Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!

Friends of Music at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness, Flat Rock, will present a concert featuring a trio of noted local musicians:  Kate Steinbeck, flute; Katherine Haig, cello; and Dewitt Tipton, piano.

Kate Steinbeck is recognized across the U.S. and in Europe as a unique interpreter of a wide-ranging repertoire, an innovative producer and collaborator, as well as an enthusiastic
teacher/ coach. In 2011 she co-founded Pan Harmonia. Visit https://panharmonia.org

Katherine Haig, a cellist, singer and arranger living in Asheville, is passionate about both early and contemporary music.  Having studied at Baldwin Wallace University, she is
currently training in the Suzuki method and is dedicated to teaching young students to be joyful and thoughtful musicians.

Dewitt Tipton, retired Furman University music professor, serves as Organist and Director of Music at St. John in the Wilderness.  He founded and coordinates the annual Friends of
Music series.

The concert will feature musical selections by artists J.S. Bach, John Rutter, Ernst Bacon and
Carl Maria von Weber. It is free and open to the public with no reservations required.
Handicapped accessibility and parking are available.  Donations for Friends of Music are
gladly accepted.  For more information call 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

A taste of the Low Country comes to the foothills when the Mountains to the Sea Jazz Series serves up some of Charleston’s finest and most talented musicians and creatives. GRAMMY award winner Quentin Baxter is a percussionist, composer, educator and prominent figure in the jazz community of his native Charleston, SC. Baxter will be joined by the multi-talented poet and musician Marcus Amaker. Baxter is Co-Principal of Charleston Jazz Initiative and drummer for the band Ranky Tanky. Amaker is the first Poet Laureate of Charleston. In addition to poetry, Amaker is an opera librettist. His debut opera, The Weight of Light, will premiere in 2024 for the Chicago Opera Theater. In 2019, Amaker won a Governor’s Arts Award in South Carolina, and was named the artist-in-residence of the Gaillard Center, Charleston’s world-renowned performance and education venue. The collaboration of these two incredibly creative individuals will delight foothills jazz aficionados to close out the series.

A taste of the Low Country comes to the Foothills when the Mountains to the Sea Jazz Series serves up some of Charleston’s finest and most talented creatives. GRAMMY award winner Quentin Baxter is a percussionist, composer, educator and prominent figure in the jazz community of his native Charleston, SC. He’ll be joined by the multi-talented poet, musician and first Poet Laureate of Charleston Marcus Amaker.

Grammy-nominated country musician Rissi Palmer plays a soulful concert on the French Broad River in Asheville’s Olivette neighborhood!

Rissi’s gift lies in reaching across all musical boundaries – fusing Country and R&B music in a style she calls “Southern Soul. A few highlights throughout her musical career include performances at The White House, New York’s Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry. She has shared stages with Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Chris Young, Charley Crockett and many more. Rissi has also made numerous national appearances on Oprah & Friends, CMT Insider, CNN, CBS This Morning, GMA, Entertainment Tonight, and FOX Soul’s “The Book of Sean and has been featured in Associated Press, Ebony, Essence, Huffington Post, New York Times, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, to name a few.

It was after midnight when Trombone Shorty stepped offstage at the House of Blues in New Orleans, but he wasn’t done playing yet. Not by a long shot.

“I had an idea for a new song right after the show,” says Shorty, “so the band and I decided to go straight into the studio and record it that night. We were still sweaty and buzzing from the energy of the gig, and we definitely carried that vibe into the session with us.”

Take a listen to Lifted, Trombone Shorty’s second release for Blue Note Records, and you’ll hear that same ecstatic energy coursing through the entire collection. Recorded at Shorty’s own Buckjump Studio with producer Chris Seefried (Fitz and the Tantrums, Andra Day), the album finds the GRAMMY-nominated NOLA icon and his bandmates tapping into the raw power and exhilarating grooves of their legendary live show, channeling it all into a series of tight, explosive performances that blur the lines between funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock. The writing is bold and self-assured, standing up to hard times and loss with grit and determination, and the playing is muscular to match, mixing pop gleam with hip-hop swagger and second line abandon. Wild as all that may sound, Lifted is still the work of a master craftsman, and the album’s nimble arrangements and judicious use of special guests—from Gary Clark Jr. and Lauren Daigle to the rhythm section from Shorty’s high school marching band—ultimately yields a collection that’s as refined as it is rapturous, one that balances technical virtuosity and emotional release in equal measure as it celebrates music’s primal power to bring us all together.

“I think this is the closest we’ve ever gotten to bottling up the live show and putting it on a record,” says Shorty, whose audiences have grown exponentially in recent years. “Normally when I’m in the studio, I’m trying to make the cleanest thing I can, but this time around, I told everybody to really cut loose, to perform like they were onstage at a festival.”

