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.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024
The Moon and You, Ménage, Amanda Anne Platt (solo)
Jun 5 @ 6:00 pm
The Outpost
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
 
Sam Wharton is a founding member of the SFTRB with one of the best voices in bluegrass. He is the ultimate ambassador for the music.  Along with developing his own unique style of rhythm guitar, he is one of the finest harmony singers in the world! He grew up singing barbershop quartet in Alabama. He honed his chops in Telluride, but now calls Western North Carolina his home!

Free Show! Sit ins are encouraged at this open Bluegrass jam

Karaoke Night
Jun 5 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Karaoke Night at Hickory Tavern

MAMMA MIA!
Jun 5 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.

SHANNON AND THE CLAMS
Jun 5 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
 Show: 8pm | Doors: 7pm
Ages 18+
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Drum Circle at Sideways Farm & Brewery
Jun 6 @ 5:30 pm
Sideways Farm & Brewery

Bring your drums and percussion instruments, or show up to enjoy the relaxing
and healing drum rhythms of others. No previous drumming experience needed. Free, donations accepted

https://mailchi.mp/feadc65c90a7/march-news-and-brews-13734862?e=c228132bcd

Pritchard Park Summer Series: Singer/Songwriter Series
Jun 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pritchard Park

For this year’s Pritchard Park Songwriter Series, the Asheville Association is teaming up with Paloma Madre who are best known for bringing Asheville the wildly successful, international concept, Open Folk. Each week will feature two world class songwriters from our community playing introspective and honest tunes about life in the 21st century. Pritchard Park will once again be filled with the sweet sounding songs of heartbreak, true love, heavy loss, and lots and lots of goofin. It’s a guaranteed good time that won’t cost you a dime!!

THE MOVEMENT
Jun 6 @ 6:30 pm
Salvage Station

New album Always With Me out now. The Movement has been winning the hearts and minds of alternative-reggae fans since their inception in Columbia, SC in 2003. Drawing inspiration from Sublime, 311, Slightly Stoopid and John Brown’s Body, they’ve made a name for themselves as reggae shapeshifters with a foundation of heavy drum and bass. Today the band consists of founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Swain, bassist Jason Schmidt, drummer Gary Jackson, and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Matt Goodwin. Their seventh studio album, Ways Of The World (2019) debuted at #1 in the Billboard Reggae Chart, and remained in the Billboard Reggae Top 10 for more than 40 consecutive weeks. The band’s eighth studio album Always With Me – out July 29, 2022 on the band’s R4RE Recordsimprint – explores new musical territory while staying true to their champion sound. Featuring collaborations from their influences-turned-peers, Slightly Stoopid, Iration, and Clinton Fearon, and contemporaries HIRIE and Soom T, for The Movement, the only path is forward; pushing the boundaries and the future of reggae.

ABOUT KBONG & JOHNNY COSMIC:

Kevin Bong, aka ‘KBONG’ is a multi-instrumental artist who is well known for his “key” role in reggae band Stick Figure. Touring with the group since 2012, KBong has solidified his place as one of the top keyboard players in today’s current Reggae scene. Kbong’s first studio album ‘Hopes andDreams’ released in 2014 which features him as the prominent song writer. The summer anthem“Livin Easy” features Scott Woodruff and the rest of Stick Figure. Other collaborations on the album include singer/songwriter Hirie, producer Johnny Cosmic and producer Alific. You’ll hear a mix up of tasty musical ingredients that include ska, reggae, beachy surf vibes and catchy acoustic guitar riffs.Once you hear his style you will be hooked because it’s fresh and pleasing to the ears. Look out for his second solo album “Easy To Love You” releasing in 2018.

