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.
Announcing 8 weeks of Fall Musical Theatre/Theatre Camps for rising K-12th Graders and Adults!
With new content for every program,
returning students will always have the chance to dive into fresh material.
Share what you have learned with a performance at the end of the semester!
|
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR |
|
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.
Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.
Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.
We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.
The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:
-
Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning
-
Sessions taught by regional, experienced Farmers
-
One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network Membership
-
Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan
-
Access to Field Days with regional partners
-
Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference
-
Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference
-
15 hr mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor
View a sample of the full course schedule here.
The Asheville Museum of History is excited to offer our popular cemetery tours again this year!
Join us to explore these cemeteries, graveyards, and associated sites, learning more about the individuals and communities whose stories are intertwined. These tours are led by our staff and by local historians and descendants. They take place on three consecutive Wednesday mornings in late summer.
The Asheville Museum of History’s three-part 2023 Cemetery Series continues Wednesday, September 6 from 10AM – 1PM. This event takes place in the Fairview community in Buncombe County.
The Ashworth family (John and Nancy) were among the first white settlers in the Fairview area of Buncombe County with deeds dating to the early 1790s. They were also some of the first enslavers in the area, holding 3-4 people on their small farm. Nancy Ann, who survived her husband by several decades, was also rumored to be a “granny woman” or a type of healer who used her knowledge of plants to help others. Join us on this tour to learn about early settlement west of the Blue Ridge, the spread of slavery into the mountains, the Appalachian mythology of plant healers, and more by exploring the family cemetery.
We will also have the option of touring the nearby Sherrill’s Inn, where the Ashworths originally had a home. The later inn was an important stop on the busy turnpike road and hosted a wide array of travelers.
Meet: 9:45AM at Food Lion in Fairview (1350 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC 27830)
- We will commute/carpool to the cemetery (3 miles away) and Sherrill’s Inn (2 miles)
Hike Length: approximately 1/2 mile (easy-moderate difficulty)
What to Bring: Water, snacks, comfortable and sturdy shoes, weather appropriate clothing, any needed medications.
Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be rescheduled promptly.
Tickets:
- For single event – $10 for AMoH members/$15 general admission.
- For Series: $20 AMoH members (Register for the first event)
We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available for each event. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Emergency Contact Form: Registrants must fill out the emergency contact form in advance. Those registering for the series only need to sign the form once. https://forms.gle/pui11o9aj5WdWURv7
Hike Leader:
This outing is led by Trevor Freeman, AMoH public programs director. He has an MA in American history and is interested in both Appalachian and environmental history. He is also wilderness first aid/CPR certified.
Hosted by the Asheville Guitar Bar, a discussion series
provides deeper understanding and greater enjoyment of classic albums and recording
artists. Led by Asheville speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, Music to Your Ears
is an interactive experience that shines a light on important music and people. Music to
Your Ears is a 90-minute conversation, held at the Guitar Bar, a music magnet in
Asheville’s historic River Arts District. The September 6 event is a listening party and
discussion focusing on Tapestry, the landmark 1971 album from Carole King.
Carole King was already a remarkably successful artist when she recorded her second solo
album, 1971’s landmark Tapestry. On her own and as part of a songwriting partnership with
Gerry Goffin, King was responsible for some of the most enduring pop music of the early sixties: her extensive credits include
writing or co-writing “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “The Loco-Motion,” “Up on the Roof” and scores of other classics.
King’s Tapestry was an exemplar of the burgeoning singer-songwriter movement, featuring remakes of two of her classics
(originally cut by other artists) and a batch of top-flight new songs like “It’s too Late” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Close friend,
musical associate and like-minded artist James Taylor contributed to the album as well. Tapestry was met with universal critical
acclaim and massive sales worldwide, reaching the #1 spot in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Spain and elsewhere. Tapestry’s
influence and sustained impact are staggering: worldwide sales of the album have exceeded 30 million copies.