If anybody knows their way around a festival, it’s Trombone Shorty. Born Troy Andrews, he got his start (and nickname) earlier than most: at four, he made his first appearance at Jazz Fest performing with Bo Diddley; at six, he was leading his own brass band; and by his teenage years, he was hired by Lenny Kravitz to join the band he assembled for his Electric Church World Tour. Shorty’s proven he’s more than just a horn player, though. Catch a gig, open the pages of the New York Times or Vanity Fair, flip on any late-night TV show and you’ll see an undeniable star with utterly magnetic charisma, a natural born showman who can command an audience with the best of them. Since 2010, he’s released four chart topping studio albums; toured with everyone from Jeff Beck to the Red Hot Chili Peppers; collaborated across genres with Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Foo Fighters, ZHU, Zac Brown, Normani, Ringo Starr, and countless more; played Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk, Newport Jazz, and nearly every other major festival; performed four times at the GRAMMY Awards, five times at the White House, on dozens of TV shows, and at the star-studded Sesame Street Gala, where he was honored with his own Muppet; launched the Trombone Shorty Foundation to support youth music education; and received the prestigious Caldecott Honor for his first children’s book. Meanwhile in New Orleans, Shorty now leads his own Mardi Gras parade atop a giant float crafted in his likeness, hosts the annual Voodoo Threauxdown shows that have drawn guests including Usher, Nick Jonas, Dierks Bentley, Andra Day, and Leon Bridges to sit in with his band, and has taken over the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s hallowed final set, which has seen him closing out the internationally renowned gathering after performances by the likes of Neil Young, the Black Keys, and Kings of Leon.

“I owe all that to my mother,” says Shorty. “She passed recently, but she continued to inspire me right up until she transitioned, and that’s why I put a picture of her holding me up at a second line on the cover of this album. She lifted me up my whole life.”

As if his New Orleans roots weren’t already deep enough, Shorty decided to take over a recording studio in the Lower Garden District after the release of his latest album, 2017’s Seefried-produced Parking Lot Symphony. Dubbing the space Buckjump in a nod to the second lines he grew up playing in, Shortly immediately set about converting the studio into a freewheeling sonic laboratory, one where he and his friends could push themselves creatively without any artistic or commercial restraints.

“Having my own studio meant that the band and I could capture stuff in the moment any time we were feeling inspired,” says Shorty. “It meant that we could take chances and experiment. I could call the guys up with an idea in the middle of the night and they’d say, ‘We’ll meet you there in an hour!’”

That sense of excitement and liberation is palpable on Lifted, which opens with the addictive “Come Back.” Fueled by a bottom-heavy rhythm section, buoyant keys, and bright flashes of brass, the track pairs a hip-hop groove with hard rock energy as Shorty delivers silky smooth vocals that float effortlessly above the instrumental fray. As its title might suggest, the song is a reckoning with loss and regret, but like much of the album, it refuses to surrender to disappointment, keeping its chin held high as it presses forward and fights for what it wants. The effervescent “What It Takes” gets profoundly funky as it celebrates the strength and growth that can emerge from times of struggle, while the bittersweet “Forgiveness” leans into the band’s R&B side as it works to move on from pain and betrayal, and the blistering “I’m Standing Here” (which features a mind-bending guitar solo from Gary Clark Jr.) rushes headlong into the maelstrom.

“I grew up watching wrestling as a kid,” Shorty says with a laugh, “and I if I was a wrestler, ‘I’m Standing Here’ would be the song they played when I came into the ring. It’s all about standing tall no matter what life throws at you.”

Shorty makes sure to celebrate the good times on the album, too, reveling in the joy of love and friendship and family throughout. The spirited “Might Not Make It Home” commits to letting go and living in the moment; the playful “Miss Beautiful” embraces the thrill of desire while offering a twist on the second line tradition, with an electric bass stepping in for the tuba; and the feel-good “Everybody In The World” (which features the New Breed Brass Band) finds common ground in our universal desire for love and acceptance. But it’s perhaps the electrifying title track, which lands somewhere between Earth, Wind & Fire and Shorty’s old tourmate Lenny Kravitz that best encapsulates the spirit of the album, wrapping earnest emotion in a high-octane package that offers you no choice but to move your body.

“The whole time we were making Lifted, I couldn’t help but think about how much fun it would be to get onstage and play it for an audience,” Shorty recalls. “Usually when I make an album, I record the songs first and figure out how we’re going to present them live afterwards, but with this record I was in the studio imagining the lights flashing on the hits and the audience singing everything back to us. I could see the whole thing in my head.”

For Trombone Shorty, the show never ends. Not by a long shot.

“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.

Karaoke Night at Hickory Tavern

“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.

