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.
STEPHEN EVANS & THE TRUE GRITS
After many years of vacillating between being a professional musician and building a nest in Asheville, NC, Stephen Evans finally asked his friends, Brian Shoemaker (bass), Sam Hess (drums), and Woodstock (mandolin), to form the True Grits and make some music together in 2014.
The very next year, Stephen Evans & the True Grits released their first LP “Something to Bleed”. Inspired to release more music, they followed two years later with their EP “Under the Bridge.” Both records received local and regional praise for their passion and creativity.
Stephen’s strong melodic songwriting style is a blend of vivid imagery, darkness, and hopeful optimism. There’s no denying the feeling that shines through with his evocative vocals and lyrics. Songs like ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘The Garden’, ‘Cherokee Hills’, ‘Shining Star’, and ‘Buzz of Bees’ are beacons of his folk rock song craft. With radio play on Western North Carolina radio stations, as well as shows around the region, Stephen Evans & the True Grits are becoming a local favorite.
“Buzz of Bees” is their latest album, released in December of 2022, of folk rock with some songs dipping their toes into other styles like Americana, Latin Folk, and Vaudeville. Singles from the LP, ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘Winning the Day’, and ‘Estefania’, are already receiving radioplay on local stations as well as national online radio and music podcasts. Look for Stephen Evans & the True Grits playing fun live shows all around the area to support this beautiful album.
“…overall, I highly recommend this album for those who enjoy folk rock, poetic lyricism, and an engaging sense of fun. The album is a journey through different stages of life, confusion, heartbreak, revelation, and acceptance.” – Alison Price of WNC Original Music Podcast
Solstice Soirée The BRO Chamber Ensemble hails the arrival of summer with an enchanted evening of music at Souther Williams Vineyard. The Blue Ridge Orchestra presents Solstice Soirée, an alfresco chamber concert (with a WNC twist), at 6:00pm on Saturday, June 22nd, in the beautiful Souther Williams vineyard on Hoopers Creek Road in Fletcher, NC. Stepping outside classical confines, Music Director Milton Crotts incorporates the popular music of local artists into an eclectic program anchored by the BRO Chamber Ensemble. Mozart, Vivaldi, and Albinoni are all represented, but not necessarily in expected ways. Fancy Marie and Craig Kellberg contribute the honky tonk, southern gothic vibes of Fancy and the Gentlemen. The Walker Family Trio shares the traditional, old-time, Celtic sounds of The Walker Family Band. Trombonists extraordinaire, Rienette Davis and Emily Songster perform vibrant and unexpected arrangements of classical and popular works. Table seating in the pavilion is accompanied by Souther Williams wine and Daphne’s Catering by Twisted Laurel. Seating on the vineyard lawn is available come rain or come shine — bring your own blanket, lawn chair, and umbrella. (No outside alcohol is permitted.) Details: Blue Ridge Orchestra’s Solstice Soirée Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, 6:00pm Souther Williams Vineyard 655 Hoopers Creek Road. Fletcher, NC. 28732
The BRO Chamber Ensemble hails the arrival of summer with an enchanted evening of music at Souther Williams Vineyard.
The Blue Ridge Orchestra presents Solstice Soirée, an alfresco chamber concert (with a WNC twist), at 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 22nd, in the beautiful Souther Williams vineyard on Hoopers Creek Road in Fletcher, NC.
Stepping outside classical confines, Music Director Milton Crotts incorporates the popular music of local artists into an eclectic program anchored by the BRO Chamber Ensemble. Mozart, Vivaldi, and Albinoni are all represented, but not necessarily in expected ways.
Fancy Marie and Craig Kellberg contribute the honky tonk, southern gothic vibes of Fancy and the Gentlemen. The Walker Family Trio shares the traditional, old-time, Celtic sounds of The Walker Family Band.
Trombonists extraordinaire, Rienette Davis and Emily Songster perform vibrant and unexpected arrangements of classical and popular works.
Table seating in the pavilion is accompanied by Souther Williams wine and Daphne’s Catering by Twisted Laurel. Seating on the vineyard lawn is available come rain or come shine — bring your own blanket, lawn chair, and umbrella. (No outside alcohol is permitted.)
Sean of the South
A multi-instrumentalist, he started playing mandolin when he was seven, guitar at age eight, and played piano in church at age nine.
Having lived through enough heartache, joy, embarrassment, love, and renewal for several lifetimes, Sean condenses our human failures and triumphs into stories that make the Southern heart resound.
His wildly popular blog and musical podcast, “Sean of the South,” is suited for anyone with red clay on their car and sand in their shoes. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and he has authored fifteen books.