Announcing an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate Tapestry with fellow music lovers. The latest
in the popular Music to Your Ears discussion series will explore Carole King’s second solo album, as
well as its context and enduring importance. Bill Kopp will be joined by singer-songwriter Dulci
Ellenberger for an evening of listening and conversation about Carole King’s Tapestry. Dulci may
even sing and play a song or two. The evening is the latest installment of the popular “Music to Your Ears’ discussion series,
hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and sponsored by AshevilleFM.
Join host and music journalist Bill Kopp for an evening in discussion with Dulci
Ellenberger about Carole King. We’ll listen to key tracks and encourage questions
from the audience.
ABOUT THE DISCUSSION SERIES
Music to Your Ears is Bill Kopp’s monthly discussion series hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and co-sponsored by AshevilleFM.
On the first Wednesday of each month, music enthusiasts gather to discuss an important album, artist or musical movement. An
interactive evening, MTYE isn’t a lecture; it’s a discussion led by experts and designed to enrich the listening experience.
ABOUT DULCI ELLENBERGER (dulcisings.com)
Asheville-based singer-songwriter Dulci Ellenberger has recorded and performed with a wide variety of acts in many styles.
Formally trained and possessing deep experience as a musician, songwriter and performer, she settled in Asheville after years
touring internationally. Her work with Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Cowboy Judy and Fwuit! are among her highest-profile local
credits. A multi-instrumentalist and powerful yet nuanced and smooth vocalist, her concert calendar is a busy one, with dates
throughout the region. While she has her own inimitable style, Dulci proudly names Carole King as a major inspiration.
ABOUT BILL KOPP (blog.musoscribe.com)
With over 500 bylines in regional publications (Mountain Xpress, Bold Life, WNC Magazine and more), Asheville-based speaker,
author and music journalist is an acknowledged expert on popular music. Author of two books – Reinventing Pink Floyd: From
Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon and Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave – Bill Kopp writes
for publications across the country and abroad. A contributing editor at Goldmine Magazine, he has authored more than 30 album
liner note essays and conducted more than 1000 interviews. He regularly hosts discussions on artists and albums of historical
importance, and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts.
FULLY SEATED SHOW
Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned Musician/Comedian/Writer/Actor who currently stars as the bandleader on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden. Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Watts blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy, wowing audiences with performances that are 100% improvised.
He was recently the DJ at the 2021 Emmy Awards, which saw a 15% ratings boost from 2020.
Watts’ first Netflix special Spatial released to massive critical acclaim, with the New York Times calling it “a giddy rush of escapist nonsense” and dubbing Watts “the most influential absurdist in comedy today.” The A.V. Club described Spatial as “signature Watts, meaning it’s alternately exhilarating, silly, exhausting and transcendent,” and Exclaim! Magazine called his performance “engaging, absurd, thoughtful and, most importantly, wholly unpredictable.”
As a solo performer, Watts brand of musical/comedy fusion has led to sold out headlining tours in the U.S. and Europe, including festivals such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, Bumbershoot, Just For Laughs, Pemberton and more.
In 2020, Watts released his own content app called, WattsApp, a techno-savvy look into his life, work, and techno junk drawer. WattsApp has all original content including a show called, Droneversations where he interviews guests while it’s filmed by drones along with other fun content.
In 2010, Watts released his debut comedy special, Why Shit So Crazy? on Comedy Central Records, and is now available to stream on Netflix. Why Shit So Crazy?featured Watts in live performances at New York venues such as Galapagos, The Bellhouse, and Le Poisson Rouge, bookended with brief sketches and music videos. Later that year, at the invitation of Jack White, Watts recorded Reggie Watts: Live at Third Man Records which was released in limited edition vinyl. In 2012, Watts recorded his second comedy special, Reggie Watts: A Live At Central Park, which was released by Comedy Central.
Reggie’s memoir, Great Falls, MT will be published on October 17 th 2023 by Penguin’s highly curated Tiny Reparations imprint.