Asheville Music School Presents: Sound Effects Benefit Concert with music by Dirty Logic and Minør! This is an all-ages event, and kids 7 and under get in FREE!

Now in its tenth year, Sound Effects is Asheville Music School’s primary fundraising event. This year, we are bringing the country’s premier Steely Dan Tribute Band, Dirty Logic to the outdoor stage at Salvage Station. AMS band Minør opens the show.

Our goal is to raise $35,000 to support AMS operations and the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, which funds the scholarship and outreach programs.

Asheville Music School (AMS) is strengthening communities through music education and outreach, while sustaining teachers and musicians in a vibrant music culture. Its 35+ music educators conduct private lessons in a wide variety of music styles and instruments for students of all ages and abilities. AMS also offers ensemble classes, summer camps, group classes, master classes and workshops in a supportive family-friendly environment.

Since its inception as a nonprofit, AMS has awarded more than $100,000 in need-based scholarships to those unable to afford private music lessons. All proceeds from this event will be used to help AMS continue and expand its free performances and group music classes for underserved communities, veterans, seniors, the homeless, people in recovery and those living with disabilities through its Sound Education outreach program.

ABOUT DIRTY LOGIC:

Composed of an all-star line-up of some of Asheville, NC’s best musicians, Dirty Logic works hard to create a show that both honors the exceptional music of Steely Dan and showcases the incredible skill and unique musical voice of each of the band’s members. This 11-piece powerhouse delivers the experience that true Steely Dan fans recognize as authentic passion for the music, skillfully and joyfully recreated. The collective shares the idea that: “playing this music the way that it should be played” means bringing together musicians who are masterful in their craft and who also share a deep love and sense of reverence for the music and musicians of Steely Dan.

While fans can expect to hear accurate renditions of the studio recordings and solos they know and love, the band also incorporates some funkier, re-harmonized arrangements found in Steely Dan’s live performances. Their knack for authentically recreating the band’s catalog and a healthy dose of high-energy improvisation ensures that each show is a refreshing musical experience. Their songbook includes tracks from Aja, Gaucho, The Royal Scam, Pretzel Logic, Can’t Buy A Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Katy Lied, and the FM soundtrack.

Rooted in Southern musical traditions – infused with confessional 90’s angst. Ever More Nest’s dynamic, homegrown voice – hugged by lush, church-pew harmonies – is complemented by effusive guitars, spirited mandolin and banjo, mournful fiddle, and a rhythm section steady as a country train.

“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.

Plan to collaborate with other musicians at Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah. Bring your instruments and voices and enjoy making music and networking with other artists, while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Food truck is on site and beverages available for purchase from Sideways (small
batch craft beers, hard jun, ciders, wine, and non alcoholic drinks). Family, fans, friends, and leashed dogs are all welcome!
During winter months enjoy playing under the covered, sheltered, heated porch! And during the summer months enjoy
collaborating in the fields, on the stage, or under the patio

Its our 15th year and to celebrate, Brooklyn-based goth folk band Charming Disaster plays live music for burlesque and variety acts in this immersive spooky show. VIPS enjoy an Underworld Survival Kit and a private pre-show juggling set by international comedy circus artist Paolo Garbanzo. VIP doors & show 7pm, Gen Adm at 7:30.

KC and the Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced
into the music scene 50 years ago. Harry Wayne Casey—KC for short—developed a unique
fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove, giving us an impressive string
of hits like “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty.” With
sales of over 100 million records, nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards and an
American Music Award, KC and the Sunshine Band was one of the most progressive bands of
the 70s and is credited with changing the sound of modern pop music. Today, KC and the
Sunshine Band play over 100 live shows annually, circling the country and playing dates
regularly throughout Europe, Australia and South America. This year KC will celebrate 50 years
of entertaining us, writing songs, and performing around the world and has no intention of
stopping.

In the last decade KC has continued to influence the dance and disco scene by releasing new
music, most recently his single, “Unconditional Love featuring Bimbo Jones.” In March of 2015
KC and the Sunshine Band released, “Feeling You! The 60s.” The album was a tribute to the era
that shaped KC into the revolutionary artist he became in the 70s. Covers on the album include
songs by sixties legends Bob Dylan, Ben E. King, The Kinks, The Righteous Brothers, Jackie
DeShannon, Aaron Neville and many more. Just like the rest of America during that time he was
inspired by the music, innocence, sex, social and political movements and counterculture of the
era, which led to him founding the Dance Revolution and teaching the world how to boogie.
“The widespread social and political issues of the 1960s was, in part, the inspiration to do
something that would make people forget about their problems and be happy,” said Casey.
“People were looking for something that would divert their attention from the negative aspects of
everyday life surrounding them.”

