Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
www.concordtheatricals.com
Director: Victoria Lamberth
This five-time Tony Award-nominated musical tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip. But when the bar where rock reigns supreme is set to be demolished, it’s up to these wannabe rockers and their band of friends to save the day – and the music. Rock of Ages takes you back to the time of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This jukebox musical features all of your favorite ‘80s rock anthems and power ballads from bands including Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more.
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Rating: PG-13 due to adult content, alcohol use, and language.
The “One Singular Sensation,” A Chorus Line, is coming to Flat Rock Playhouse for the first time and we are thrilled to share this award-winning musical with everyone! A Chorus Line is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers. The show follows 17 would-be dancers in their quest to make the cut for a new Broadway Musical. One by one, the dancers come forward to share the stories of their lives, giving it their all and putting themselves on the line to make the cut. Only eight will remain. Capturing the spirit, tension, and hope of an audition, A Chorus Line is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all out there to make it come true!
A Chorus Line once held the record as the longest running show on Broadway with over 6000 performances, and heralds nine Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Director and Best Choreographer, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett. Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban. Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian. Original Broadway production produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, Producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc.
Gailfean, a word that means “rough weather” in Irish (Gaelic), is an Irish Traditional music group featuring All-Ireland champions Brian Conway, John Whelan, and Máirtín de Cógáin, and renowned musician and festival organizer Don Penzien. We came together in October 2012 at the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Texas. Toward the end of the festival weekend, Hurricane Sandy landed in the northeast and prevented the four of us from traveling home. It was a remarkable, portentous moment because circumstance put the lot of us together on stage for the first time and we made good on the opportunity, finding tons of shared ground in each other’s music. The audience was delighted and when our set came to an end, we knew we had something special as a group and that a recording project was the logical next step.
The four of us are all well known in the traditional music community. Brian is a cornerstone of the vaunted New York/Silgo fiddling tradition and John grew up a young prodigy in England, who moved to the US and crossed over to the wild side of accordion playing in the 80s and 90s. Although Brian and John gel like brothers in their playing, they’ve never recorded together, so this project is an exciting first. Don, who for nearly three decades programmed CelticFest in Jackson, Mississippi, is the rare sort of guitar talent who plays firmly underneath the melody and never puts a chord in out of turn. He has extensive performance experience with Máirtín, the man from Cork. Máirtín is a renowned singer, musician, and storyteller – a true seanachaí – who channels his youthful energy and guile to evoke the aromatic images and sensory sounds of old Ireland. There’s a lot to love here, and we think we make a compelling combination!
ROCKY HORROR MUSIC SHOW
Rocky Horror has been a sensation for nearly 50 years. First as a Stage Show, then as a Movie and now as a 12-Person Live Music Rock and Roll review. Rocky Horror Music Show presents the songs of Rocky Horror in a rock club setting. Think of it as a Rocky Horror Tribute Experience.
The costumed characters will be playing the songs live with snippets of the movie dialogue you want to hear and on-stage narration telling the story between songs.
This will make it easy to follow for newbies to the show. Don’t worry though, veterans will be impressed by the depth the band goes on the song list. In addition to the hits like “Dammit Janet” and “Time Warp”, Rocky Horror Music Show will hit ALL the songs including deep cuts and even deleted scenes.
The band is the cast! You can See Riff Raff rip a Guitar Solo, Eddie is actually playing the sax and Janet Weiss plays violin as Brad defends her honor from behind the drums. As this is a cult classic known for audience participation, there will be plenty of room for the crowd to sing along to these classic songs!This is being presented by an All-Star lineup of Asheville musicians featuring members of Dr. Bacon, Natural Born Leaders, Modern Strangers, The Beekeepers, Andrew Thelston Band, Carpal Tullar, The Deathbots, Fancy & The Gentleman, Sun Goblin, Pronounced Heroes and more!!
Links
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1LqqHKBVQ-apDbbHWRrq0w
Web: https://rockyhorrormusicshow.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/rockyhorrormusicshow
DOUBLE LOVE AND THE TROUBLE
Double Love & The Trouble is an 8-Person Two-Headed Rocking Soul Machine bringing a driving sexy sound to your ears. We bring non-stop party energy and horn-fueled good times. We focus on 60’s and 70’s Rockin’ Soul covers, but add the right amount of edge to not be an “Oldies” Band. This includes songs from The Ronettes, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and The Beatles. All done with style and flare.
