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, January 20, 2024
Yala Cultural Tour + Drum Workshop
Jan 20 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts
Visit LEAF Global Arts every Saturday for an in-house cultural exchange with Adama Dembele. Experience the Ivory Coast with our Culture Keeper from the House of Djembe.
Stay for an all-ages Drum Workshop, no experience necessary.
Wild Walk: A Behind the Scenes Tour
Jan 20 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
WNC Nature Center

See the WNC Nature Center like never before – behind the scenes! During the tour, we’ll explore how we feed and care for our animals, experience an animal enrichment session, and have the opportunity to meet with some of our keepers. Ticket includes admission to the Nature Center for the day and a 10% discount coupon for the Gift Shop valid only for the day of the event.

The tour is for ages 16 and up.

*Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be made 1 week prior to the event for a full refund.  If the event is cancelled due to weather concerns, full refunds will be issued to all participants.

Asheville Junior Theater Presents THE WIZARD OF OZ – YOUTH EDITION
Jan 20 @ 2:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

L. Frank Baum’s beloved story of a young girl’s adventure in a magical land has been entertaining audiences for over a century. MGM’s blockbuster 1939 film adaptation, featuring the timeless songs of Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, along with the brilliant instrumental music of Herbert Stothart, elevated the popular novel to even greater heights. This stage adaptation, featuring the characters and celebrated songs from the film, brings the wondrous Land of Oz to life.

Join Dorothy and her loyal companion, Toto, as they “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home. Of course, along the way, Dorothy encounters witches (both good and bad), Munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Lion with no nerve. Their journey to happiness – and self-awareness – is a glowing testament to friendship, understanding and hope in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness.

Asheville Junior Theater is kicking this show up a notch with a bluegrass/Appalachian/Asheville adaptation of the original. It’s the classic story with a creative twist in a very familiar setting. Asheville, you are going to love this! Featuring local Bluegrass band, The Well Drinkers, who combine traditional roots of their Appalachian region with progressive instrumentation and songwriting, this show will knock your socks off!!

*Show length is approximately 75 minutes and is suitable for audiences of all ages.

WNC Double SNAP Network at Weaverville Tailgate Market
Jan 20 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Weaverville Tailgate Market

Beginning in January 2024, ASAP (Appalachian
Sustainable Agriculture Project) will partner with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and MountainWise
to expand Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables programs to more farmers markets, farmstands,
and groceries in Western North Carolina. This group has established the WNC Double SNAP Network
in order to bring together existing programs and expand to new sites, making SNAP incentives more
accessible throughout the region.
SNAP programs that center local food and farms can significantly improve individual and community
health. They make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible, keep food dollars in the local
economy, and connect participants with positive food and social environments in their communities.
“ASAP, Mountainwise, and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture currently operate successful SNAP
incentive programs at 26 sites, which connect participants with fresh food and farms in their
communities,” said Mike McCreary, ASAP’s Farmers Market Program Manager. “By combining efforts
and resources, we’ll not only be able to deepen the impact of our existing programs, but also create
adaptive programs that meet the needs of communities that don’t currently have access.”
The first phase of the project focuses on strengthening existing programs across sites operating
January through March, including:
● Asheville City Winter Market, 52 N. Market St., Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● Winter King Street Market, 252 Poplar Grove Rd., Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● Columbus Winter Market, 35 Locust St., 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● High Country Food Hub, 252 Poplar Grove Rd., Boone, online ordering with Wednesday pick-up,
12–6:30 p.m.
● Jackson County Winter Farmers Market, 110 Railroad Ave., Sylva, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● Jarrett Brothers IGA, 191 Main St., Rosman, daily, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
● North Asheville Tailgate Market, 275 Edgewood Rd., Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● River Arts District Farmers Market, 350 Riverside Dr., Asheville, 3–5:30 p.m.
● Rutherford County Winter Farmers Market, 146 North Main St., Rutherfordton, 1st and 3rd
Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● Saluda Winter Market, 64 Greenville St., 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
● Transylvania Farmers Market, 200 E. Main St., Brevard, Saturdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
● Weaverville Tailgate Market, 60 Lakeshore Dr., Saturdays, 3–6 p.m

P U R R T H D A Y P A W T Y
Jan 20 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge - South Slope Lounge

Benefitting TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions
Fundraiser & Silent Auction, Music
Performances, Cat Clicker-Training, & More!
Join us for the purrfect, cat-filled evening!

2024 Vote Blue Kickoff
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
A-B Tech Conference Center

Join us for our 2024 Kickoff! We will be gathering to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 election season with live music, good food, friends & fellowship!

Get Tickets

Whether you sponsor or buy one ticket to this fun evening event, your generosity will help ensure our success at the polls and safeguard the future of our democracy. BCDP volunteers are the grassroots organizing power behind every Democratic victory, and your support allows us to pay for printing, canvassing and Get Out The Vote materials, as well as access to our data software. It also helps us maintain our headquarters, which is already bustling with activity! Sponsors will receive special recognition during the event and candidate sponsors will have the option of having their information included in our presentation (email [email protected] for details).

With your ticket or sponsorship, you will enjoy a buffet dinner from Mamacita’s Taqueria — a locally-owned family business, serving up fresh, made-from-scratch Mexican cuisine. You’ll also receive a free drink ticket for beer or wine (additional tickets will be available for purchase).

