Calendar of Events
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.
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.
Dress Code: Black Tie & Black Formalwear
Join us for:
Gourmet Dinner
Drinks
Live Music
Entertainment
Exclusive Booking Opportunity
The 57th season of Shindig on the Green, a free event in the heart of downtown Asheville with a stage show and informal jam sessions, takes place on Saturday evenings July 1 through August 26, 2023.
Locals and visitors alike come together at downtown’s Pack Square Park “along about sundown,” or at 7:00 pm for those who wear a watch, and continues until 10:00 pm. Concessions are available! The remaining Shindig on the Green events will be held on July 1, 8, 15, 22 and August 12, 19, 26, 2023.
The stage show takes place on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage, named for the founder of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. Since the outdoor event’s inception in 1967, hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the region and throughout the world have shared and enjoyed the rich traditional music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in this outdoor setting.
Shindig on the Green remains a free event due in part to net proceeds from ticket sales to the nation’s longest continually running festival, the granddaddy of all festivals, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.
The 4th installment of the 4-part concert series with The Julie McConnell Quartet returns to The DFR Lounge on Saturday, August 12th, 7-9:30pm! Featuring some fun and interesting new tunes, as well as fan favorites, with the second set featuring jazz harmony duets with Ruth Cooney on 2 songs!
-Julie McConnell, vocals
-Michael Jefry Stevens, piano
-Bryan McConnell, bass
-Bill Berg, drums
*special guest appearance: Ruth Cooney, vocal harmonies
-doors open at 6:00pm
-music starts at 7:00pm
-total of 88 seats
What an inspiring merging of worlds this evening will be as the music of Free Planet Radio converges with the work of master puppeteer Hobey Ford. This will be a very special and magical evening, not to miss!
Free Planet Radio, local Asheville favorites, are a dynamic and genre-defying band that blends elements of jazz, world music, and improvisation into a gorgeous and exciting musical experience. With their rich and textured soundscapes, intricate rhythms, and virtuosic instrumentation, the band takes listeners on a captivating journey across cultural boundaries. Comprising renowned musicians River Guerguerian on percussion, and Chris Rosser on piano and multi-instruments, Free Planet Radio’s performances are a fusion of musical exploration and improvisational brilliance that will wow you!
Hobey Ford is a renowned puppeteer known for his exceptional craftsmanship and captivating performances. With a career spanning over four decades, Hobey has delighted audiences worldwide with his unique blend of artistry, storytelling, and puppetry. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in the art of shadow puppetry, creating intricate and expressive puppets that come to life on stage. Through his shows, workshops, and educational programs, Hobey Ford continues to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages with his imaginative puppet creations and the magic they bring to the world of theater.
All ages welcome. Tickets are $30 online advance and $35 day of show.
AN EVENING WITH THE KINGSMENS QUARTET, ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP 5 !
The South Carolina New Play Festival is proud to present a posthumous staged reading of Essential Alice with music and lyrics by the late Broadway composer Michael Friedman (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) and book by Annie Weissman (Physical on Hulu), directed by 2-time TONY-winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Ain’t Too Proud, Tommy, Big River). The musical, which has never had a production, will present its first public showing on August 12 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Essential Alice combines the two books of Alice in Wonderland with Lewis Carroll narrating the story to the Liddell family on a rowboat in 19th century England. It is a beautiful unheard musical by Michael Friedman and Annie Weissman. Michael was a brilliant composer and lyricist, and a person who was as dazzlingly talented as he was abundantly kind.
Cast Members
- Derrick Baskin – Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, Little Mermaid, Memphis
- Drew Gehling – Broadway: Waitress, Almost Famous, On a Clear Day
- Grace McClean – Broadway: Bad Cinderella, Great Comet
- Nick Blaemire – Broadway: Glory Days, Godspell, CryBaby
- Kim Blanck – Off-Broadway: Octet
- Molly Wareham – Recent Fine Arts Center graduate
In 1996, arena rock superstars Journey put the band back together to record their tenth studio album, Trial by Fire. Shortly after the release of this reunion album lead singer and signature voice, Steve Perry injured himself while training for what was to be a high energy road show. With Steve Perry unable to perform, the Trial by Fire tour became “the tour that never happened”. Imagine if Steve Perry had never injured himself on that fateful day. What would the Trial by Fire tour look like?
Flash forward to the present. TRIAL BY FIRE is born out of the hearts of five seasoned North Carolina – based musicians who have decided to answer that question. It is their vision to bring that 1996 tour to Journey fans across the country; to embrace the sound and visuals of the Steve Perry era of Journey.