Watts was born in Germany, raised in Montana, and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Announcing 8 weeks of Fall Musical Theatre/Theatre Camps for rising K-12th Graders and Adults!
With new content for every program,
returning students will always have the chance to dive into fresh material.
Share what you have learned with a performance at the end of the semester!
What!!! Rahzel from the original Roots is coming to LEAF! The Human Beatbox aka the Grammy-winning Rapper/MC from the original, world-renowned Roots lineup, has been added to the Saturday night lineup of the October Festival.
Famous for his jaw-dropping vocal percussion and beatboxing prowess, Rahzel is not just a performer, he’s an experience. Dive deep into the pulse and rhythm of hip-hop (on the 50th anniversary of the genre) with this masterful artist who blurs the line between voice and instrument. It’s more than a show: it’s musical genius live onstage.
Aaaand … there will be a Beatbox Play-Shop for all ages. Don’t miss it!
Rahzel is one of the biggest names in beatboxing today, and continues to redefine the limits of the human voice. Known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” he was growing up in Queens when hip-hop blew up. LEAF is thrilled to welcome Rahzel to the fall Festival on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Rahzel’s cousin Rahiem was an original member of the Furious Five, and Rahzel recalls sneaking into their shows, “watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate.” Rahzel embraced the philosophy that “not having’ was never an excuse for ‘not doing. … To me, [beatboxing] saves lives and I’m a prime example of it. It inspires kids to be creative and motivated.”
Through both his solo work and his stint with the live-music hip-hop group The Roots, Rahzel is credited with bringing beatboxing back to the fore of hip-hop in the 1990s. Rahzel can sing a chorus and beatbox the back-up simultaneously, a skill showcased on his signature song, “If Your Mother Only Knew,” from his groundbreaking first album, Make the Music 2000. Rahzel has worked with artists from Björk to Branford Marsalis.
LEAF Global Arts is on a mission CONNECTING CULTURES and CREATING COMMUNITY through world music, arts education, preservation and experiences. The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.
Join us at LEAF Festival October 19-22, 2023 at Lake Eden
|
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR |
|
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.
Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.
Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.
We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.
The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:
-
Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning
-
Sessions taught by regional, experienced Farmers
-
One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network Membership
-
Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan
-
Access to Field Days with regional partners
-
Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference
-
Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference
-
15 hr mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor
View a sample of the full course schedule here.
Students will receive a solid foundation in beginner Ukulele skills for vocalists. Chords, Rhythm patterns, and basic theory will be introduced through songs with an uplifting message. Students will also learn to play the song that the Songwriting Class will be writing and get to record it in the One Mic Studio.
Dr. Perry has over 30 years of alpine mountaineering experience that includes an installation of a weather station at 8,430 m at the Balcony on Mt. Everest in Nepal, an installation of a weather station at 6,349 m on Ausangate in Peru, ascents of Illimani (6,435 m) and Ancohuma (6,427 m) in Bolivia for data collection from snow pits, a first ascent of the southwest face of Soral Este (5,460 m) in Bolivia, and extensive field work on glacierized surfaces above 5,000 m. Dr. Perry has slept at elevations above 5,000 m on 134 nights (above 6,000 m on 17 nights) and has climbed to his team’s weather station at 5,650 m on the summit plateau of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru 22 times since 2014.
Tickets
Buy tickets below beginning July 6, 2023.
“VIP” tickets include a VIP reception with the guest speaker that includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, in addition to the program and the “meet and greet” session after the event. Admission to the park for the day is also included.
- $60 “VIP” Adult
- $51 “VIP” Bridge Club Member
“Regular” tickets are a more cost-effective option and include only the speaker’s program and the “meet and greet” session after the event.