His one-man shows have earned him a cult-like following in the southeastern United States and among closeted accordion players worldwide. Sean is a master storyteller in the tradition of Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Lewis Grizzard. His brutally candid, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes painful tales remind us that we are not alone in our human experience. His tales of covered-dish suppers, camp meeting sing-alongs, funerals gone awry, and hounds that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge have audiences drying their eyes one minute and slapping their knees the next.
The concert begins at 6:30 PM. Beverages will be available for purchase.
Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!
Join us Sunday, June 23 at Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room and Winery for live music at the vineyard from singer-songwriter and guitarist Eric Congdon! Eric continues to establish his reputation as one of the region’s most engaging artists. Eric is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, collaborator, producer, and virtuoso guitarist. His sonic vocabulary runs rich and deep, surprising and engaging audiences everywhere. You never know what kind of music to expect. His live shows are a medley of influences, ideas, and improvisation. You may hear anything from Blues and Americana to World Music and everything in between! Eric will be performing at the Burntshirt Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room on Sunday from 2-5 PM. Come on out to the winery for an afternoon of amazing musicianship and fabulous wine! We can’t wait to see you here!
Brevard Sinfonia
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Eric Ohlsson, oboe
PETER MAXWELL DAVIES An Orkney Wedding, With Sunrise
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Oboe Concerto
FELIX MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.
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!
Broadway comes alive on Sunday, June 23 when Friends of Music at the
Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness concludes its 2023-24 series with a varied presentation.
Vocalists Lori Griswold and Matthew Ruley will be joined by the St. John Parish Choir led by Organist and
Director of Music Dewitt Tipton on piano.
The 4:00 p.m. program, held in the Parish Hall across Rutledge Drive from the historic hilltop church
building, is free and open to the public. Parking and handicapped transportation are readily available.
Ms. Griswold, mezzo-soprano, has been singing virtually all her life. She studied with notable teachers in the
Midwest and Charlotte. Her repertoire includes concert solos, musical theater, and opera roles. She
estimates she has sung in 13 languages.
Mr. Ruley, tenor, is happy to once again join Lori on stage. The two met about 40 years ago, performing
with Charlottetown Players, with Dewitt Tipton as music director. They are pleased to come together again
to perform their favorite songs. A UNC Charlotte graduate, now living in West Virginia, Ruley favors
Broadway music and cabaret concerts but enjoys a variety of musical styles including opera, country, theater
and church choirs. He plays several instruments including saxophone, clarinet, and bass guitar.
The Sunday concert will encompass highlights from the golden age including South Pacific (“A Wonderful
Guy”) My Fair Lady (“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live”) Brigadoon (“The
Heather on the Hill”) The Fantasticks (“They Were You”) I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change
(“Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love with You?”) Composers: the Gershwins, Jule Styne, Lerner and Lowe,
Rodgers and Hammerstein, and more.
The Friends of Music at St. John in the Wilderness brings instrumentalists, vocalists, artists, storytellers and
other creatives to the Flat Rock area, hosting concerts and events to allow the community to experience the
gifts these artists have to share. The public is always welcome.
The Parish Hall is located at 1905 Greenville Highway. For more information visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.
music by the lake
Each summer, Blue Ridge Community College offers summer concerts beside the College lake as a gift to the community. These free concerts feature a wide range of musical and vocal groups. Bring a lawn chairs and picnic to enjoy the music by the lake. Organized by Blue Ridge Community College.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the Technology, Education & Development Center (TEDC) Building.
Burning Spear’s impact on reggae music is profound. A true legend, Spear’s legacy through his music is one of self-reliance and self-determination for the African diaspora. With a career spanning over six decades, his message remains on point and his vocal delivery is as powerful as it is identifiable.
Winston Rodney began his music career in the late 1960s, attributing his start to a fateful encounter with Bob Marley. Both were living in the St. Ann’s parish of Jamaica. As Spear recalls, “Bob was going to his farm. The man was moving with a donkey and some buckets and a fork, and cutlass and plants. We just reason man-to-man and I-man say wherein I would like to get involved in the music business. And Bob say, ‘All right, just check Studio One.’” It was there that Spear recorded his first two classic albums, “Burning Spear” and “Rocking Time.”
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Burning Spear rocked the reggae world, releasing acclaimed albums such as “Social Living,” “Hail H.I.M.” and “Resistance.” His music evolved to incorporate elements of jazz, funk, and rock, while maintaining its solid roots reggae foundation.