Discounted tickets are available for those under 35 years old, as well as our dedicated teachers and first responders. If you aren’t able to pay the full or discounted amount for a ticket to this event, please contact BCDP Chair Kathie Kline at [email protected].

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters in Buncombe and surrounding counties.

Asheville Junior Theater Presents THE WIZARD OF OZ – YOUTH EDITION
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

L. Frank Baum’s beloved story of a young girl’s adventure in a magical land has been entertaining audiences for over a century. MGM’s blockbuster 1939 film adaptation, featuring the timeless songs of Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, along with the brilliant instrumental music of Herbert Stothart, elevated the popular novel to even greater heights. This stage adaptation, featuring the characters and celebrated songs from the film, brings the wondrous Land of Oz to life.

Join Dorothy and her loyal companion, Toto, as they “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home. Of course, along the way, Dorothy encounters witches (both good and bad), Munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Lion with no nerve. Their journey to happiness – and self-awareness – is a glowing testament to friendship, understanding and hope in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness.

Asheville Junior Theater is kicking this show up a notch with a bluegrass/Appalachian/Asheville adaptation of the original. It’s the classic story with a creative twist in a very familiar setting. Asheville, you are going to love this! Featuring local Bluegrass band, The Well Drinkers, who combine traditional roots of their Appalachian region with progressive instrumentation and songwriting, this show will knock your socks off!!

*Show length is approximately 75 minutes and is suitable for audiences of all ages.

Chase Away the Blues
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

TFAC’s popular event, Chase Away the Blues, returns to January in 2024 to brighten up the winter nights! Get ready! The VIP Blues Lounge opens at 5:30 PM with live music open bar and food provided by Tryon Resort in the Pavilion. All are sure to get your feet stomping…

Playground Stage 5 Year Anniversary Celebration
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Highlands Brewery Event Center

Attire: Dress to impress in your favorite sparkly and colorful party clothes!

What’s Happening: A performance at 6:30pm with appearances from current and former PGS students and staff.

Other Details: A performance, activities for kids, drinks and snacks will be provided. Adult Beverages from Highlands Brewery will be available for purchase. All children must be accompanied by an adult for the evening.

FOY VANCE – REGARDING THE JOY OF NOTHING TOUR with Bonnie Bishop All Ages
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

FOY VANCE
Foy Vance is a singer and songwriter hailing from the land of Bangor, Northern Ireland. Deeply rooted in the rich musical history and aesthetic of the Southern United States, Foy independently released his debut album Hope in 2007, quickly garnering acclaim from fans and fellow musicians alike. Foy released his second full-length album, Joy of Nothing, in 2013 on Glassnote Records which led to further critical praise and star-studded invites on tours worldwide from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Bonnie Raitt, Marcus Foster, Snow Patrol and Sir Elton John.

Foy was only the second artist signing to Gingerbread Man Records, Ed Sheeran’s label division within Atlantic Records. Foy’s debut recording on Gingerbread Man Records, The Wild Swan, was Executive Produced by Sir Elton John and released in 2016. His music video for the lead single “She Burns” featured “Pretty Little Liars” and People’s Choice Award winner Lucy Hale. His music video for “Coco” featured the inspiration for the song title, Coco Arquette, the daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette, and was directed by Cox as well.

Foy’s recent collaborations include “Moonshine” with Kacey Musgraves, the end credits track from Ben Affleck’s film “Live By Night,” four tracks including “Galway Girl” on Ed Sheeran’s latest album ÷, as well as cuts on recent releases by Miranda Lambert, Plan B and Rudimental.

Foy has headlined globally to sell-out crowds and splits his time between London and the hills of Aberfeldy, Scotland with his family.

BONNIE BISHOP

The first thing that registers about Bonnie Bishop’s stirring album The Walk is that the seasoned Grammy winner is no longer trying to outrun herself; she owns whatever has come her way, good wind or ill. It’s an uplifting confessional that she dedicates ‘to all who wander’ – laying down searing, emotionally-charged variations to award-winning producer Steve Jordan’s (Robert Cray, John Mayer, Buddy Guy) powerhouse production. She does so in a voice that aches and arches and grabs and never lets go.

 

Blessed with an authentically resounding range, a blistering lyrical gift, and OK – she admits it – a couple of inherent vices that any God-fearing Americana/country/soul artist must wrestle with after years of bringing it live and in-color, Bishop has now broken free from the bust-boom mentality of Nashville to walk a line of her own making. The recipe may sound oversimplified, but it’s a frank, funny, ferocious, insightful Bonnie Bishop we encounter on this path; a recharged singer/songwriter full of grace. Her determination to put one foot in front of the other and find the road to reclamation shifted into overdrive when she left Nashville for her native Texas in 2017. Since then, she’s never looked back. The Walk soars as her most honest effort to date. It’s a groove-laden, lyrical lightning bolt from which the tonic of self-revelation pours forth on songs such as the grateful “Every Happiness Under The Sun” and the gut-wrenching “I Don’t Like To Be Alone.” The album’s euphoric closer, “Song Don’t Fail Me Now,” is Bonnie’s most heartfelt testament to date that music absolutely can still heal the spirit.

Ghosted: Comedy Bus Tour
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room Bar & Gorilla

Explore the dark side of Beer City on LaZoom’s Ghosted Tour!

Duration

1 hour

About

Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!