- $25 “Regular” Adult
- $20 “Regular” Bridge Club Member
- Children under 12 admitted for free (max of four free children per purchase)
Refunds/Cancelations
Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Schedule
- 8 a.m. | Park opens for the day and “VIP” ticket holders allowed access to the park
- 4:45 p.m. | “Regular” ticket holders allowed to enter the park and head to the Wilson Center for the event
- 5 – 5:30 p.m. | “VIP” Reception in one of the classrooms in the Wilson Center (VIP ticket holders only)
- 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. | Speaker Presentation in the Classroom in the Clouds
- 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. | Meet and Greet or Book Signing with Speaker
- 7:45 p.m. | Park should be clear of all Grandfather Presents guests
Refunds/Cancellations
Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
More About Grandfather Presents
Our 2023 speaker series at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery includes five big Thursday night events with internationally and nationally known presenters. Presented by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the series also includes two Saturday afternoon presentations focused on nature, adventure or conservation-related topics on a local or regional scale. Read more.
Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.
Join us on select Thursdays from April through September for live Americana music from the Waverly front porch along with great southern fare and cold beverages. Bring a lawn chair and/or blanket from 6-8pm for a great evening in Hendersonville.
May 4: Jess Jocoy, Waverly Front Porch Series
June 1: Letters to Abigail, Waverly Front Porch Series
June 29: The Gathering Dark, Waverly Front Porch Series
July 27: The Last Full Measure, Waverly Front Porch Series
September 7: Angela Easterling, Waverly Front Porch Series
October 5: David Childers, Waverly Front Porch Series
2023 Waverly Live
Join us on select Thursdays from April through September for live Americana music from the Waverly front porch along with great southern fare and cold beverages. Bring a lawn chair and/or blanket from 6-8pm for a great evening in Hendersonville.
June 29: The Gathering Dark, Waverly Front Porch Series
July 27: The Last Full Measure, Waverly Front Porch Series
September 7: Angela Easterling, Waverly Front Porch Series
October 5: David Childers, Waverly Front Porch Series
Our jazz trio with Thommy Knoles on keys, Felix Pastorius on bass, and Paul Gladstone on drums will perform an opening set from about 7-8:15 pm.
An open jam session follows. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged for a suggested donation of $10.
Jazz Jam will feature a diverse array of music from jazz’s rich history, ranging from 1940s bebop up to 1970s jazz fusion, as well as material from prominent present-day composers. Bring your instruments and jam with us, or just come and enjoy!
Steve Simon & The Kings of Jazz are Brevard’s newest and most exciting and entertaining jazz band with a sound that combines the funkiness of George Benson, the soulfulness of Ray Charles and the smoothness of Diana Krall all wrapped together in big Count Basie style arrangements of American and Latin jazz classics. If you are looking for an amazing live jazz experience then check out the hottest jazz band in the coolest city in North Carolina performing every Thursday at The DFR Lounge from 7pm to 9pm
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Aoife O’Donovan operates in a thrilling musical world beyond genre.
Deemed “a vocalist of unerring instinct” by The New York Times, she has released three critically-acclaimed and boundary-blurring solo albums including her most recent record, 2022’s boldly orchestrated and literarily crafted Age Of Apathy. Written by O’Donovan and recorded with acclaimed producer Joe Henry, Age Of Apathy is “stunning” (Rolling Stone) and “taps into the propulsion of prime Joni Mitchell” (Pitchfork).
Age of Apathy received three nominations at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards including one for Best Folk Album. The song “B61” from the album was Folk Alliance International’s 2022 Song of the Year.
A savvy and generous collaborator, Aoife is one third of the group I’m With Her with bandmates Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. The trio’s debut album, See You Around, was hailed as “willfully open-hearted” by NPR Music. I’m With Her earned an Americana Music Association Award in 2019 for Duo/Group of the Year, and a GRAMMY Award in 2020 for Best American Roots Song. O’Donovan spent the preceding decade as co-founder and front woman of the string band, Crooked Still and is the featured vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions — the group with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. She has appeared as a featured vocalist with over a dozen symphonies including the National Symphony Orchestra, written for Alison Krauss, performed with jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas, and spent a decade as a regular contributor to the radio variety shows “Live From Here” and “A Prairie Home Companion.”