Founded in 1991, we are Warren Wilson College’s educational program of summer folk arts workshops held on our campus in the Swannanoa Valley near Asheville in the heart of North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Each year, we offer a variety of week-long programs in various forms of folk music and dance over a five-week period in July and August, taught by some of the finest folk artists and instructors in the world.
We invite you to join us.
This month-long Celtic music festival takes place on the campus of Warren Wilson College. The festival’s workshops and public performances are joyous celebrations of Scots-Irish music and dance and the many musical forms they have inspired. Check website for programs, location, dates and time.
July 9-15: Celtic Week
July 16-22: Old-Time Week
July 23-29: Contemporary Folk Week
Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.
- Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
- 90-Minutes – tours run daily
- 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
- $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Sandburg Home Tours – Thursday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2pm.
*As of April 2022, tours are free until further notice. See rates below if they change before your visit. Online reservations are available at recreation.gov.
The Sandburg Home is a great place to start your visit! The ground floor of the home contains visitor information, exhibits, tour ticket sales, the park store, and you can watch the park video. The main and top level of the home are furnished with the Sandburg family belongings. Visitors may only access the furnished ares of the home on a guided tour.
- Tour Reservations: Reserving in advance lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Tours fill up quickly. Last-minute, in-person tickets may not be available on the day you visit. Plan ahead and reserve house tour tickets at recreation.gov.
- Passes: The park does not currently sell the America the Beautiful– National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
*These passes do not waive the house tour fee, but do provide a discount.
*You can purchase a pass online at America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass | USGS Store. - 30-minute house tours are offered year-round, schedule varies by season. Visit recreation.gov for the current schedule.
- Visitors may only tour the Sandburg Home on a guided tour.
- Tours are limited to 6 persons.
- Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.
Sandburg Home Guided Tour Fee
*Tours are free until further notice, this chart is the rate when fees resume.
(credit card only)
$10.00 for Adults 16 and older
$6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
Free for Children age 15 and under
Included with admission
Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:
- An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
- A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
- Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels
Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.
Join us for the magic happening in Asheville, NC at Salvage Station on July 15th and 16th!
Featuring two distinct sets by Rising Appalachia, and performances by Valerie June, DirtWire, Starling Arrow, The Reminders with Aja Black, Branden J. Lewis of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sierra Hollister, Hawah Kasat and many more.
Sunday Workshop Schedule:
Workshop Doors: 11:00 AM
Workshops Start: 12:00 PM
Sunday Concert Schedule:
Concert Doors: 5:00 PM
Concert Starts: 5:45 PM
Sunday Music Lineup: Rising Appalachia, Valerie June, Starling Arrow, and DJ Malinalli
Purchase full and partial passes now, all ticket tiers are available. Each day will have a distinct line up!
The Carolina Mountain Club will celebrate its 100th year with a free, family-friendly party on Sunday, July 16, at the North Carolina Arboretum from 1 to 5 p.m. The celebration will include guided hikes, live music, food and ice cream trucks, kid activities and 20-plus booths featuring local non-profit vendors.
Music & Fun & Wines & views
***Day full of fun including annual craft show!
No Cover Charge
Join us for a powerful program of piano trios with Asheville natives Taya Ricker, violin, and Franklin Keel, cello, who will join forces with pianist/Artistic Director Daniel Weiser. Ricker is the daughter of cellist Frances Duff, who has been a cellist with the Asheville Symphony for many years while Keel is currently Associate Principal Cello in the Asheville Symphony. Ricker now lives and free-lances in New York City, but has returned for this thrilling program that includes Felix Mendelssohn’s epic C Minor Piano Trio, a colorful work by contemporary composer Jennifer Higdon, and a little-played Trio by Claude Debussy that he wrote just when he finished his schooling.
Join us in this very intimate space with wonderful acoustics and a warm atmosphere at our “home” Church on the campus of Deerfield Retirement Community that is also open to the general public. Tickets at the door are $20 for general public, $15 for Deerfield residents, and free for children 18 and under.
