Calendar of Events

Bryan McConnell, former bass player for jazz greats John Handy and Bobby

Hutcherson, brings his original compositions, and a few of his cover tune arrangements, to White Horse Black Mountain, with his 8-piece 5-star band, for his CD Release Concert on Sunday, May7 th at 7:30pm! The birth of these compositions started back in Bryan’s early 20’s, and were inspired by bebop/avant garde musician/composer, Charles Mingus. Bryan continued to evolve these pieces over nearly 40 years into the masterpieces they are today!! The Bryan McConnell Jazz Ensemble lineup is as follows:

 Michael Jefry Stevens, piano

 Bryan McConnell, bass

 Bill Berg, drums

 Will Boyd, saxophones/flutes

 Todd Wright, saxophones

 Rick Simerly, trombone

 Christian Howes, violin

 Julie McConnell, vocals

Other jazz greats Bryan has played with over the past 45 years: Phil Woods, James Moody, Harold Land, Bruce Forman, Buddy Montgomery, Richie Cole, Ernie Andrews, Ernie Watts, Red Halloway, Kenny Drew, Jr., Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, CalvinKeys, John Fadis, Lanny Morgan, Mose Allison, Martin Headman, Ace Hill, Dottie Dodgion, Charles McPherson, Hollis Gentry, Mike Wofford, and Holly Hoffman.

CLICK HERE to read Bryan McConnell’s full bio:

You absolutely do NOT want to miss this very special event!

Secure your seats now!!

Bryan McConnell, former bass player for jazz greats John Handy and Bobby Hutcherson, brings his original compositions, and a few of his cover tune arrangements, to White Horse Black Mountain, with his 8-piece 5-star band, for his CD Release Concert on Sunday, May 7th at 7:30pm! The birth of these compositions started back in Bryan’s early 20’s, and were inspired by bebop/avant garde musician/composer, Charles Mingus. Bryan continued to evolve these pieces over nearly 40 years into the masterpieces they are today!! The Bryan McConnell Jazz Ensemble lineup is as follows:

• Michael Jefry Stevens, piano
• Bryan McConnell, bass
• Bill Berg, drums
• Will Boyd, saxophones/flutes
• Todd Wright, saxophones
• Rick Simerly, trombone
• Christian Howes, violin
• Julie McConnell, vocals

Other jazz greats Bryan has played with over the past 45 years: Phil Woods, James Moody, Harold Land, Bruce Forman, Buddy Montgomery, Richie Cole, Ernie Andrews, Ernie Watts, Red Halloway, Kenny Drew, Jr., Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, Calvin Keys, John Fadis, Lanny Morgan, Mose Allison, Martin Headman, Ace Hill, Dottie Dodgion, Charles McPherson, Hollis Gentry, Mike Wofford, and Holly Hoffman.

You absolutely do NOT want to miss this very special event! Secure your seats now!! Tickets are $18.00 until the day of the concert, and $20.00 the day of the concert. Click here to read Bryan McConnell’s full bio: https://www.mcconnellsmusic.com/bios/bryan-mcconnell/

get tickets at Digable Planets Tickets | Asheville, NC | The Orange Peel (etix.com)

Support:
Kassa Overall

Ages 18+

Thunder in the Smokies motorcyle rally: May 5-7, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, Soco Road, Maggie Valley. Bike games, cash prize, concerts, tour Blue Ridge Parkway. Get tickets at rally. Friday: $25 weekend pass, all-inclusive for activities. Saturday: $20 all-inclusive for Saturday-Sunday.Visit www.thunderinthesmokies.com or https://handlebarcorral.com/springrally/.

Saturday, May 6, 2023

9 AM Gate Opens, Vendors Open
12 pm Ride-In Bike Show $1,000 Prize
1:30 pm Bike Games $1,000 Prize

Concerts:

5 pm – 7 pm Featuring… Mark Keller

7 pm – 9 pm Featuring… Cash Creek and Friends

9 pm – 11 pm Featuring… Kala McKinney

Also, Fire Dancers will be performing Friday and Saturday.

Acoustic guitarist, JAY BROWN hosts our bi-weekly Local Live series featuring a variety of talented local musicians. Jay grew up playing folk guitar with his parents and has continued to pursue a career in music as a singer-songwriter and roots musician.

Special screening and moderated discussion hosted by Bill Kopp

Tickets at Voivod Tickets | Asheville, NC | The Orange Peel (etix.com)

Support:
ASG
Cryptosis
Baest

Ages 18+

Raise a glass and join the Asheville Symphony in celebrating the long-awaited return of the Asheville Amadeus Festival. We are kicking off the festival in style at Cursus Kĕmē with the release of an exclusive brew — Das Horner Bier. Das Horner Bier has a special connection to our festival’s namesake, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; a known favorite of his, the beer-loving composer even mentions this beer in a work from 1782! This light and dry oat-based brew has a slightly sweet, citrusy taste with a hint of spice and malt — perfect easy drinking for an early-summer Mozart festival. Join us as we launch the festival with a glass of Das Horner Bier and a snack from a local food truck — cheers to ten glorious days of Amadeus festivities!

WELCOME BACK TO ASHEVILLE AMADEUS

The festival began in 2015 as a week-long event, and in 2017 and 2019 was expanded to a grand 10-day festival bringing together some of Asheville’s most talented musicians, artists, brewers and entertainers for a schedule of performances, education programs, collaborations and social events. Headlining artists have included Emanuel Ax, Midori, Warren Haynes and Garrick Ohlsson.