Ben Krakauer, Julian Pinelli, and Kevin Kehrberg are virtuoso instrumentalists who play original and traditional music for banjo, fiddle, and bass. All three are rooted in bluegrass, jazz, old-time, and new acoustic music, and have recorded with string luminaries including David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Molly Tuttle, and Rayna Gellert.
Ben Krakauer is a banjo player, composer, and Chair of the Music Department at Warren Wilson College. His 2023 album Hidden Animals was released on Adhyâropa Records. Bluegrass Unlimited calls Hidden Animals “A sheer delight that explores that rarified territory where bluegrass, jazz and new acoustic music overlap.” He has toured with David Grisman, was a founding member of Old School Freight Train, and has recorded for Acoustic Disc, Adhyâropa Records, CMH Records, and the Fiddle Masters series.
Julian Pinelli is a free-spirited violinist who spins deep tone with modern ease. Awarded the 2016 Fresh Grass Fiddle Award and winner of the 2017 RockyGrass fiddle competition, Julian has toured extensively with cellist Ben Sollee, newgrass pioneer Peter Rowan, progressive bluegrass outfit Front Country, and guitar virtuoso Molly Tuttle. He is also a prolific tunewriter as evidenced by his debut solo album Bent Creek.
Kevin Kehrberg is an in-demand session bassist and Associate Professor of Music at Warren Wilson College. He has played with some of the top names in jazz, classical music, bluegrass, and old-time music. His most recent recording is Rhythm Twist, a swing/jazz album with string virtuosi Don Stiernberg, Evan Price, and Greg Ruby.
The quietest voices can be the most durable.
American Football’s original triumph, on their 1999 self-titled debut, was to reunite two shy siblings: emo and post-rock. It was a pioneering album where lyrical clarity was obscured and complicated by the stealth musical textures surrounding it.
Like Slint’s Spiderland, or Codeine’s The White Birch, even Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock, American Football asked far more questions than it cared to answer. But there wasn’t a band around anymore to explain it, anyway. The three young men who made the album — Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes, and Steve Lamos — split up pretty much on its release.
Fifteen years later, American Football reunited (now as a four-piece, with the addition of Nate Kinsella). They played far larger shows than in their original incarnation and recorded their long-anticipated second album, 2016’s American Football (LP2). The release was widely praised, but the band members still felt like their best work was yet to come.
‘I feel like the second album was us figuring it out,’ says Nate. ‘For me, it wasn’t quite done. I knew there was still more.’
Enter American Football (LP3). ‘We put a lot of time and a lot of energy into it,’ says Mike. ‘We were all thoughtful about what we wanted to put out there. Last time, it was figuring out how to use all of our different arms. This time, we were like — Ok we have these arms, let’s use them.’ The band used the same producer, Jason Cupp, and recorded the album at the same studio (Arc Studios in Omaha, Nebraska) as its predecessor — yet they approached it in a markedly different way. There was a determination to let the songs breathe, to trust in ideas finding their own pace. The final result is a definite, and deliberate, stretching of the band.
As a result, LP3 is less obviously tethered to the band’s past than the second album. An immediate contrast between LP3 and its two predecessors is its cover. The two previous albums featured the exterior and interior of a residence in the band’s original hometown of Urbana, Illinois (now attracting fans for pilgrimages and photo opportunities), by the photographer Chris Strong. But American Football knew that LP3 was an outside record. Instead of the familiar house, this time the cover photo (again by Strong) features open, rolling fields on Urbana’s borders. It is a sign of the album’s magnitude in sound, and of the band’s boldness in breaking away from home comforts.