About

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!

Learn about Asheville’s strange, sometimes sordid past from our ghoulish guides. You’ll laugh! You’ll scream! You’ll discover mysteries and chilling tales of scandal and murder on the blood-stained streets of this picturesque town!

Ghosted runs approximately 60 minutes. Beer and wine are welcome onboard, but no open containers, and absolutely no liquor, please! All beer and wine must be purchased from the LaZoom Room. (Passengers must be at least 21 years old to drink on the bus, and must have valid ID.)

Age Restrictions

17 and up. No exceptions.

What’s Included

A bunch of bus seats
History of murders, ghosts and tragedies in the Land of the Sky
Tongue-in-cheek comedy
A live (not dead) tour guide

What’s Not Included

Bathroom breaks (It’s 60 minutes long – plan accordingly!)
Beer or Wine (Purchase at our bar, the LaZoom Room, and take on the bus)
Laughing (we’ll give you the funny, but it’s up to you to laugh)
Gratuity (guides only accept dead president currency)

Waitlist

If your desired time and availability is full, then please give us a call to be added to the waitlist.

Secret Saturday Comedy Showcase
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company South Slope
Every Saturday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week it’s a secret lineup of amazing comedians!!!
A fun mix of local favorites and big city comics all the way from New York City and who knows who else might show up!!!

ages 18+
doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Tickets $15 advance, $18 day of

The Comedy Zone featuring Lace Larrabee
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm
Tina McGuire Theatre

The nation’s largest comedy club network is back! After a popular run last season, this hilarious collective returns to bring top-notch comedians for four weekends of side-splitting laughter. Some of the hottest stand-up comedians of today — seen in specials on Comedy Central, HBO Comedy, Netflix, Hulu and more — deliver witty one-liners, preposterous punchlines and hysterical anecdotes that will keep you laughing all night long. Contains adult content.

NASCAR NIGHT: Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Jacksonville Icemen
Jan 20 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
NASCAR NIGHT

NASCAR NIGHT

  • Special Jersey
Hendersonville Theatre Presents: Empire Strikes Brass
Jan 20 @ 7:30 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Hendersonville Theatre is proud to launch its 2024 Hometown Sound Music Series with Asheville favorite, Empire Stikes Brass! This unforgettable performance is not to be missed.

This brass, funk, and rock band has a lot to say with a big sound. Chock-full of serious groove from a thumping rhythm section and lush horn arrangements, the band’s compositional roots as well as its creative and collaborative soul contribute lots of depth to their original tunes and covers.

Founded in 2012, ESB has grown from a party band of friends playing New Orleans-originated or inspired second-line and funk tunes with elements of rock and jam. Now, it consists of a collective of players, singers, songwriters, and producers who have found an original sound that fuses their musical influences with fresh ideas while still holding to their foundation.

Featuring rich group and lead vocals from several members including Grammy Award-winning artist Debrissa McKinney (Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), keyboardist/producer Lenny Pettinelli, drummer Nik Hope, bassist JP Furnas, guitarist Chris Porter, trumpet Alex Bradley, trombone Kyle Snuffer, saxophone Pauly Juhl, and keyboard/percussion Sean Donnelly. Since their conception, they have been a constant fixture at various festivals throughout the USA. Empire has also co-billed with some of the biggest names in funk and soul.

When Empire Strikes Brass comes together, whether live or in the studio, the sound is undeniably solid. The band’s debut album was recorded at Asheville’s own renowned Echo Mountain Recording Studio, and released in 2017. Entitled Theme For A Celebration, it was tapped as one of the year’s top 100 releases by WNCW 88.7 radio. ESB’s newest release Brassterpiece Theatre (2019), also recorded at Echo, was a fierce follow-up and both albums are available through all major music distribution streaming, sales, and listening platforms. As they continue to tour and captivate audiences, Empire Strikes Brass is diligently working on their highly anticipated third studio album. Between shows, they are crafting and mastering new sounds that will undoubtedly leave their fans craving for more.

Janna Hymes and Joshua Roman: Tales of Transformation
Jan 20 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Janna Hymes, conductor
Joshua Roman, cellist
Adam Schoenberg: Bounce
Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1
Maurice Ravel: Ma mère l’oye (Mother Goose Suite)
Paul Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber

Saint-Saëns got it right with his first cello concerto, widely believed to be one of the greatest ever written for the instrument, even by tough critics like Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff. The success of this piece catapulted the composer to stardom, and it’s only fitting that our audience should hear it performed by a major star: Joshua Roman.
Pair that with the dreamy playfulness of Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye or “Mother Goose Suite,” written in 1910 for six-year-old Mimi and seven-year-old Jean, the children of the composer’s close friends. The piece has been featured regularly in popular culture, on albums, in television series, and movies.
Paul Hindemith and his wife loved playing piano duets by Classical period composer Carl Maria von Weber, and it was these pieces that inspired his ambitious Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. Beloved by orchestras for its sumptuous harmonies and technical challenges, you’ll be amazed when you hear and see the artistry our Greenville Symphony musicians bring to this metamorphosis.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR & GUEST ARTIST

JESSE COOK
Jan 20 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

A career spanning twenty five years has brought this Canadian guitarist multiple accolades including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine ‘Player’s Choice Silver Award’, eleven Juno Award nominations (he won for 2001’s ‘Free Fall’), a Gemini Award and, most impressively, ten platinum and gold studio albums.