Join us in this very intimate space with wonderful acoustics and a warm atmosphere at our “home” Church on the campus of Deerfield Retirement Community that is also open to the general public. Tickets at the door are $20 for general public, $15 for Deerfield residents, and free for children 18 and under. Get a further 10% discount on all seats by purchasing in advance at the link below. Click on the arrow next to the price to see the Deerfield discount price. To buy multiple seats, just click on the yellow “ADD to CART” button and you can buy as many as you want on the next screen. All major credit cards are accepted and you do not need to have a PayPal account. If you prefer to pay over the phone, please call Dan Weiser at 802-369-0856.
“TREMENDOUS TRIOS”
GREAT WORKS BY MENDELSSOHN, DEBUSSY, AND HIGDON
July 14-16, 2023
Join us for a powerful program of piano trios with Asheville natives Taya Ricker, violin, and Franklin Keel, cello, who will join forces with pianist/Artistic Director Daniel Weiser. Ricker is the daughter of cellist Frances Duff, who has been a cellist with the Asheville Symphony for many years while Keel is currently Associate Principal Cello in the Asheville Symphony. Ricker now lives and free-lances in New York City, but has returned for this thrilling program that includes Felix Mendelssohn’s epic C Minor Piano Trio, a colorful work by contemporary composer Jennifer Higdon, and a little-played Trio by Claude Debussy that he wrote just when he finished his schooling.
Performers:
The “One Singular Sensation,” A Chorus Line, is coming to Flat Rock Playhouse for the first time and we are thrilled to share this award-winning musical with everyone! A Chorus Line is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers. The show follows 17 would-be dancers in their quest to make the cut for a new Broadway Musical. One by one, the dancers come forward to share the stories of their lives, giving it their all and putting themselves on the line to make the cut. Only eight will remain. Capturing the spirit, tension, and hope of an audition, A Chorus Line is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all out there to make it come true!
A Chorus Line once held the record as the longest running show on Broadway with over 6000 performances, and heralds nine Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Director and Best Choreographer, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett. Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban. Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian. Original Broadway production produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, Producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc.
At the urging of his close friend George Butterworth, the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams turned his sketches for a symphonic poem about London into his masterful “London Symphony.” In it we hear the sounds of London – the Strand at night, Bloomsbury Square, Hampstead Heath, and of course the Westminster Chimes. Ken Lam opens the program with Zhou Tian’s Gift, an exploration of the composer’s identity after living abroad for 18 years, and a reminder to all musicians of the joy of music making.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Concert Orchestra
Ken Lam, conductor
ZHOU TIAN Gift
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS “A London Symphony”
Auditorium seating is reserved. Lawn seating is general admission.
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Sundays
1 till who knows when?
Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252.5445
Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
www.concordtheatricals.com
Director: Victoria Lamberth
This five-time Tony Award-nominated musical tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip. But when the bar where rock reigns supreme is set to be demolished, it’s up to these wannabe rockers and their band of friends to save the day – and the music. Rock of Ages takes you back to the time of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This jukebox musical features all of your favorite ‘80s rock anthems and power ballads from bands including Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more.
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Rating: PG-13 due to adult content, alcohol use, and language.
– FREE SHOW
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
Join us for Black Mountain’s original Sunday Jam! Hosted by Spiro and Friends, this jam features original jams and favorite covers. Bring your instrument! Sign-ups at the stage starting at 6 PM!
Pisgah Beer, Gluten Free and N/A options available. Family and dog friendly venue.
The taproom is open from 2:00 to 9:00 PM with music beginning at 6:30 PM.
Chris Ruggiero comes to Pittsburgh for one night only – joined by Pittsburgh icon Jimmie Ross and special guest star Donna Groom.
Chris has been touring the country at a dizzying pace, taking his audiences on a musical journey through the golden age of rock and roll. His PBS-TV appearances, feature on Good Morning America and hit albums have brought an even bigger audience, selling out shows all over the country on his recent 37-city tour! Chris shares his incredible story by breathing new life into the timeless music of the 50s, 60s & 70s with a live 6-piece band. If you remember songs like “Unchained Melody,” “My Cherie Amour,” & “This Magic Moment,” you’ll relish an evening spent with Chris. His unique interpretations of those and more are not only vocal triumphs, they feature brand new orchestrations by Four Seasons arranger and pop-rock legend Charlie Calello.