American Football also joked that LP3‘s genre was ‘post-house,’ because of this very conscious visual break. But, in a strange way, there are links in LP3 with an actual post-house genre: shoegaze. The more exploratory members of the original British shoegaze scene were inspired by the dreamtime and circularity of house music (ambient house in particular), cherishing its sonic possibilities. That spirit drips into LP3, most obviously on ‘I Can’t Feel You,’ a collaboration with Rachel Goswell of Slowdive.
The album also features Hayley Williams from Paramore on the album’s catchiest moment, ‘Uncomfortably Numb,’ and Elizabeth Powell, of the Québécoise act Land Of Talk. Mike wrote lyrics in French especially for her.
LP3 is contemplative, rich, expressive, yet with a queasy undercurrent. It is heavy with expectancy, revealing its ideas slowly, eliciting the hidden stories people carry around with them. ‘I feel like my lyric writing has changed a lot over the years,’ says Mike. ‘The goal is to be conversational, maybe to state something giant and heavy, but in a very plain way. But, definitely in this record, I keep things a little more vague.’ As on the first album, the lyrics on LP3 may seem confessional and concentrated, but the more you scrutinize them, the further their meaning slinks away. Or, as Mike tellingly sings on ‘I Can’t Feel You”: I’m fluent in subtlety.
‘Somewhere along the way we moved from being a reunion band to just being a band,’ says Steve Holmes. American Football is now a bona fide ongoing focus, and they are making some of the best music of their lives. American Football (LP3) stands with two other rare reunion successes — Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine’s mbv — as a fine example of how a band refinding one another can augment, rather than taint, their legacy.
‘I think that there are those albums, or the music that you heard when you were younger, and they imprint on you,’ says Nate. ‘And no matter where you go, or what you do they’re always there.’ He is talking of Steve Reich — an early and ongoing influence on American Football — but he might as well be reflecting what is said of his own band, and the ardent following they inspire. American Football stands as an enduring symbol of elusive emotional landscapes, where introspection can be as dramatic as confrontation.
What is a Youth Production?
An ACT Youth Production is an immersive performance workshop that is specially tailored for young artists who aspire to learn and grow in the performing arts. This hands-on experience offers a unique opportunity for students to undergo a comprehensive exploration of the theatrical process. Starting with auditions, they are taught how to prepare and present their best selves, and throughout the rehearsal process, students collaborate with the cast in a dynamic and supportive environment. A distinctive feature of this program is the inclusion of choreography and voice training sessions that enable students to discover and improve their vocal prowess and dancing abilities, thus turning them into well-rounded performers. Every aspect is designed to nurture creativity, foster teamwork, and instill a genuine love for theatre. All students are encouraged to participate, regardless of their previous experience or exposure to theatre.
Interested in Technical Theatre classes?
If you’re interested in getting hands-on experience with technical theatre, our Tech & Run Crew class is tailored just for you. Whether you’re a beginner with a budding interest or a seasoned tech enthusiast aiming to sharpen your skills, you will get the opportunity to work on real productions in an education environment.
Announcing 8 weeks of Fall Musical Theatre/Theatre Camps for rising K-12th Graders and Adults!
With new content for every program,
returning students will always have the chance to dive into fresh material.
Share what you have learned with a performance at the end of the semester!
What!!! Rahzel from the original Roots is coming to LEAF! The Human Beatbox aka the Grammy-winning Rapper/MC from the original, world-renowned Roots lineup, has been added to the Saturday night lineup of the October Festival.
Famous for his jaw-dropping vocal percussion and beatboxing prowess, Rahzel is not just a performer, he’s an experience. Dive deep into the pulse and rhythm of hip-hop (on the 50th anniversary of the genre) with this masterful artist who blurs the line between voice and instrument. It’s more than a show: it’s musical genius live onstage.
Aaaand … there will be a Beatbox Play-Shop for all ages. Don’t miss it!