Burning Spear has won two Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album; one at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000 for “Calling Rastafari,” and one for 2009’s “Jah Is Real.” He has been nominated for a total of 12 Grammy™ Awards. He was awarded the Jamaican government’s Order of Distinction for outstanding services to music in 2007.
Since establishing their own label Burning Music Records, Winston and Sonia Rodney have released nearly forty singles, CDs, DVDs and vinyl albums on the Burning Music imprint.
In addition to his music career, Burning Spear is a dedicated anti-racism activist and philanthropist. He has been involved in various social and political causes throughout his career, including the fight against apartheid in South Africa, the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe and his campaign to raise awareness of the teachings of Marcus Garvey.
Burning Spear’s legacy as a reggae icon is everlasting, and his music continues to inspire and uplift audiences around the world. His influence can be heard in the work of countless artists who have followed in his footsteps, and his message of love and unity remain as relevant today as ever.
ABOUT KABAKA PYRAMID:
Kabaka Pyramid is a Grammy Award Winning conscious revolutionary lyricist with a signature musical style; blending the power, energy and melody of Reggae with the lyricism of Hip hop.
A key pillar of the Reggae Revival movement, Kabaka Pyramid carved his way into the Jamaican reggae scene with Rebel Music in 2011 with marquee songs like “Free From Chains” and “Warrior” featuring Protoje. His hip hop roots were evident in the lyrical style and hard hitting beats, laying the foundation for an ever ascending career highlighted by the classic marquee sophmore album “The Kalling” produced by role model Damian “Jr Gong” Marley.
This chart topping artist has developed a solid global fan-base that connects deeply with the messages in his music, touring extensively over the past 10 years to the largest of Reggae stages around the world and headlining numerous 20+ multi-city club tours. Kabaka is well known for delivering an electrifying and entertaining live performance.
The Kingston native, born Keron Salmon, spent many of his early years developing his sound as a part of Bebble Team, a talented group of friends and schoolmates that would be the foundation of his independent label Bebble Rock. Rebel Music was the fruit of this preparation and Kabaka’s career as a reggae artist was born. After touring Europe in 2012, prominent producers would take an interest and staple songs “No Capitalist” and “Never Gonna be A Slave” as well as hit songs “Mi Alright” featuring Chronixx Chronixx and ‘Well Done’ produced by Damian Marley would follow in 2013 and 2014
respectively. The Billboard charting “Lead The Way EP” in 2013 would cement Kabaka in the international Reggae landscape as well as the career defining “Well Done” produced by Damian Marley in 2015.
The “Accurate” mixtape by Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire would see Kabaka collaborate with Raekwon on Be Inspired, and classic Kabaka vs Pyramid would be become a hallmark for true Kabaka fans.
After touring with Damian Marley in the US in 2017, Kabaka would team up with the son of Bob Marley for his debut album Kontraband, debuting number 3 in the reggae Billboard chart and number one in several countries on iTunes. Hit song “Reggae Music” became Kabaka’s first song to pass 10 million views on youtube with many other records from the album having a tremendous impact in the market such as “Can’t Breathe” and “Kontraband”.
During the covid pandemic Kabaka worked tirelessly and released popular singles “Nice Up The Dance and “Believe” as well as the classic “Immaculate Mixtape” with Federation Sound. He also produced his first juggling rhythm “Victory Rock” to great success. All this while working continuously on his second album “The Kalling”. Hit singles “Red Gold and Green” featuring Damian Marley, The “Kalling” featuring Stephen Marley, Protoje and Jesse Royal and “Faded Away” with Buju Banton would see the 2022 LP release dominate iTunes charts in many countries culminating in a Grammy award for
reggae album of the year amongst many other album of the year awards on publications such as Reggaeville and Riddim magazine.
STANDING ROOM ONLY
QUASI
Pacific Northwest rock legends Quasi play their beloved 1998 classic third album Featuring “Birds,” start to finish in its entirety for the first time.
MARNIE STERN
It’s been a decade since we last heard from Marnie Stern, and in her absence the indie music world has become overrun with an army of anti-Marnies i.e. corporate clones making banal playlist rock lacking in the whimsy, creativity, and virtuosity that made Stern’s take on rock music such a singular sound in the late 2000s. But when Stern’s guitar bursts in like a shower of stardust on The Comeback Kid, her long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s The Chronicles of Marnia, it’s like no time has passed. Marnie Stern is back—and not a moment too soon.
Where has Stern been? She cops to having been lulled by the gentle rhythm of a nine-to-five job as the guitarist in the band on The Late Show with Seth Meyers; she’s also been raising two kids. But when it came time to start working on a new record, the ease with which she picked up right where she left off was surprising even to her. “I expected that all those years of playing other kinds of stuff would have influenced me—and it didn’t at all! I was fully back where I was before,” Stern says.