Building upon the success of our rock-themed Festival in 2019, the 2023 Festival moves in another exciting new direction, this year celebrating all things Americana with theater, art, music, culinary arts, and more. Featuring banjo superstar Béla Fleck as our Festival Headliner, Kishi Bashi as our Festival Opener, and 25+ partner organizations offering 40+ events throughout this extraordinary ten-day Festival, this is the most ambitious Amadeus in Asheville Symphony history!

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.

“A glorious celebration of everything you love about the show.” – The Guardian

Based out of Asheville, NC, Fancy and the Gentlemen brings an eclectic mix of honky tonk, blues, southern gothic, rock, and classical roots to this americana band. Sensitive and rich harmonies weave through the tapestry of original compositions and carefully curated covers that celebrate the roots of American southern music. Fancy Marie, Katie Leigh, and Craig Kellberg enjoy performing as a full groove-infused band, while staying true to the core that is the artistry that is the songwriting trio.

Our jazz trio with Thommy Knoles on keys, Felix Pastorius on bass, and Paul Gladstone on drums will perform an opening set from about 7-8:15 pm.

An open jam session follows. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged for a suggested donation of $10.

Jazz Jam will feature a diverse array of music from jazz’s rich history, ranging from 1940s bebop up to 1970s jazz fusion, as well as material from prominent present-day composers. Bring your instruments and jam with us, or just come and enjoy!

Whether blowing bebop over a Mingus tune or freely improvising with Anthony Braxton, Michael Rabinowitz’s contributions have changed the conception of what the bassoon can do. Since graduating with a BFA in music performance from SUNY at Purchase in the late seventies Michael’s improvisatory skills opened the door for the bassoon to enter a variety of musical environments not traditionally associated with the instrument.

He has recorded with Ira Sullivan, Red Rodney, Wynton Marsalis, John Hicks, Dave Douglas, Chris Potter and Joe Lovano. His festival appearances include Chicago, Montreal, Berlin, Tri-city, Tanglewood, San Francisco and Hollywood Bowl. Michael is a founding member of The Charles Mingus Orchestra which can be heard regularly at the Jazz Standard in NYC. His quartet Bassoon and the Wild has performed at the The Vanderbilt Planetarium, Frick Museum, JVC Jazz Festival, , Penn State, Kavehaz and other venues in NYC. Ocean Eyes is Michael’s 5th CD and documents the development of his quartet with mostly original compositions. The Buffet Group USA has been Michael’s sponsor for the past fifteen years and has supported his participation in performances and master classes at the IDRS most notably the Jazz at June Festival in Oklahoma with oboist Paul McCandless

Michael Rabinowitz is joined by the three of the top jazz musicians in western North Carolina; Michael Jefry Stevens, Zack Page, and Rick Dilling. It promises to be a rare opportunity to hear great world-class jazz music without traveling to New York or Chicago.

• Visit The Artists Website

The FABBA Show – Tribute to ABBA comes to The Orange Peel on Thursday, May 11 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20/$22 and may be purchased by phone at 828.398.1837, at the box office or online at www.theorangepeel.net. The Orange Peel is located at 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. The show is appropriate for all ages.

In May the Asheville Symphony will once again present their annual Mozart festival, Asheville Amadeus. The Library will host three kindermusik events at Pack Library, West Asheville and Skyland Libraries in conjunction with the Asheville Amadeus Festival.

Kindermusik educator, Yvette Odell, will present Circle ‘Round the Music for kids, a music and movement program for preschool age children. “Ms. Yvette” — as she is known to many young children in the Asheville area — will introduce a live string quartet at each informal event, a special opportunity for very young children to get an up-close experience with music-making. Ms. Yvette will lead families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers in singing and dancing along with the string quartet.

These events are free and no sign up is required. This program is presented by Weetunes, an education program of the Asheville Symphony, and Buncombe County Public Libraries. Recommended for ages birth to five.

In May the Asheville Symphony will once again present their annual Mozart festival, Asheville Amadeus. The Library will host three kindermusik events at Pack Library, West Asheville and Skyland Libraries in conjunction with the Asheville Amadeus Festival.

Kindermusik educator, Yvette Odell, will present Circle ‘Round the Music for kids, a music and movement program for preschool age children. “Ms. Yvette” — as she is known to many young children in the Asheville area — will introduce a live string quartet at each informal event, a special opportunity for very young children to get an up-close experience with music-making. Ms. Yvette will lead families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers in singing and dancing along with the string quartet.

These events are free and no sign up is required. This program is presented by Weetunes, an education program of the Asheville Symphony, and Buncombe County Public Libraries. Recommended for ages birth to five.

IMIJ OF SOUL

ImiJ of Soul (pronounced image) is a celebration of all things Jimi Hendrix! A psychedelic juggernaut playing Jimi with authenticity and reverence. Already noticed by the man who played Jimi’s parts with Billy and Buddy in Band of Gypsys (Andy Aledort) and literally wrote the book on Hendrix, ImiJ brings the Jimi experience live to you.

“ImiJ of Soul play Jimi Hendrix’s music with a truly authentic vibe and attitude, check them out!”  – Andy Aledort…Guitar World Magazine, Band of Gypsys

“Some folks just get it, these guys GET it! ImiJ of Soul bring the music of Jimi Hendrix to life, no impersonations, no tricks just rockin the tunes we all grown to love, if you love Hendrix you need to see ImiJ of Soul”  – Dustin Brayley…Trans Siberian Orchestra‫

Bill Altman …guitar and vocal
Fatty Be …bass guitar and vocal
David Cohen …drums

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.