Rahzel is one of the biggest names in beatboxing today, and continues to redefine the limits of the human voice. Known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” he was growing up in Queens when hip-hop blew up. LEAF is thrilled to welcome Rahzel to the fall Festival on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Rahzel’s cousin Rahiem was an original member of the Furious Five, and Rahzel recalls sneaking into their shows, “watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate.” Rahzel embraced the philosophy that “not having’ was never an excuse for ‘not doing. … To me, [beatboxing] saves lives and I’m a prime example of it. It inspires kids to be creative and motivated.”
Through both his solo work and his stint with the live-music hip-hop group The Roots, Rahzel is credited with bringing beatboxing back to the fore of hip-hop in the 1990s. Rahzel can sing a chorus and beatbox the back-up simultaneously, a skill showcased on his signature song, “If Your Mother Only Knew,” from his groundbreaking first album, Make the Music 2000. Rahzel has worked with artists from Björk to Branford Marsalis.
LEAF Global Arts is on a mission CONNECTING CULTURES and CREATING COMMUNITY through world music, arts education, preservation and experiences. The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.
Join us at LEAF Festival October 19-22, 2023 at Lake Eden
For 61 years enthusiasts have been gathering at
Roan Mountain during the first weekend after Labor
Day to celebrate the natural world during the Fall
Roan Mountain Naturalists Rally. This event and all
of the Friends of Roan Mountain events would not
be possible without our volunteer field trip leaders,
the support of Roan Mountain State Park and the
Friends of Roan membership.
Consider joining the Friends of Roan Mountain, if
you are not a member. Members get free admission
to all Naturalists Rally events and our newsletter
which is published twice a year.
Evening and lunch programs will take place in Roan
Mountain State Park’s Conference Center. Field
trips will leave from the field on the left beside the
entrance to the park cabins.
Gary Barrigar and Larry McDaniel- Co-Directors
FRIDAY EVENING PROGRAM: “Discovering the Wonders of Parks Through
Interpretation
”
Meg Guy has served Tennessee State Parks first as
Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, then Park Ranger then
Park Manager of Roan Mountain State Park. Now
she supports 19 parks across East Tennessee as the
Regional Interpretive Specialist. She holds a B.S. in
Plant & Soil Sciences from the University of
Tennessee and an M.A. in Appalachian
Studies from East Tennessee State University. Meg
also holds two professional certifications from the
National Association for Interpretation (NAI):
Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified
Interpretive Trainer.
Presentation Description:
The mission statement of Tennessee State Parks
reads:
“To preserve and protect, in perpetuity,
unique examples of natural, cultural, and scenic
areas and to provide a variety of safe, quality
outdoor experiences through a well
-planned and
professionally managed system of state parks.”
Visitors to parks are provided opportunities to
connect intellectually and emotionally with unique
resources through a communication process known
as interpretation. Guided hikes and tours, museum
exhibits, living history demonstrations, and
wayfinding signage are all examples of state park
resource interpretation efforts.
In this presentation, Tennessee State Parks’
Regional Interpretive Specialist Meg Guy will draw
upon her own experience working in parks to consider
the importance of interpretation to the
achievement of the agency mission… specifically, how
interpretation enhances a park visit and inspires park
visitors to become stewards of natural and cultural
resources.
SATURDAY AFTER LUNCH PROGRAM
:
“Insects & Traditional Medicine
”
ETSU undergraduate researcher Cade Campbell will
discuss his studies with the Whitaker Lab. He has been
working to document the interactions of native insects
and Appalachian medicinal plants compared to species
unused in the folk tradition.
SATURDAY EVENING PROGRAM
:
“Fall Migration: A Fascinating Annual Display of
Nature
”
Ron Hoff moved to Knoxville in October 1973. He
joined the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee
Ornithological Society in January, 1978. He has
volunteered over the years in many positions for both
the local and state TOS organization, culminating as
TOS president in 2013
-2015. He continues as state TOS
bird count compiler, a position he has held for over 20
years.
Ron met his wife, Dollyann Myers, through the TOS
state bird meetings and eventually got married in 1995.