Moreover, he has sold out concert halls the world over, produced five PBS television specials and five live CD’s. Not a bad legacy for a guy who never planned to release an album.

“If you had asked me at age 22, I would have said that I would never, never make music for the public,” Jesse Cook says with a laugh. “I would have told you that the public is much too fickle — they may love you one minute and forget you the next. Well, it turns out I did the thing I said I’d never do, and somehow it’s worked out.”

That’s an understatement. Since launching his career with 1995’s Tempest, Cook has blazed an incredible trail. Along with being a global-guitar virtuoso, he’s honed his skills as a composer, producer, arranger, performer and, more recently, filmmaker and cultural ambassador. Surprisingly, he started down many of those paths before he even started school.

As a child he was introduced to flamenco while spending summers at his father’s house in the Camargue region of southern France. John Cook’s neighbour happened to be Nico Reyes, guitarist for The Gypsy Kings. Meanwhile his mother, Heather Cook, with whom he lived, enrolled him in Toronto’s prestigious Eli Kassner Guitar Academy.

Cook’s musical education continued at the world renowned Royal Conservatory, Toronto’s York University and the esteemed Berklee College in Boston. He set his sights on a career as a composer. That was until an Ontario cable TV company aired his music on the listings channel.

“Their switchboard got flooded with calls,” he recalls. “People even got my number somehow and started phoning me at home and asking for a CD. And I was saying, ‘I don’t have a CD, I’m a background composer guy. I don’t make records.’ “

This proved to be a critical turning point leading Cook to self-produce Tempest at home using an eight-track recorder and one microphone. Then he delivered the initial run of 1,000 CDs from the plant to the distributor in his car. Those humble beginnings quickly sparked a mighty international career.

Canadian television appearances followed and so too did important gigs in the US. If he must point to one it was the 1995 Catalina Jazz Festival where his playing earned a 10-minute standing ovation, sparked mob scenes — “It was like being The Beatles,” he marvels — and prompted one store to order enough copies of Tempest to land it at No.14 in Billboard.

In Poland, his 2004 live album Montreal took the country by storm. In India, he gained fame after one of his songs was plagiarized for a major Bollywood movie. (“In India, that’s allowed,” he explains. “They call it cultural appropriation — it obviously doesn’t mean the same thing there.”) In Iraq, his instrumentals score the nightly news. Elsewhere, they’ve accompanied gymnastics and skating routines at the Olympics.

“In Torino, the Japanese skater and the Russian skater both competed using the same song (Mario Takes A Walk). One of them won. I think I should have got bronze,” he says laughing.

It’s no wonder Cook also jokes that his music “has had a way more interesting life” than he’s had. But lately, that international appeal — reflected in a compositional style that mixes flamenco with everything from classical and jazz to Zydeco, blues and Brazilian samba — has become something he takes more seriously.

“If music can come from around the world and interconnect so beautifully to create this beautiful tapestry, maybe there’s something that music can teach us.”

Over the course of his first twenty -five years making award winning music for a global audience Cook could be forgiven should he contemplate retiring or, as he puts it,  ‘hanging out at my cottage dipping my toes in the water.”  But the fact is he loves creating music. And, there’s also the matter of some unfinished business interrupted by the pandemic.

“Tempest 25’ the reissue of his debut album (released 25 years prior) had been amongst those pre-Covid plans. So too had been another world tour in support of its release.  Cook, like most of us, found himself house bound due to travel restrictions.

“The first year with no touring since my career began. I needed a mountain to climb” Cook quips.

So, Cook got to work producing 23 (and counting) extraordinary solo YouTube videos of his favourite songs in which he played all the instruments, recorded, and filmed himself. The collection is called “Love in the Time of Covid” Not only have they pleased his existing fan base but this YouTube video collection has expanded his worldwide audience who are now craving that soon to be announced world tour.

Jesse Cook, clearly, has many more years of memorable performances ahead of him.

JESSE COOK
Jan 20 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

A career spanning twenty five years has brought this Canadian guitarist multiple accolades including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine ‘Player’s Choice Silver Award’, eleven Juno Award nominations (he won for 2001’s ‘Free Fall’), a Gemini Award and, most impressively, ten platinum and gold studio albums.

Moreover, he has sold out concert halls the world over, produced five PBS television specials and five live CD’s. Not a bad legacy for a guy who never planned to release an album.

“If you had asked me at age 22, I would have said that I would never, never make music for the public,” Jesse Cook says with a laugh. “I would have told you that the public is much too fickle — they may love you one minute and forget you the next. Well, it turns out I did the thing I said I’d never do, and somehow it’s worked out.”

That’s an understatement. Since launching his career with 1995’s Tempest, Cook has blazed an incredible trail. Along with being a global-guitar virtuoso, he’s honed his skills as a composer, producer, arranger, performer and, more recently, filmmaker and cultural ambassador. Surprisingly, he started down many of those paths before he even started school.

As a child he was introduced to flamenco while spending summers at his father’s house in the Camargue region of southern France. John Cook’s neighbour happened to be Nico Reyes, guitarist for The Gypsy Kings. Meanwhile his mother, Heather Cook, with whom he lived, enrolled him in Toronto’s prestigious Eli Kassner Guitar Academy.