Jimmie Ross may be best known as the leader of The Jaggerz, but his solo shows, singles and album have been garnering more attention as of late, including his recording of “The Impossible Dream” which The Times cited for its elegance and “soulful sheen.” Jimmie’s current show consists of songs such as “Gotta Find My Way Back Home,” “Statue of a Fool,” and more iconic songs from his career. And, of course, considering Jimmie and Chris brought the house down with a duet the last time they appeared together at the Benedum, there’s always a chance for a magic moment or two when they’re under the same roof. You can also expect a special guest appearance from Donna Groom, whose duet with Jimmie on “I’m on the Outside (Looking In) / It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” has been the talk of the town lately.
“Songs you know and love from a voice you’ll never forget.” – BroadwayWorld
“Chris is what I call ‘the ultimate entertainer.’ I love his voice!” – Darlene Love
“Chris is so good at making the classics his own. I went to his show and loved every minute.” – Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers
GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
- Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
- 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
- $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
- Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.
A very special evening featuring The Asheville Jazz Orchestra playing a variety of Big Band, Swing, and Jazz favorites !!!!
The mission of the Asheville Jazz Orchestra is to preserve and advance the big band jazz tradition, through jazz education, performance, and composition.
The Asheville Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2006 and was headed by Dr. David Wilken (trombonist, educator, composer, and arranger) who served as the band’s musical and artistic director for 18 years. In 2023 Dr. Wilken stepped back from his position and a new staff was installed to continue the band’s mission. Although no longer serving as musical/artistic director Dr. Wilken continues to play with the band and continues to arrange and compose exciting original music for the orchestra. Long-time jazz drummer, Rick Dilling has taken the helm as new musical director.
The AJO is a proud partner of the Asheville Jazz Council, a 501c3, and through their work with the Council, the AJO has performed at many educational music festivals, including the City of the Arts Jazz Festival, Patton High School Jazz Festival, Western Carolina University Trumpet Festival, the NC NCMEA Conference, and the Our World Festival.
The AJO can be heard throughout western North Carolina performing swing dances, on stage at clubs, and in formal concert settings. The AJO’s repertoire ranges from the dance classics of the Swing Era through original charts by area composers.
Watch a Past Performance of The Asheville Jazz Orchestra at White Horse.
Founded in 1991, we are Warren Wilson College’s educational program of summer folk arts workshops held on our campus in the Swannanoa Valley near Asheville in the heart of North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Each year, we offer a variety of week-long programs in various forms of folk music and dance over a five-week period in July and August, taught by some of the finest folk artists and instructors in the world.
We invite you to join us.
This month-long Celtic music festival takes place on the campus of Warren Wilson College. The festival’s workshops and public performances are joyous celebrations of Scots-Irish music and dance and the many musical forms they have inspired. Check website for programs, location, dates and time.
July 9-15: Celtic Week
July 16-22: Old-Time Week
July 23-29: Contemporary Folk Week
Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.
- Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
- 90-Minutes – tours run daily
- 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
- $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Included with admission
Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:
- An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
- A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
- Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels
Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.
LEAF isn’t just for kids! Join us in the Mezzanine while you wait for your youth to finish their class or just to hang out!
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.
GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
- Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
- 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
- $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
- Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.
Inspired by a performance in Vienna of Mozart’s Gran Partita, Czech composer Antonín Dvořák wrote his own Wind Serenade in just two weeks upon his return home. Dramatic in character and striking in nature, the Wind Serenade stands as a significant contribution to the chamber music repertoire for wind instruments.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Auditorium seating is reserved.
Founded in 1991, we are Warren Wilson College’s educational program of summer folk arts workshops held on our campus in the Swannanoa Valley near Asheville in the heart of North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Each year, we offer a variety of week-long programs in various forms of folk music and dance over a five-week period in July and August, taught by some of the finest folk artists and instructors in the world.
We invite you to join us.
This month-long Celtic music festival takes place on the campus of Warren Wilson College. The festival’s workshops and public performances are joyous celebrations of Scots-Irish music and dance and the many musical forms they have inspired. Check website for programs, location, dates and time.
July 9-15: Celtic Week
July 16-22: Old-Time Week
July 23-29: Contemporary Folk Week