ABOUT AURORAWAVE:

Aurorawave emerges from the creative depths of former Iya Terra frontman NathanFeinstein, and is the sonic culmination of his musical evolution. With unwavering authenticity, the band manifests as the genuine sound of Feinstein’s artistry, a fusion of his diverse musical encounters. aurorawave invites listeners into a world where diverse influences converge, creating a sound that is uniquely and unmistakably it’s own. Masterfully harnessing the raw power of heavier genres and intertwining it seamlessly with the smooth cadence of reggae, aurorawave is a dynamic and genre-blurring force that encapsulates the band’s unique musical vision. Brace yourselves for a wave of creativity as aurorawave prepares to flood the music scene with a series of releases and embark on extensive tours in 2024, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the true essence of aurorawave

SCHEDULE:

4:30PM- Salvage Station paid on-site parking lot opens

5:00PM- Satellite lots open + FREE shuttle service begins

5:30PM- Venue doors open

6:30PM- Concert starts

BLUEGRASS JAM Hosted by Drew Matulich
Jun 6 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

BLUEGRASS JAM

Hosted by Drew Matulich


Don’t miss your chance to check out some of the best pickers from all over WNC at our amazing Bluegrass Jam curated by the talented Drew Matulich — every Thursday starting at 7:00 pm! A real show-stopping performance only at Jack of the Wood! Open jam starts at 9:30 pm.

JAZZ JAM
Jun 6 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

JAZZ Jam is a special part of the LEAF Community. Meet us every Thursday at LEAF Global Arts from 7-10 P.M. for a night of smooth jazz that you can participate in or simply enjoy.

MAMMA MIA!
Jun 6 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.

OLE 60
Jun 6 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
 Show: 8pm | Doors: 7pm
Ages 18+
Friday, June 7, 2024
Music at the Vineyard – Sandy Herrault
Jun 7 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room & Winery

Join us Friday, June 7 from 3-6 pm for live music at the vineyard with fiddler and violinist Sandy HerraultSandy is a classically trained violinist who performs regularly at area venues, weddings, and other events. Her greatest pleasure is performing at some of the area’s most vibrant venues. From breweries to wineries, at weddings, corporate events, artist events, she puts her own flair into the songs she covers, from the modern pop/rock of Coldplay, to classic songs of the Beatles, to country songs like “Take Me Home Country Roads”.

Sandy’s influences are wide, which inspires her to create her own interpretations of well-known songs on the violin. Her style is original and unmistakably her own, encompassing Pop, Classical, Celtic, Gypsy, and others. Sandy has a passion for multiple genres, including popular music from the 60s to today. One moment, she may be deep in a Bob Marley reggae trance and the next tenderly playing Adele or entrenched in Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sandy feels a kinship to all these songs as she brings them to life on her fiddle. Come on down to the Burntshirt Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room on Friday from 3-6 PM for an afternoon of fantastic musicianship, food, and wine! We can’t wait to see you here!

Acoustic Jam Session
Jun 7 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sideways Farm & Brewery

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

Sound Showcase with Khandroma
Jun 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Asheville-based ambient duo Khandroma showcases their strain of musical experimentalism with a demonstration highlighting some of the tools and techniques they use to achieve their post-rock influenced dynamic drone approach. They will be utilizing guitar, pedal steel guitar, drums as well as some other textural and noise making devices to break down and demonstrate how they develop sonic palettes and get creative with sound.

Drum Circle
Jun 7 @ 5:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Pritchard Park

The beats of the Friday Night Drum Circle have been rocking Pritchard Park for decades and the circle has become so popular that it is featured in magazines and TV commercials.

Pritchard Park Arts and Culture Series: Drum Circle
Jun 7 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pritchard Park

The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Pritchard Park Arts and Culture Series, made possible through a generous partnership with the Trina Mullen Foundation, City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, ArtsAVL, and Explore Asheville. This summer series will run from May 28 through August 30, featuring exciting activations every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Drum Circle

The Asheville Downtown Association is proud to facilitate the return of Asheville’s iconic Drum Circle. Feel the rhythm and join the beat as the community comes together for an evening of drumming, dancing, and camaraderie.