Cook’s musical education continued at the world renowned Royal Conservatory, Toronto’s York University and the esteemed Berklee College in Boston. He set his sights on a career as a composer. That was until an Ontario cable TV company aired his music on the listings channel.

“Their switchboard got flooded with calls,” he recalls. “People even got my number somehow and started phoning me at home and asking for a CD. And I was saying, ‘I don’t have a CD, I’m a background composer guy. I don’t make records.’ “

This proved to be a critical turning point leading Cook to self-produce Tempest at home using an eight-track recorder and one microphone. Then he delivered the initial run of 1,000 CDs from the plant to the distributor in his car. Those humble beginnings quickly sparked a mighty international career.

Canadian television appearances followed and so too did important gigs in the US. If he must point to one it was the 1995 Catalina Jazz Festival where his playing earned a 10-minute standing ovation, sparked mob scenes — “It was like being The Beatles,” he marvels — and prompted one store to order enough copies of Tempest to land it at No.14 in Billboard.

In Poland, his 2004 live album Montreal took the country by storm. In India, he gained fame after one of his songs was plagiarized for a major Bollywood movie. (“In India, that’s allowed,” he explains. “They call it cultural appropriation — it obviously doesn’t mean the same thing there.”) In Iraq, his instrumentals score the nightly news. Elsewhere, they’ve accompanied gymnastics and skating routines at the Olympics.

“In Torino, the Japanese skater and the Russian skater both competed using the same song (Mario Takes A Walk). One of them won. I think I should have got bronze,” he says laughing.

It’s no wonder Cook also jokes that his music “has had a way more interesting life” than he’s had. But lately, that international appeal — reflected in a compositional style that mixes flamenco with everything from classical and jazz to Zydeco, blues and Brazilian samba — has become something he takes more seriously.

“If music can come from around the world and interconnect so beautifully to create this beautiful tapestry, maybe there’s something that music can teach us.”

Over the course of his first twenty -five years making award winning music for a global audience Cook could be forgiven should he contemplate retiring or, as he puts it,  ‘hanging out at my cottage dipping my toes in the water.”  But the fact is he loves creating music. And, there’s also the matter of some unfinished business interrupted by the pandemic.

“Tempest 25’ the reissue of his debut album (released 25 years prior) had been amongst those pre-Covid plans. So too had been another world tour in support of its release.  Cook, like most of us, found himself house bound due to travel restrictions.

“The first year with no touring since my career began. I needed a mountain to climb” Cook quips.

So, Cook got to work producing 23 (and counting) extraordinary solo YouTube videos of his favourite songs in which he played all the instruments, recorded, and filmed himself. The collection is called “Love in the Time of Covid” Not only have they pleased his existing fan base but this YouTube video collection has expanded his worldwide audience who are now craving that soon to be announced world tour.

Jesse Cook, clearly, has many more years of memorable performances ahead of him.

The Comedy Zone featuring Lace Larrabee
Jan 20 @ 9:00 pm
Tina McGuire Theatre

The nation’s largest comedy club network is back! After a popular run last season, this hilarious collective returns to bring top-notch comedians for four weekends of side-splitting laughter. Some of the hottest stand-up comedians of today — seen in specials on Comedy Central, HBO Comedy, Netflix, Hulu and more — deliver witty one-liners, preposterous punchlines and hysterical anecdotes that will keep you laughing all night long. Contains adult content.

Lace Larrabee is an actor, nationally touring stand-up comedian and former southern beauty queen who can be seen at clubs from coast to coast. Lace was a season 17 semifinalist on America’s Got Talent and was brought back at the finale show to roast judge Simon Cowell alongside the Roastmaster General himself, Jeff Ross!

Lace’s debut comedy album, White Trash Cinderella, produced by 800 Pound Gorilla Records, was released in September 2022 at the number 1 spot on the comedy charts. The accompanying YouTube special garnered over 190k views in the first month and continues to climb.

Lace and fellow Atlanta comedian Katherine Blanford (The Tonight Show) co-host the hilariously healing podcast, CHEATIES! CHEATIES is a delicious, juicy part of a well-balanced diet. Every week, these two snarky co-hosts interview a guest who’s either been cheated on or been the cheater. This podcast focuses on the mistakes we all make in relationships and, more importantly, how we overcome them and make it out on top.

Lace is also very passionate about helping to elevate the voices of other women. She founded Atlanta’s first and only all female stand-up comedy class Laugh Lab at the legendary Punchline Comedy Club. Laugh Lab now offers coed classes as well and was voted “2019 Best Comedy Class” by Atlanta Magazine.

Sunday, January 21, 2024
2024 Carl Sandburg Poetry Contest is open with a theme of “Memory”
Jan 21 all-day
online w/ Carl Sandburg Home

Carl Sandburg wrote countless words in an array of different genres, including poetry, children’s stories, journal articles, as well as a biography and autobiography! He wrote of love and nature, dreams and struggles. This year’s theme of “Memory” is echoed in much of his works. ““Under the summer roses, when the flagrant crimson, lurks in the dusk, Of the wild red leaves, Love, with little hands, comes and touches you with a thousand memories, and asks you beautiful, unanswerable questions.” Carl Sandburg

Poems submitted for the 2024 contest should reflect the theme of “Memory.” By definition, “the process or power of recallling something learned or experienced from the past” Note: Poems do NOT need to be titled Memory, as long as the poem itself relates to the theme.

