Benjamin Kushner (guitar), and Harrison ElDorado (drums). Inspired by the sounds of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans, Philly and San Francisco, the band continuously crosses musical boundaries both in style and era, and joins forces each show with a common goal – to have the crowd dancing so much they forget even their smallest troubles.

The band just finished a massively successful tour of Spain in July/August of 2021, headlining three major Blues and Funk festivals with sold out club dates across the country. Touring in support of their April 2021 release, “Natural Born Hustler.” The album is their first with Denver based label, Color Red. The label is owned in part by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds. Hoyer and company will be recorded their 2nd Color Red album, and 6th overall, in December of 2021. Set for release in Autumn of 2022, this record will be an instant classic.

On January 18th, 2019, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal released Do It Now, their fourth full length studio album. The album was recorded at Silver Street in Ashland, NE and at Make Believe Studios in Omaha, NE. Upon its initial European release in August 2018, the album drew rave reviews from European publications with Blues Magazine stating, “Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal still prove to be at the top of the contemporary soul movement.” The band promoted the album on their second European tour; a 37-city outing spanning 6 different countries. Do It Now is available on vinyl, CD and all streaming platforms.

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal hit the road again in 2018 as they traveled to over 25 states and played numerous festivals across the United States. On January 26th, 2018, Hoyer released The End of the Night, a 3-song EP and solo side project with veteran Nashville songwriters Jay Knowles (Harry Connick Jr, Blake Shelton), and Jon Coleman (Trace Adkins).

In 2017, Josh was featured as a contestant on NBC’s The Voice, and the band completed their first European tour; a 27-city stint capped with a live album release from their show in Brussels, Belgium.The hard working band completed several national tours from 2015-2017, playing more than 150 shows in 32 states each year, including opening for George Clinton, Charles Bradley, Booker T Jones, and Muscle Shoals Revue.

In 2016, the magic of their live show caught the attention of producer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo), who joined with the band to record their third full-length album. Running From Love, was recorded at Nashville’s historic Sound Emporium, and once again features Hoyer’s trademark vocals and the band’s signature groove. The album was released on April 8, 2016, on Silver Street Records, and is available on vinyl, CD, and all streaming platforms.

“Fire and a Natural Joy” – ROLLING STONE

“If James Brown and Otis Redding had a love child, it would be Josh Hoyer.” – NO DEPRESSION

“One of the best shows I have ever seen.” -STEVE BERLIN (Los Lobos)

“I’m a huge fan!”-JOE WHITMER (COO of The Blues Foundation)

“60’s soul with a modern twist that had our festival crowd on their feet from the first tune! Dy-Na-Mite!”- MARQUETTE BLUES FESTIVAL

“Most importantly…the crowds love him!” -OLATHE, KS SUMMER SERIES

“Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal still prove to be at the top of the contemporary soul movement.” – BLUES MUSIC MAGAZINE

“Their concerts are an explosion of emotions.” – LA VOZ DE GALICIA

“The heartbreak and pain is a driving force that comes natural, and when it comes to real soul music, they absolutely deliver.” – GLIDE MAGAZINE

“His signature blues and soul music and incredible voice knocked the socks off of the crowd!”-DURANGO CONCERT IN THE PARK

“Sounds like it came right out of a smoking Stax recording session.” -JAZZ WEEKLY

“Evokes the hard-boiled funk of James Brown, the Memphis howl of Otis Redding and Al Green, and the percolating parade beat of New Orleans, but with a lean, modern energy.” – NASHVILLE SCENE

“Powerful stories we can all connect to, delivered by a band that grooves effortlessly and knocks your socks off with power and precision.” JAZZ IN JUNE (NORMAN, OK)

“When you bathe in the glow of Josh Hoyer’s music, the Love is infectious.“ GREELEY FRIDAY FEST

“This is one of the tightest and funkiest bands on the circuit today, and one of the greatest vocalists you will ever see.” CADILLAC ZACK- LOS ANGELES

““In a season of outstanding performances, they were a stand out…an unforgettable experience. As a promoter, I hope to book Josh again and again.” -LEVITT AMP, CARSON CITY, NV

“What do you get when you combine soul, funk, and blues into one explosive package……Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal!! Josh and his band bring a high energy, joyful, and yes spiritual experience to the audience.” – GINA HUGHES (GALAXY AGENCY)

“If you enjoy artists like Curtis Salgado or Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, you owe it to yourself to check out the serious talent, wisdom and joy that Hoyer puts down on this record.” – THE READER

“At its core, soul music that is actually good is music that dwells on heartbreak and pain yet translates to a sense of pleasure and redemption for the audience. This is something that is often lost in the “modern” soul music that infatuates so many hipsters today when they fall in love with bands who seemingly preach soulful songs but fail to deliver the emotional goods. For Nebraska band Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, the heartbreak and pain is a driving force that comes natural, and when it comes to real soul music, they absolutely deliver.” – GLIDE MAGAZINE

9.01. 22 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULPWhat: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday 9.01.22.
8p-11p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge
103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $13 (available at door or https://theorangepeel.net/…/slice-of-life-comedy-open…/e)
Cocktails, taps & menu available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! .
Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]
[Music before show provided by Buzz Radio Asheville, “All Asheville Music & Comedy, All the Time.”]
Stand up comedy featuring Mario Trevzo with special guest James Harrod. Hosted by Cody Hughes
Mario Trevizo
Originally from the suburbs of Maryland, Mario has made a home for himself with stand up comedy in Asheville, North Carolina. His style focuses on the awkward moments that come with being a non Spanish speaking Mexican living in the south. Beyond hosting various events around town, he is mainly known for his animated performances, quirky faces, and crying randomly at movies.
James Harrod
James is a stand up comedian originally from Raleigh now living in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to hosting the Comedy Freakshow every Tuesday night at The Odditorium, he also performs around the east coast opening for comedians like Sean Patton, Yedoye Travis, Michael Palascak, Brandie Posey and many more. Out of all the comics in his scene he was voted most needy and desperate for compliments.
Host Cody Hughes
Cody is a comedian who cut his teeth in Chicago and Atlanta. He is now based out of West North Carolina and tours the Southeast. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver and Maria Bamford among others and hosts the regular Slice of Life Comedy shows at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
We will also be signing people up for the Sweet Sweepstakes for Jubilee Alternative Shelter for Women, please donate items or tix ar sliceoflifecomedy.com or get tix at: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/jams/

This Show has been rescheduled to September 1st due to a positive Covid test w/i the band

The Will Overman Band is genre-bending project that is a product of being born and bred on the east coast, finding love and being tested on the west coast, and finding a renewed passion for his art around the world. Listeners can easily recognize a blending of genres such as Folk, Pop, Country and Rock n’ Roll in Will’s music, bearing to mind the approach that legends Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, or James Taylor took, and how today’s singer-songwriter heroes such as: John Mayer, Jason Isbell, and Josh Ritter, have expanded on it.