KC started working in the music business at age 17, performing menial tasks around the T.K.
Records/Studio complex in his hometown of Miami. The Sunshine Band originated in 1973.
Their first record, Blow Your Whistle, made the top 15 on the R&B chart. Their second album,
KC and the Sunshine Band, was released in 1975, went triple platinum and contained the #1 hits
“Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Boogie Shoes” and “Rock Your Baby.” KC
and the Sunshine Band became the first act to score four #1 pop singles in one 12-month period
since the Beatles in 1964. Three of those singles also crossed over to become #1 R&B tracks.
KC’s third album, Part 3, released in 1976, also went triple platinum and contained the #1
singles “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “Shake Your Booty” and “Keep It Comin’ Love.” The band’s
string of hit singles continued with “Boogie Shoes,” which was included on the Saturday Night

Fever soundtrack, “Please Don’t Go” and “Yes, I’m Ready,” a duet with high school friend Teri
DeSario. KC returned to the charts in 1983 with “Give It Up,” which also hit #1 in the UK.
KC’s success in music has earned him an extensive list of accolades including an American
Music Award for Best R&B Artist in 1975 and a songwriting Grammy for Best R&B song for
“Where Is The Love,” which was recorded by Betty Wright. He also received a Grammy Award
for Album of the Year, as well as Producer of the Year in 1978 for his work on the Saturday
Night Fever soundtrack. In 2001, KC was honored with the NARAS Governor’s Award, the
highest honor given by a chapter of the Academy. He received a coveted Star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame in 2002, where Dick Clark and music producer Michael Lloyd turned out to honor
him. This particular recognition represents the passion that KC has in writing music,
implementing elements of various eras in his songs, proving him to be a passionate, veteran
craftsman. All of these career highlights are chronicled in his book, That’s The Way I Like It –
The Harry Wayne Casey Story, which was published that same year.
KC’s music continues to be a favorite today. His songs have appeared in ads for companies like
General Motors, Burger King, Payless Shoes, Papa John’s Pizza, Old Navy and Nick at Nite. His
music has also been featured in over 200 commercials and movies such as Forrest Gump (“Get
Down Tonight”), Boogie Nights (“Boogie Shoes”), Boys Don’t Cry (“Rock Your Baby”), Rush
Hour (“Get Down Tonight”), Carlito’s Way (“Rock Your Baby,” “Shake Your Booty” and
“That’s The Way I Like It”) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (“Shake Your Booty”). In the
summer of 2003, KC also had a cameo in the feature film The In-Laws starring Michael Douglas
and Albert Brooks.

KC’s songs are regularly heard at sporting events, were featured during Opening Ceremonies of
the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and he even performed a free concert in Salt Lake
City for the 2002 Winter Olympics. No stranger to the small screen, KC’s songs have been
featured in such shows as Desperate Housewives, Ally McBeal, American Bandstand’s 50th
Anniversary Party and most recently American Idol and Dancing With The Stars with the help of
the USC marching band. Additionally, KC and the Sunshine Band have the distinction of having
made more appearances on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve than any other artist in the
program’s history!

Music acts like White Zombie, Baha Men, Beyoncé and American Idol’s Kelly & Justin have
covered his music. Additionally, KC and the Sunshine Band’s grooves and bass lines have been
sampled in everything from “Rap” by Snoop Dogg to “Trick Daddy to Dance” by Ultra Nate and
many, many more.

You can count on hearing his music on the radio, at a nightclub, at the movies, in a sports arena
or at one of the 100-plus concerts KC and the Sunshine Band plays every year. It is always fun
and truly makes all who hear it happy enough to dance!

For more information and to stay up-to-date, visit heykcsb.com and connect on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT ROYAL SUITS:

Consistently described as “the best live party band” by people of all ages, Royal Suits delivers an unforgettable experience with every performance. From Motown mashups to Hip Hop medleys, they seamlessly move through decades of hits like the world’s best DJ, no pauses, just a continuous flow that keeps the dance floor packed!  Featuring 5 phenomenal vocalists and a band tighter than a well-stacked deck, Royal Suits turns every show into an immersive musical celebration.

“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.

Infusing sanguine melodies with infectious Afro-Cuban rhythms, this Grammy-winning singer-songwriter combines the music of his home with jazz, funk, rock and pop to create a truly unparalleled sound. Alex takes apart complex cultural arrangements and mixes in soul-tinged hooks and catchy pop tempos, all while keeping the soulful simplicity of Cuban music alive. He’s always exploring, always creating something fresh and new — and always, it seems, getting it just right.

On Bob Dylan’s 83rd birthday, May 24th, The Knotty G’s will be joined by some of Asheville’s most loved and versatile musicians, to celebrate him by playing selections from one of the most prolific catalogues in music history. Don’t get caught out on Desolation Row and get your tickets today!