Students are invited to submit a poem to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site’s annual Student Poetry Contest. The contest encourages youth to explore writing their own poetry and is open to students nationwide!

  • Submissions are accepted from grades 3-12 and must be submitted by email by Monday March 4, 2024. See below for submission rules.
  • Winners will be notified by April 7, 2024, and will be invited to participate in a virtual celebration program on Sunday, April 28.
2024 Property Tax Listing Period Notice
Jan 21 all-day
online

NOTICE OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX LISTING PERIOD
Property Tax Listing forms must be completed and returned by
5 p.m. on January 31, 2024 to avoid late listing penalty.

Notice is hereby given, that all persons who own personal or business property subject to taxation in Buncombe County on January 1, 2024, must list such property no later than January 31, 2024. Any person who fails to do so will be subject to penalties prescribed by law. Per North Carolina General Statute 105-296(c), the regular listing period is January 1 through January 31. If the regular listing period begins or ends on a day other than a business day, the period for such filing shall be extended through the next business day.

The listing period for 2024 will begin Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and end Friday, January 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. Listing forms will be mailed in December 2023 to persons or businesses who have requested a listing form or filed a listing last year. Download a listing form at buncombecounty.org/propertyassessment or contact the Property Assessment office at (828) 250-4920.

Real Property

*All persons who own real estate must list any new additions, changes, or deletions that have been made since January 1, 2023. Please contact the Property Assessment office at (828) 250-4940.

*According to the North Carolina General Statutes, all property that is not defined or taxed as “real estate” or “real property” is considered to be “personal property.”

Personal Property

*All persons who own personal property such as un-tagged motor vehicles, permanently tagged trailers, manufactured homes, boats and boat motors, airplanes, rental personal property or farm machinery used for income purposes, must file a listing form annually. Download a listing form at buncombecounty.org/personallistingform.

Business Personal Property

*Business personal property is taxable whether it is owned, leased, rented, loaned, or otherwise made available to the business.

*All businesses are required to file a business personal property listing form annually during the listing period stated above, which includes: machinery and equipment; furniture and fixtures; computers; improvements to leased property; manufactured homes; aircraft; international registration plan (IRP) plated vehicles, supplies, etc. used in connection with the business. Download a listing form at buncombecounty.org/businesslistingform. This also includes all furnishings within a dwelling that is used as a long- or short-term rental. Download a Rental Listing form at buncombecounty.org/rentallistingform.

Extensions

*Listing extensions may be granted on request and for good cause shown.  Extensions must be requested no later than January 31, 2024. Request an extension at businessextensions.buncombecounty.org. If you are a new businesses that has not listed before, email [email protected] to request an extension prior to January 31, 2024.

*Extensions cannot be granted beyond March 15, 2024. If you are a new business for 2024, and have not filed a previous listing form, please contact our office for information at (828) 250-4930.

Tax Relief

*Property tax relief may be available for Veterans, anyone 65 and older, or anyone permanently disabled under NCGS 105-277.1. Call (828) 250-4915 to see if you qualify or download an application at buncombecounty.org/taxrelief.

Reminder: Listing forms will be accepted January 2-31, 2024. Property Assessment is located at 155 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, and is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. except for holidays. Call (828) 250-4920 for more information. Instructions and forms are available at: buncombecounty.org/propertyassessment.

The County of Buncombe does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment, in its services, programs, and activities, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

 

2024 Season Auditions Parkway Playhouse
Jan 21 all-day
The Mountain Heritage Center

Mark your calendars, auditions for our 2024 season will take place on January 20-21, 2024 at The Mountain Heritage Center (Across the street from Parkway Playhouse)!

Our audition schedule this year is…

Saturday, January 20th, 2024

– Experienced Auditioners: 10am-12pm

– Less-Experienced Auditioners: 12pm-2pm

Sunday, January 21st, 2024

– Less-Experienced Auditioners: 1pm-3pm

– Experienced Auditioners: 3pm-5pm

Experienced Auditioners: Please come prepared with a resume, headshot, and a one-minute monologue if you have them. If you plan to audition for the musical, please also prepare 16-32 bars of a song and bring sheet music or prerecorded tracks. You may also be asked to read sides at the auditions.

Less-Experienced Auditioners: If you’re new to auditioning, and you don’t have the items above prepared, we’ll provide sides for you to read at auditions. Sides are excerpts from the script. If you’d like to audition for the musical you can prepare part of a song without accompaniment.

If you wish to submit a video audition, please send an acting reel or filmed monologue, your headshot, your resume, and 16-32 bars of song (if auditioning for Ordinary Days) to [email protected] by January 21, 2024.

*Please note that we are unable to provide housing for our 2024 season.

Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail
Jan 21 all-day
Asheville Area

Explore the Rich Heritage of Black Communities in Asheville

The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail leads visitors through three areas of Asheville: Downtown, Southside, and the River Area. The entire trail takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to walk and read.

Reflecting on Community Resolve

Did you know that Black people helped create this region’s first non-Indigenous households? Did you know that Black people helped build Asheville and connected Asheville globally? Black entrepreneurs created thriving business districts. Black families cultivated close-knit neighborhoods. Black people from all backgrounds built resilient communities and fostered social change.

Immerse yourself in the history and heroism of Black Ashevillians by walking the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail. Deepen your understanding with articles, videos, and more resources available here on the trail’s website.