Even so, The Comeback Kid is no nostalgia trip: it’s a statement of intent, as Stern makes clear on the anthemic opening track “Plain Speak”. “I can’t keep on moving backwards,” she repeats, her fingers furiously tapping the fretboard as the song joyfully zips forward like a rocket hitting warp speed. She follows that up with “Believing is Seeing,” a song about overcoming alienation with nose-to-the-grindstone creative effort. “The sound is hard to hear right/ You can’t take it,” she sings. “What if I add this! And this! And this!” punctuating each “this” with another layer of sound, gleefully rifling through her bag of musical tracks and trying each one on for size, building the song up as she goes along—it’s fun and colorful and imaginative; it’s also weird. But being unafraid to embrace her oddball impulses has always been part of Stern’s musical DNA, and something she missed in her years of being a player for hire. “It was so great to be able to start being myself again and when I would think, ‘Oh, is that too, too weird?’ I’d remember I’m allowed to do whatever I want! This is mine. It’s me,” says Stern of writing songs for The Comeback Kid. “I’m trying to go against the grain of this bullshit that when you get older, you lose your sense of taste. I want to empower people to not be so homogenous and go against the grain a little bit.”
That sense of taking joy in your individuality is all over The Comeback Kid, which really is what the title says: the story of an artist coming back to the world with the hard-earned wisdom that making music that truly reflects who you are in all your brightness, boldness, and (yes) weirdness, is always something worth celebrating, and maybe the key to happiness in the end. “This record is about reassuring yourself that happiness is not about what kind of things you have or how many things you have or what you don’t have—it’s about all the good things you do,” says Stern.
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.
Mondays: Pickin’ in the Park
Enjoy performances by local singer-songwriters in an intimate and relaxed setting. Experience the rich musical heritage of Asheville as talented musicians share their stories and songs.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, “Spring”
JEAN FRANÇAIX Quartet for English Horn and String Trio
EVE BEGLARIAN I Will Not be Sad in This World
AARON COPLAND Appalachian Spring (Complete Ballet Suite for 13 Players)
Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.
Join us in the library community room to hear Jazz Pianist and composer, Michael Jefry Stevens and his musician friends, perform original compositions and songs from a songbook. This program is free and no ticket is required.
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.
Tuesdays: Hoop Jam
Join the fun with hula hoops and a live DJ. Whether you’re a seasoned hooper or a beginner, this vibrant event invites everyone to dance, spin, and groove to the music in a welcoming and energetic atmosphere.
Join us for a night of classical music in the Museum! A collaboration between the Asheville Chamber Music Series and the Asheville Art Museum featuring North Carolina musicians embarking on a major concert career.
Legendary Artists Series
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis—an ensemble of 15 virtuoso instrumentalists—delivers unforgettable performances with a characteristic flair and authority developed over 35 years of unrivaled excellence. The group’s compositions and arrangements embody an unprecedented variety of styles and genres including works by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Goodman, among so many, spanning jazz’s entire documented history.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.
Grab some dinner and a pint while enjoying our long-running Old-Time jam! Featuring many talented musicians from the local WNC area, our traditional Appalachian mountain music jam runs from 5-9pm every Wednesday night at Jack of the Wood!
Sing songs that celebrate Peace & Community, with Resident Teaching Artist Melissa McKinney. Sing, play, drum, and dance while learning songs from the Justice Choir Songbook.
Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
$15 drop-in class
All ages welcome.
Wednesday, June 26 at 7PM in the Williams Recital Hall features Decoda faculty artists Brad Balliett
(bassoon and composition), Claire Bryant (cello), Catherine Gregory (flute), David Kaplan (piano),
and Clara Lyon (violin) in a performance of music by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Igor Stravinsky, Felix
Mendelssohn, Chick Corea, Valerie Coleman, and a new work by incarcerated composer, Xiabao He.
Karaoke Night at Hickory Tavern
Legendary Artists Series
Keith Lockhart hosts an intimate evening with Wynton Marsalis celebrating the music and career of the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, performer, and educator. Violinist Tai Murray and members of BMC’s Artist Faculty perform A Fiddler’s Tale, Wynton’s modern take on the old story about the artist who sells her soul to the devil, updated with some wonderful musical and narrative twists.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.
Ryan Adams returns to Asheville on June 26th to celebrate the 20th & 10th album anniversaries of LOVE IS HELL & SELF TITLED. Plus playing career-spanning classics and fan favourites from his catalogue. Get your tickets now.