Lauren Daigle The Kaleidoscope Tour
Jun 7 @ 7:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center- Asheville

Register now at www.laurendaigle.com to access the official Lauren Daigle pre-sale, beginning Tuesday, November 7 at 12pm local time. Krewe Pass members can access a two-hour exclusive pre-sale window from 10am-12pm local time from November 7 through November 9. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, November 8 at 10am local time until Thursday, November 9 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

OUTPOST: Goings with Sani Bronco
Jun 7 @ 7:00 pm
The Outpost
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
 
Goings:

Formed in Philadelphia, Goings faced a turning point in 2020. With the release of their debut album “It’s For You” and a global pandemic shutting down live shows, the band, consisting of Chris Kearney, Keith Rogers, and Aidan Rogers, had to adapt. But with time on their hands, they regrouped, adding guitarists Alexi Peters and Cam Chung in 2021. This new lineup sparked a creative surge, resulting in their sophomore LP, ‘Memory Card.’ The album explores the complex relationship we have with memories, using catchy melodies and non-linear song structures to reflect on how we perceive our past. From the heartbreak of a broken engagement to the acceptance of loss, Goings confronts these emotions head-on, ultimately aiming to rewrite the narrative and find beauty in our remembrances. Recorded in August 2023, ‘Memory Card’ marks Goings’ return with 10 new songs, ready to take listeners on a journey through the ever-shifting landscape of memory. The album is set to release in September 2024.

Sani Bronco:

Sani Bronco is a band branded by a half-tame, half-wild mentality. Embracing the duality of heavy rock and indie folk. The band takes influence from a mixed bag such as Bright Eyes, Title Fight, Slowthai, The Rolling Stones, Oso Oso, to name a few. Founder, David Medina says this mix of influences created Sani Bronco’s sound which he dubs “adobe rock” – a genre named after the adobe architecture found in New Mexico, and many parts of Latin America. Saying “it is a good visual representation of what Sani Bronco sounds like. Adobe rock is organic and simple. It’s robust and timeless.” Sani Bronco started as a solo project, but always with the intention of one day making it a full band project. After the release of ‘One Stop Everything Repair Shop,’ David teamed up with Chris Kearney, drummer of Sweet Pill/Goings/typopro, and Kyle Bosler, former guitarist of Goings. They met online through a Facebook group in 2019 and slowly became friends, occasionally messaging back and forth. When it came time to hit the studio in July of 2022, David reached out to Chris Kearney, to join him in writing and recording the next Sani Bronco LP. The new album was made in 30 days at VuDu Recording Studio in Long Island, NY. It was recorded and produced by Frank Mitaritonna who has worked with bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Covet, As Tall As Lions, The Dear Hunter, Thought Crimes, Kevin Devine, and many more. The album was mixed by Billy Mannino at Two Worlds Recordings in Queens, NY. Billy’s most notable work is all of Oso Oso’s discography. Lastly, the record was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music in Hudson Valley, NY. Alan has worked with Sufjan Stevens, The Promise Ring, Animal Collective, Converge, Brand New, and many more. The album is set to release in June 2024.
With local support from trust blinks and Pictures of Vernon
STEEP CANYON RANGERS WITH HOLLER CHOIR
Jun 7 @ 7:00 pm
Salvage Station

Asheville’s own Steep Canyon Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to bring it down the mountain, and to incorporate accessible influence from all walks of the region. With the band’s last few albums, they have gained recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass, earning a reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today.

MAMMA MIA!
Jun 7 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.

Murder By Death
Jun 7 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
Doors Open: 7:00 PM

ALL AGES
STANDING ROOM ONLY

MURDER BY DEATH
As trailblazers of the early 2000s indie-Americana style, the Louisville, KY-based quintet finds a way of taking tried & true rock-and-roll and knocking it slightly off axis, into tottering revolutions of something eerie, emotional, immediate, lush, and uniquely theirs.

 

On the surface, Murder By Death is a Louisville, KY sextet with a wry, ominous name. But behind the geography and moniker is a band of meticulous and literary songwriters matched by a specific brand of brooding, anthem-riding balladry and orchestral indie rock.

 

Murder By Death’s path began in the early 2000s as most Midwestern college-town groups do, by playing to small crowds at ratty venues and frenzied house parties. While many of their formative-year scene-mates failed to make it much further than campustown’s borders, Murder By Death translated their anonymous beginnings into a 20+ year career founded on a bedrock of eight full-length albums, tireless D.I.Y. touring and performing ethics, and, most importantly, a dedicated, cult-like fanbase.

J RODDY WALSTON

SAOSIN WITH COVE REBER
Jun 7 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
 Show: 8pm | Doors: 7pm
Ages 18+
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Vibes for the Valley: A Benefit for Black Mountain Schools
Jun 8 all-day
Pisgah Brewing Company

Join us Saturday, June 8th for a music festical benefitting Black Mountain Schools’ Afterschool Program featuring performances by Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Scott McMicken & The Ever Expanding and Hannah Kaminer & The Wistfuls!

The Black Mountain Schools PTO Vice President explained the need for the benefit concert: “The lack of public school funding and then the pandemic was hard on kids, and very hard on our public school afterschool programs. There isn’t sufficient funding for them. We want to bring afterschool programs back to the Black Mountain Schools in a big way – these programs are so important for kids’ socialization and academic achievement, and for parents, it’s critical to have afterschool care for their kids. If we want to keep our public schools thriving, we must bring back more of these programs, and make sure the teachers are compensated to do it!”

Black Mountain Schools PTO is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.

**All funds collected from ticket sales will be donated to the Black Mountain Schools PTO.**

Sandburg Home Tour Free Days: Annual Sandburg Music Festival
Jun 8 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Carl Sandburg Home

Entertainment will include: Jennifer Armstrong, Mountain Square Dance Circle with Walt Pickett, dulicimer players Steve and Jean Smith, local Folk musician Laura Boosinger, and headlining Blues Legend Mac Arnold!

Amphitheatre

10a.m: Jennifer Armstrong kicks off festivities with storytelling for kids of all ages, to honor Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories, which were tales written for his daughters. Jennifer has spent her life writing, singing, and making music with fiddle, bagpipe, banjo, and words. She was a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival and has been heard on NPR.

12p.m: Laura Boosinger celebrates the music of Appalachia through old-time banjo, guitar, Appalachian dulcimer, and fingerstyle Autoharp. Laura attended Warren Wilson College in the 1970’s, where she learned clawhammer banjo, called Southern Mountain Square dances, and attended Shaped Note Singing School with North Carolina Folk Heritage Award winner Quay Smathers. Laura is a Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina consultant and the voice of their podcast, “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails.” In 2017, Laura was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.

2p.m: Mac Arnold plays the Blues with Austin Brashier and Max Hightower. At age 24, Arnold joined the Muddy Waters Band, shaping the electric Blues sound of the 1960’s and 70’s. Mac has shared stages with Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and Big Mama Thornton. In 2012, Mac was nominated for the Blues Foundation’s Traditional Blues Male Artist Award and also received a Blues Blast Music Award Nomination for “Traditional Blues Recording of the Year,” with Plate Full O’Blues. In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from USC Columbia. In 2017, Mac was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. In 2023, he received the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame Award.

Austin Brashier is a guitar slinger and vocalist. He grew up listening to Blues, and eventually took his band on the road. He has had the privilege to open for Blues players such as B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Tinsley Ellis, Derek Trucks, and Nappy Brown.

Max Hightower started his music career at age 12 when he bought his first Blues cassette tape, “Muddy Mississippi Live by Muddy Waters.” He plays keyboard, guitar, bass, and sings. Harmonica is his instrument of choice. Max is a founding member of Plate Full O’Blues and has shared stages with Hubert Sumlin, Willie Smith, and Leon Everette.

Barn Garage

10:45am to 12pm: Walter Puckett calls Mountain Circle Square Dances. A festival first, to celebrate the Sandburgs’ love of square dancing! Come dance! When he was just nine years old, Walter called his first dance at a PTA event with his third-grade class. Walt has traveled with the Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers and the Stoney Mountain Cloggers, winning many awards. Walt also had the ultimate privilege to dance at the Grand Ole Opry. 2024 marks his 80th birthday!

Barnyard

12pm to 2pm: Henderson County natives Steve and Jean Smith play mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. They perform regularly at Carl Sandburg Home. They have taught dulcimer at festivals and workshops nationwide. In 1984, Steve won the National Hammered Dulcimer Championships at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He returned to win the 1985 National Mountain Dulcimer Championships at Winfield, only the second person to win both Championships.

Parking, Shuttles, and Accessibility
Parking is limited. Please carpool or take a ride share or taxi. Three parking lots will have shuttle service. Approximate shuttle times will be posted in all parking lots with shuttle service. Visitors with mobility concerns are strongly urged to take a shuttle.

  1. Wheelchair-Accessible Shuttle: The park’s main parking lot has the only wheelchair-accessible shuttle. This lot is located on Little River Road, across from Flat Rock Playhouse.
  1. Passenger-Only Shuttle: Flat Rock Playhouse (enter via Little River Road).
  1. Passenger-Only Shuttle: Flat Rock Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive.

Parking lot without a shuttle: The hikers’ lot (located ½ mile drive from the main lot). Park and then walk .4 to .7 mile through the park to festivities.

Free Sandburg Home Tours

As part of Music Fest, free Sandburg Home tours will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are first come, first serve in the Visitor Center/Park Store (on the Sandburg Home ground floor) beginning at 9:30 a.m. (To reserve tickets on non-festival days visit www.recreation.gov).

Music Festival is supported by:

Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, Inc.
America’s National Parks, the non-profit partner that operates the park store


The music festival began in 1987, to celebrate Carl Sandburg’s efforts to document the history of American music in his American Songbag. Carl Sandburg published the American Songbag in 1927 after spending years documenting and researching early American songs. As Sandburg said, “The American Songbag is a ragbag of strips, stripes, and streaks of color from nearly all ends of the earth. The melodies and verses presented here are from diverse regions, from varied human characters and communities, and each is sung differently in different places.” His publication does not focus on one genre of music, but rather on the human experience. “It is an All-American affair, marshalling the genius of thousands of original singing Americans.”

Sandburg enjoyed all American musical genres. He spent years interviewing musicians and singers, documenting their songs, including folk, gospel, jazz and blues. Carl Sandburg said, “the American Songbag comes from the hearts and voices of thousands of men and women.”

Compiling and publishing the American Songbag was one of the most difficult writing projects Sandburg took on during his life. Today, the Carl Sandburg Music Festival celebrates his work and the work of modern singers and songwriters to share diverse and original American music.

Yala Cultural Tour
Jun 8 @ 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.

Yala Cultural Tour + Drum Workshop
Jun 8 @ 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.
Rockin’ On The Rock – Carver, Carmody, & McIntire
Jun 8 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jump Off Rock

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Enjoy live music at the picturesque Jump Off Rock, which overlooks the French Broad River valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. Musical offerings ranging from jazz to country, rockabilly, pop, rock and blues. Organized by the Friends of Laurel Park.

OCT11
Legends of the Music Industry Interviews – An Evening With Sam Waymon
Jun 8 @ 7:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center Pavilion
Native son Sam Waymon returns home to Tryon to talk about his sister, Nina Simone, his musical career as a member of her band, and his solo work in this intimate and informative sit down interview.

The Legends of the Music Industry Interviews is the first in a new series at Tryon Fine Arts Center that acknowledges the contributions of artists over a long career in the music industry. The format brings together the artist with their fans/audience in an intimate reflection on their career, with music, stories from their time in the industry, and an interactive question and answer session with the audience led by our moderator, Melvin Cox.

We are thrilled to announce our first guest in the series is a native son of Tryon, a composer, and musician who has toured the world and written musical scores for numerous films. Sam Waymon grew up in the pre-civil rights era of Tryon with his sister, Eunice Kathleen Waymon — a.k.a. Nina Simone.

Their experiences growing up in the town would shape them both throughout their careers. Sam was a musical collaborator with his legendary sister, and a member of her touring band. The evening will not only feature tales of their times on the road, but also his memories and experience of growing up as one of eight children in Tryon under the watchful eye of their Methodist preacher and mom, Mary Kate Irvin and their father John Divine Waymon. There should be some interesting tidbits and is certain to be a very special evening.

The event is free to the public, and made possible through the Mary F. Kessler Fund Grant of the Polk County Community Foundation. There will be a reception to follow the event.

Percussion Discussion Afrika
Jun 8 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Percussion Discussion Afrika is Uganda’a leading folk-fusion band whose music is driven by the melodic sound of Ugandan drums and accompanied by other instruments.

Percussion Discussion Afrika is a Ugandan based folk-fusion group founded in 1997 by Uganda’s legendary percussionist Herman Ssewanyana. The group was founded with a vision of introducing a new identity and sound on the  Ugandan  music scene, because most of Uganda’s music had been highly influenced by Congolese soukous and folk music was generally fading..

Shortly after inception, the group quickly gained popularity and took over the local airwaves. Percussion Discussion Afrika’s music is driven by the melodic sound of traditional Buganda drums, accompanied by the Adungu,(a traditional harp from northern Uganda) and a fusion of other instruments. Their debut album Omubala was number one on the internet charts in the UK for a year and their second album Mulamu took Kampala by storm, lifting the group to the pinnacle and winning a Pan African Music award as the best folk pop group.

Percussion Discussion Afrika’s track Nakawunde is the featured soundtrack on the globally acclaimed film; The last king of Scotland by legendary actor Forest Whitaker. The group has toured extensively all over Africa, Europe and middle east, showcasing the diverse sounds of Uganda and east Africa while advancing their unique sound. Their pulsing and interactive performances keep audiences on their feet as they transcend into the pearl of Africa with sensational sounds.

Rising Appalachia
Jun 8 @ 7:00 pm
Salvage Station

Rising Appalachia is an internationally touring Americana and world folk ensemble steeped in the soul of the South. It is the brainchild of Atlanta-raised sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, rooted in the traditional folk music of their family, storytelling, songcatching, grassroots activism, lyrical prowess, and a multi-instrumental tapestry of their melodic ensemble.

Rising Appalachia’s music is a reflection of their times, blending folk traditions with contemporary themes, lyrics, and poetry. The band’s unique sound is shaped by Leah and Chloe’s soulful vocals, simple instrumentation, and seamless harmonies, unique to siblings raised in folk traditions. They are joined by a host of talented musicians who bring their own cultural influences, enriching the blend of folk, world, and urban music that defines the smooth sound of Rising Appalachia. Featuring full-time members David Brown (upright bass, baritone guitar), Duncan Wickle (fiddle, cello), and Biko Casini (drums and world percussion), plus a host of special guests, expect to be swooned into a tapestry of silky sounds.
Their journey has taken them around the world, from sailboat tours across British Columbia to street theater festivals in Southern Italy, a busking career in New Orleans, and traditional song studies in Ireland, Bulgaria, Latin America, and beyond. They have also engaged in immersive cultural exchange programs and music gatherings everywhere that they go. Their dedication for nearly two decades to their craft has led them to acclaimed appearances (Telluride and Bluegrass Festival, Preservation Jazz Hall, Bob Bilen’s Tiny Desk, Red Rocks, and more) and sold-out concerts at venues across the country.

Through their music, Rising Appalachia bridges cultures and stories, creating connections that resonate deeply with their audiences of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Expect a boot-stomping banjo tune alongside an eerie ballad of beats and blues all mashed up with a piece of breathtaking cello, fiddle, and bowed bass.

Eschewing established industry norms, Leah, Chloe, and their team have followed the invitation to intuitively and independently forge their own path. Fifteen years and seven studio albums into an ambitious adventure that has already taken these medicine women around the world, Rising Appalachia continues spreading musical catharsis with an iridescent elixir of global soul. Come join the songs and make them your own.