Follow the Trail

Experience this trail in pieces as you explore Asheville or start at one of our three introduction kiosks to learn more about how Black people in Asheville negotiated landscapes of unequal power to build resilient communities and foster social change.

BCAlerts From CodeRED
Jan 21 all-day
online
Stay informed. Get emergency notifications and general Buncombe County information on your smartphone, telephone, or email.
Sign up for BCAlerts today

Here is what you need to know.

What is CodeRED?

Along with emergency and critical messages, the CodeRED notification system will also enhance community engagement via the release of important but non-emergency information such as vaccine site notifications, inclement weather closures and schedule changes, and other county service information.

Sign up for BC Alerts by texting BCAlert(not case sensitive) to 99411 or visit to sign up for the new system. If residents have previously signed up for Nixle BC Alerts, they will need to re-register in order to continue receiving notifications after June 30.

Alerts to choose from:

  • Emergency
  • General
    • Recreation Services
    • Election Reminders
    • Governing
  • Weather

NOTICE: For CodeRED support, please call 1-866-939-0911. For all other questions email [email protected].

Casino Night for Cardiology – new 50/50 CASH Raffle
Jan 21 all-day
online

Completely separate from the Casino Night event tickets we are excited to announce the addition of a 50/50 CASH RAFFLE to our event!

  • This optional $100 ticket enters you for your chance to win up to $10,000 with two cash out prizes, one at $10,000 and one at $5,000.
  • With only 300 tickets sold, and two chances to win, the odds are ever in your favor!
  • The Cash Raffle winners will be announced at Casino Night on 2/23/24, but you do not need to be present to win.
  • Your event ticket DOES NOT enter you into the CASH RAFFLE – these are two separate tickets, one for the event and one for the CASH RAFFLE.
  • Both ticket prices are $100/per.
Community survey on the City of Asheville
Jan 21 all-day
online

Tell us – How are we doing as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with Polco/National Research Center to find out.

The National Community Survey captures residents’ opinions on local governance and participation, also drilling down to specific issues such as the built environment, community engagement, recreation and wellness, the economy, safety, and mobility.

Some residents were randomly selected to participate in the scientifically significant survey in December and were notified by mail. If you were notified by mail, please do not complete the online survey as well.

The survey is now open to all residents at the following links:

English: https://polco.us/AshevilleOP23ENG

Spanish: https://polco.us/AshevilleOP23SPAN

Russian: https://polco.us/AshevilleOP23RUSS

The survey will be open through January 22. The survey will take about 18 minutes to complete.

When this survey closes, results will be presented online in interactive charts and tables. Asheville’s last resident survey was conducted in 2021. You can find the results here as well as results from 2018, 2015 and 2008.

What will the City do with the results? The National Community Survey will compare and analyze the results from previous years and provide the metrics comparison. As the city enters budget planning season for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the results will help guide the City’s operational planning and help to determine project prioritization and resource allocation.

Connect Beyond Festival Volunteer Opportunities
Jan 21 all-day
Harrah's Cherokee Center- Asheville

We have three opportunities for you to help Connect Beyond AND see some music! We need volunteers to assist with wristbands for three shows this summer at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Downtown Asheville, N.C. Shifts are roughly (3) hours and all participating volunteers will also receive (1) free ticket to stay after and watch the show. The following dates and shows are available:

  • February 16-18: Billy Strings
  • May 16: Amon Amarth
  • May 20 & 22: Noah Kahan
  • August 30: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
DIY River + Road Cleanups
Jan 21 all-day
Asheville Area

Whenever you want!

 

Supplies available at

2 Sulphur Springs Road

If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.

Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).

Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.

Need to know

Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.

All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.

Flat Rock Playhouse 2024 SEASON
Jan 21 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

The 2024 SEASON HAS ARRIVED and you’re not gonna want to miss a show!
Subscriptions on sale January 10 / All Tickets on sale January 24.
– The Magic of Live Theatre is alive and well at Flat Rock
Playhouse! Coming off a wildly successful 2023 season, Flat Rock Playhouse, The State
Theatre of North Carolina is thrilled to unveil its highly anticipated lineup for the 2024 season.

Subscriptions go on sale January 10 and all single tickets on sale Jan. 24. We can’t wait
to share these incredible productions with our community.
Kicking off the season is our ever-popular Music on the RockTM Concert Series followed by our
Mainstage Series.

Mixtape! The Best of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s – February 22 – 25

It’s February, which means ‘the boys are back!’ From the same outstanding musical talent who
brought you the Music of Queen, the Eagles, and the Beatles, welcome to Mixtape! The Best of
the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Come shake off the winter blues with this red-hot rockin’ playlist
featuring tunes you know and love. It’ll be ‘a gas,’ ‘far out,’ and ‘totally tubular!’

The Music of John Denver – March 8 – 9
Celebrate the Timeless Music of John Denver with this Spectacular Tribute Concert, featuring
national tribute artist, Ted Vigil. An unforgettable evening of music and nostalgia honoring the
legendary singer-songwriter, and you won’t believe the uncanny resemblance to the legend!
From classics like “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Sunshine on My
Shoulders,” this concert will showcase the breadth and depth of John Denver’s musical legacy.