Ron’s first birding trip was to the Big Bend National
Park in Texas in June 1983. He and Dollyann found that
they shared a huge passion for international birding and
they both have now birded in just over 100 countries.
His life list now stands at 8698 species seen.
Ron has also been interested in photography for many
years and this carried over to birding. He has always
wanted to give programs about birds to audiences to
share the beauty and wonderment of birds, in the hopes
that it may, in some small way, help with bird
conservation. Preferring to use his own slides for his
presentations, he has slowly built up his library of bird
photos and has now photographed 5362 species of birds,
nearly half of all the birds in the world.
Presentation Description:
Fall migration is a vast and complicated annual event.
This program will present some grand statistics, minute
details, and current research that will help make sense of
this movement.
Land of Sky Regional Council will offer a tour of each county in our region with a focus on how we can work together to protect the French Broad River while supporting the growth and development of region.
September 15, 2023: Henderson County
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
LOSRC French Broad River Tour – Henderson County (constantcontact.com)
September 22, 2023: Buncombe County
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
LOSRC French Broad River Tour – Buncombe County (constantcontact.com)
October 6, 2023: Madison County
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
LOSRC French Broad River Tour – Madison County (constantcontact.com)
You can sign up for one county tour or all four.
There is no cost to participate. We are grateful
for our sponsors for making this tour possible.
Lunch will be provided along with snacks.
For thousands of years, people have been drawn to explore Grandfather Mountain. The rugged terrain, unique ecosystems, extreme weather, and breathtaking views have enticed countless explorers and recreationalist alike. This Adult Field Course will give participants a chance to experience the wonders of Grandfather Mountain during the day and night by backpack camping overnight at one of the primitive backcountry campsites on the mountain. Participants will gain experience in planning a trip, using backpacking gear, and work on backcountry hard skills, as well as learn about the unique ecosystems that make Grandfather Mountain so special.
Participants will be camping at the Calloway Gap campsite in Grandfather Mountain State Park. No campfires are allowed at this site, so all food preparation will need to via camp stove or through non-fire prep. The Grandfather Trail is considered a very difficult trail and includes many steep climbs at times utilizing ladders and cables to assist hikers through difficult sections. Prior hiking experience is required. Prior backpacking experience is not required, but participants will need to provide all of their own equipment for this field course.
Eric Payne is the Assistant Director of Outdoor Adventure at East Tennessee State University where he manages the Campus Recreation Outdoor Program that includes backpacking and camping trips for students. He also teaches the Fundamentals of Backpacking as an activity course to students of all ages. He has worked in the outdoor industry for over a decade and currently explores Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee from his home in Johnson City.
Program Itinerary
Saturday, August 19: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Virtual pre-trip planning meeting (introductions, gear discussion, route plan, etc.)
Friday, September 8, 2023
1:00 p.m.: Participants will meet at Grandfather Mountain for pre-trip discussion and to start the hike
4:30 p.m.: Group will plan to arrive at the destination campsite and prepare camp
Saturday, September 9, 2023
9:00 a.m.: Participants will break down camp and hike back to the Grandfather Mountain trailhead
12:00 p.m.: Participants will do a post-trip debrief and adjourn
Registration
This Adult Field Course costs $100 for general admission and $85 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club, plus tax. Attendance is limited to 10 participants. Registration opens on this page on July 10 at 9 a.m.
Your program cost includes admission into the park, field instruction, and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. Tips are not accepted for field courses. However, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program.
General Clothing List
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important. A recommended gear/equipment list will be provided.
Refunds/Cancellations
Adult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for, a full refund will be granted within a 5-day notice of the day of the field course. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. We ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants, our staff, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
More about Field Courses
We at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are excited to share the unique wonders of the mountain with you. Since 2008, GMSF has aimed at creating educational programming that deepens understanding through in-depth study and field research. Our goal is to provide you with a rich experience in a particular field of study, and to also provide a safe and memorable trip to Grandfather Mountain. Read more about Field Courses.