Prepare to let TRIAL BY FIRE take you back to an earlier day when lighters were held high, and you couldn’t help but sing along to such powerful choruses as “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Wheel in the Sky”, “Lights”, “Separate Ways” and “Faithfully”.
Voted #1 WNC festival in 1977, Black Mountain transforms four streets into a two-day festival filled with handcrafted artisan products, two music stages, a petting zoo, food, demonstrations, and of course – Honey!
We are gearing up for a youth talent showcase to be held at Burial Beer (South Slope location) at our August 13 event: LEAF Famtastic Sunday. The Talent Showcase will kick off at Burial starting at 1 p.m. Want to be part of it? Auditions are on Saturdays in July at LEAF Global Arts. The talent showcase is free to enter and the August 13 event is free as well.
Please pass this along to any young performers who might be interested! For more information, email Melissa McKinney at [email protected].
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Sundays
1 till who knows when?
Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252.5445
Join us for Black Mountain’s original Sunday Jam! Hosted by Spiro and Friends, this jam features original jams and favorite covers. Bring your instrument! Sign-ups at the stage starting at 6 PM!
Pisgah Beer, Gluten Free and N/A options available. Family and dog friendly venue.
The taproom is open from 2:00 to 9:00 PM with music beginning at 6:30 PM.
Death Grips
Teso and Austin
The Legubrian Orchestra, a shadowy and unheard-of music collective, quietly emerges from the fringes of anonymity, evading the spotlight with remarkable finesse. The group remains hidden, never before seen or heard in public. Yet, their lack of visibility does not deter the intrigue surrounding their elusive persona. Whispers of their existence circulate among a select few, lending an air of exclusivity to their enigmatic allure. Their existence comes to light through cryptic messages and underground whispers, igniting curiosity and fascination among music enthusiasts. This ensemble infuses beloved melodies with a somber allure, transforming the familiar into haunting masterpieces.
Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor
You’ll be brimming with holiday cheer when you leave this annual seasonal celebration! Gather your family and friends for Greenville’s favorite Christmas spectacular, which always features your favorites combined with fresh, new themes. Whether you’re carrying on a yuletide tradition or feeling inspired to start a new one, this concert is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the holidays.
CAROLINA CELTIC, is a monthly concert series which showcases Irish and Scottish musical traditions and often explores their commonality with the Appalachian ballads and stories of the Carolina mountains..
Tonight’s show will be a solo concert by series hosts, ROBIN BULLOCK and SUE RICHARDS
A major new duo of two award-winning American masters of traditional Celtic music, Sue Richards and Robin Bullock blend the ancient and magical tones of the Celtic harp with the powerful resonance of the steel-string guitar, cittern and mandolin, drawing on Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Breton traditions to create something truly unique: beautiful and timeless, yet fresh and current.
Their individual achievements speak for themselves, with (among many other accomplishments) Sue being a four-time National Scottish Harp Champion and Robin being a longtime touring sideman with Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award winner Tom Paxton.
Sue and Robin have been friends and colleagues for decades, having both recorded WAMMIE Award-winning solo albums for the Maryland-based Maggie’s Music label and collaborated on many other projects over the years; now both transplants to the western North Carolina mountains, they’re delighted to be joining forces in a long-overdue chamber-Celtic duo. The magic of their combined artistic excellence and mastery of Celtic traditions is captured on their brilliant duo debut CD Highland Ramble.
SUE RICHARDS, four-time National Scottish Harp Champion, has performed numerous times for the Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC, as well as for President Bill Clinton (twice!) and Queen Elizabeth II. She has served as president and distinguished judge for the Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA) and founded the Washington DC Folk Harp Society. She has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, sat in with The Chieftains, toured Norway and Scotland with the Harpa ensemble, and can be heard on dozens of award-winning recordings. Sue is a popular instructor at workshops around the country and has written several books of arrangements and original tunes. In addition to her solo work, Sue is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Ensemble Galilei.
ROBIN BULLOCK has been hailed as a “Celtic guitar god” by Baltimore City Paper, “one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business” by Sing Out! Magazine and one of the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com. His honors include the Association for Independent Music’s prestigious INDIE Award (with the world-folk trio Helicon), Player’s Choice and Album of the Year Awards from Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and the Swannanoa Gathering’s Master Music Maker Award. Robin has played hundreds of concerts as touring sideman with Grammy Award-winning folk legend Tom Paxton, and was the sole support musician on four of Tom’s “Together at Last” tours with fellow Grammy winner Janis Ian. Writing about Robin in The NPR Curious Listener’s Guide to Celtic Music, Thistle and Shamrock host Fiona Ritchie says “Bullock’s music accents the connections between Celtic and American traditional and acoustic music. That he is able to do so by playing almost any stringed instrument to perfection is his specialty.”
With the release of their duo CD Highland Ramble joining their many critically-acclaimed solo albums, Sue and Robin prove that their individual talents together create a world-class combination, carrying Celtic tradition into new and transformative realms.
LEAF isn’t just for kids! Join us in the Mezzanine while you wait for your youth to finish their class or just to hang out!
Calling all singers, songbirds, crooners, and chanteuses! Interested in joining WNC’s premier vocal ensemble and performing with Asheville Symphony?
The Asheville Symphony Chorus invites you to audition for the 2023-2024 season.
Auditions will take place August 8th and 15th, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at First Congregational United Church of Asheville. Please use the form on the Auditions page of our website to request a slot, and be sure to read up on what to prepare and what forms to bring.
We can’t wait to hear you!
We view our Open Mic as a service to the community, providing performance opportunities for musicians who rarely get to play on a nice stage. We like to provide opportunities for community members to come enjoy live music for FREE at least once a week, and sometimes more than once a week.
You’ll hear a variety of wonderfully talented folks on their way up. You never know what you’ll hear… original songs, covers, guitar, piano….. and often something quite surprising.
Each performer gets 15 minutes or three songs.
Our Open Mic has been so popular that we typically have more folks wanting to perform than we’ve had room for. After consulting with some of our regular attendees and participants we want to make sure that everyone has a fair chance to perform on stage.
So we are trying out a new process and it seems to be very popular.
We’ve expanded the number of available performance slots to 10 per night.
- Note: There are actually 12 spots on the list each night. . The host of Open Mic is spot 1, and the owner of White Horse (Bob Hinkle) is spot 3. That leaves 10 available spots to be drawn from the hat.
In place having folks lineup in advance for the signup list, we now pull names out of a hat.
We suggest that those desiring to perform on stage arrive prior to 6:30pm.
When you arrive, check in with the bartender and they will give you a piece of paper where you will write your name and drop it into “the hat”
Sometime between 6:30 and 6:45, the bartender will announce that the names are being drawn. You must be present when the names are drawn to confirm your participation. Participants will be added to the nights performer list in the order in which they are drawn.
Any names left in the hat that do not make the performer list for the night , are automatically put first on the list for the following week. PLUS…. they get a free bottle of beer or soft drink “on the house” as a thank you for their patience and support of fellow musicians.
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
| Adama Dembele is a master djembé player from the Ivory Coast. |
The Enka History Book Club reads historical fiction and non-fiction.
We’ll be discussing, River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard.
Books are available for pick up at the library in large print and regular print.
The group meets in the community room and newcomers are always welcome.
In the case of inclement weather and winter storms, we will post canceled on this page, on our Facebook page, and on our Instagram page. Follow: @enkacandlerlibrary
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Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way! Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes. |
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
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Join us for a book discussion hosted by the Friends of the Skyland/South Buncombe Library! This month we will be reading Daybreak by Belva Plain. The book is available in both physical and digital editions through Buncombe County Public Libraries, and we will also have a few extra copies to borrow at the South Buncombe branch that you can stop by and sign out. From the publisher: The doctor’s office is cool, white, sterile. But the doctor’s words are searing: blood tests prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Margaret and Arthur Crawfield’s beloved, dying son is not their child. Now they must face Peter’s death and the shock of having a son they have never met. Grieving, yet compelled, they begin a search that will tear two families apart. Laura and “Bud” Rice share an elegant home and two children, brilliant, handsome Tom, and cherished, chronically ill eleven-year-old Timmy. But after nineteen years of marriage, Laura’s respectable husband is a stranger—and the reason for Tom’s escalating involvement with a group of campus bigots. Suddenly the Crawfields enter their lives and shatter their fragile world. As the Rices’ quiet Southern town explodes with hate and violence, the two familes must embrace—or be destroyed by—the shattering truth. |
Students will receive a solid foundation in beginner Ukulele skills for vocalists. Chords, Rhythm patterns, and basic theory will be introduced through songs with an uplifting message. Students will also learn to play the song that the Songwriting Class will be writing and get to record it in the One Mic Studio.
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Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.