Uptown: The Music of Motown – March 21 – 24
Motown Remixed! From New York City, the epicenter of Soul and R&B, these young men of
‘UPTOWN’ will sing and dance their way into your hearts, and out of your seats in STYLE. With
the class of young Temptations, moves like the Jackson 5, vocals like Marvin Gaye and Stevie
Wonder, and the contemporary feel of Bruno Mars … “Everybody’s Going UPTOWN!” It’s old
school soul for a new generation!

Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute – April 4 – 6
Let’s Go Surfin’ Now…you get it! At over 80 shows a year, Sail On is the most booked Beach
Boys Tribute band in the world! Sail On plays all of the Beach Boys’ classic hits, plus some
treasures from the band’s brilliant extended catalog, recreating the soundtrack to an Endless
Summer completely live and in rich detail. If you are looking for an authentic Beach Boys
concert experience, you won’t find one better than Sail On! It’s all Good Vibrations!

Country Gold: Country Music’s Greatest Hits – April 25 – 27
International Recording Artist, Grammy Member, and American Idol Golden Ticket Winner,
Blake Ellege is a generational talent whose unparalleled vocals have transported and enthralled
audiences around the world. Join Blake and his showband: “Saddletramp” on a journey through
Country Music’s Greatest Hits. Come see for yourself why Blake has been named one of the
most prominent and charismatic entertainers on this side of the Mississippi.

Jersey Boys – May 10 – June 1
“The Four Seasons story still hits all the high notes!” Experience the Unforgettable Music and
Untold Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons with Jersey Boys. This Tony Award-winning
musical, filled with chart-topping hits, captivating storytelling, and electrifying performances, will
have audiences singing and dancing in their seats. Featuring iconic songs like “Sherry,” “Big
Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” this musical is a
celebration of the timeless music that defined a generation. Don’t miss your chance to
experience the magic, the music, the story of Jersey Boys.

The Shawshank Redemption – June 14 – 30

Embark on an unforgettable journey of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit
as the Playhouse proudly presents The Shawshank Redemption. Adapted for the stage by
Owen O’Neil, Dave Johns and based on Steven King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank
Redemption, and its subsequent 1994 film adaptation, this captivating story has enthralled
audiences around the world. Prepare to be riveted, moved, and inspired by this timeless tale of
hope and reclamation as it comes to life on the Playhouse stage!
*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Cabaret – July 12 – August 3
Willkommen to the Kit Kat Klub! A Berlin Nightclub at the end of the 1920s. Hitler’s totalitarian
regime and the Nazi Party are on the rise. Be transported back in time and welcome for the first
time at Flat Rock Playhouse, Kander and Ebb’s Broadway sensation, Cabaret! Dark and
sensual, it will break your heart and lift your spirits more wildly than anything else you’ll see this
season. “Cabaret is one of the great Broadway musicals and musical scores of all time–an
exhilarating, harrowing masterpiece.” –Time Out New York *Adult language and content.
Parental discretion is advised.

Boeing-Boeing – August 9 – 25
The comedy of the season has landed! Fasten your seatbelts–there’s turbulence ahead in this
laugh-out-loud tour-de-farce! It’s the 1960’s and Bernard, an American living in Paris, has the
perfect setup: three international fiancées, each a beautiful airline hostess with frequent
“layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down, and one pending” until unexpected schedule changes
bring all three to Paris, and Bernard’s apartment, at the same time. Prepare yourself for the
most deliriously funny flight of your life.

Jesus Christ Superstar, In Concert – September 5 – 22
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar–in concert, is heading to
the Rock. Born of the evocative 1970 concept album, this groundbreaking production, with lyrics
by Sir Tim Rice, is a rock radio play that immerses audiences in a formidable and emotional
musical journey. Electrifying music, and gut-punching vocal stylings unite to help narrate the last
seven days of Jesus’ life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. In music industry parlance, it’s all
killer, no filler. Expect a powerful and unforgettable experience that will resonate long after the
final note is sung.

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall (The Black Box Series) – October 4 – 13
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve
Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some
surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity, Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and
the challenges facing the civil rights movement, laying bare the leader’s profound humanity.
Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive”
by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s
last night on Earth could have been. *Adult language and content. Parental discretion is
advised.

CATS – October 25 – November 10
An extravaganza of fantasy and theatre magic, CATS has enchanted audiences for decades
with its fiercely energetic dancing, showbiz razzle-dazzle, and unforgettable lyrics drawn from
T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. As one of the most popular Broadway
blockbusters of all time and winner of seven Tony Awards, this certified classic has brought
cheer to millions of theatre lovers of all ages! You and your family are sure to leave the theatre
tapping your toes and ‘feline’ groovy!

Mozart to Pop Chart: Volume 3 – The History of Rock and Roll – November 14 – 17
Nat Zegree is back! The inimitable entertainer, (Million Dollar Quartet, Amadeus, Queen,
Macbeth,) returns to The Rock with an all-new musical journey for Mozart to Pop Chart: Volume
3—The History of Rock and Roll! Already known and celebrated for his world-class
musicianship, Nat is also a teacher of distinction whose infectious passion not just for music, but
for the people and histories behind the music make his celebrated concerts second to none.
Join us for this one-week-only event! Don’t be late for class!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas – November 29 – December 21
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you
in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh
bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season.
So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of
this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright!
Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Food Scraps Drop Off: Oakley Community Center
Jan 21 all-day
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

 

Locations

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours
    • Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

      85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

        • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
        • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm