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.
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.
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.
Visit The Sweet Escape 2:00 – 9:00pm on Saturday, July 15 for a block party you don’t want to miss! The Sweet Escape will be celebrating its seventh year and welcomes all to join this family-friendly and fun event! There will be cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, bubbles, jump rope, corn hole, music and frozen yogurt will be 20% off ALL DAY.
A timeless ghost story based on the Henry James novella of the same title, The Turn of the Screw is regarded by many as the finest of all Benjamin Britten’s works for stage. Its tale of good versus evil, natural versus the supernatural, and possession and exorcism, creates an astonishing dramatic power that has a shattering impact in the theater. A show not to be missed!
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center
Brevard Festival Orchestra
Dean Anthony, stage director
Joseph Mechavich, conductor
BENJAMIN BRITTEN The Turn of the Screw
Sung in English with English supertitles
Auditorium seating is reserved.
Come enjoy a Saturday afternoon with the Brother West Band featuring Craig St. John.
Plenty of wine, views, and music!
***Day full of fun including annual craft show!
No cover charge
In 2020, Son Volt planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of seminal album, Trace, with a tour that played the album from top to bottom. The pandemic had other plans. Flash forward to 2023 and they are on the road with a setlist that features Trace from beginning to end, an homage to Doug Sahm (Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados) and a celebration of 28 years of Son Volt.
Son Volt’s latest record, Day of the Doug, revisits the music of legendary Texas troubadour Doug Sahm. But it’s much more than fond remembrance and colorful tribute. It is a summoning and a celebration of a songwriter and performer whose work forged country, Tex-Mex, rock, rhythm and blues, folk, and psychedelia into an utterly unique American sound.
Day of the Doug steps confidently on the trails Sahm blazed. Like any journey to find a grail, Day of the Doug also seeks out all the things that make young artists fall in love with making music in the first place: adventure, youth novelty, and a chance to snatch a bit of immortality.
“It’s like reconnecting with a hero,” says Son Volt founder Jay Farrar. “And getting back to the same kind of perspective I had when I was starting out as a younger musician. I think it’s just important to step back from what you normally do. Take stock. Take inspiration. And see where it leads from there.”
From the local favorites to new regional acts, all live from the river banks of the Nantahala. Raft, dine, then jam with us with Live Music every Friday and Saturday from 5pm-8pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day!
May 27th 5pm-8pm – Mama and the Ruckus
May 28th 5pm-8pm – The Lefties
June 2nd 5pm-8pm – Christina Chandler Trio
June 3rd 5pm-8pm – Laura Thurston
June 9th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton
June 10th 1pm-4pm – Jacobs Well
June 10th 5pm-8pm – Natti Love Joys
June 16th 5pm-8pm – Rae and the Ragdolls
June 17th 5pm-8pm – Beer and Loathing
June 23rd 5pm-8pm – TBA
June 24th 5pm-8pm – Terry Haughton Trio
June 30th 5pm-8pm – Blue
July 1st 5pm-8pm – Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
July 7th 5pm-8pm – Bayou Diesel
July 8th 5pm-8pm – Pioneer Chicken Stand
July 14th 5pm-8pm – Wyatt Espalin
July 15th 5pm-8pm – Christina Chandler Duo
July 21st 5pm-8pm – Terry Haughton
July 22nd 5pm-8pm – TG and the Stoned Rangers
July 28th 5pm-8pm – Blue
July 29th 5pm-8pm – Somebody’s Child
August 4th 5pm-8pm – Trial by Fire
August 5th 5pm-8pm – Andy Johnson
August 11th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton Solo
August 12th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton Band
August 18th 5pm-8pm – Big Deal Band
August 19th 1pm-4pm – Mckinney
August 19th 5pm-8pm – Funk N’ Around
August 25th 5pm-8pm – Wyatt Espalin
August 26th 5pm-8pm – Somebody’s Child
September 1st 5pm-8pm – TBA
September 2nd 5pm-8pm – Regatta 69
Wanna hear the best local music and drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.
| Join Bountiful Cities Saturday July 15th 6-7:30pm for a FREE class. Arturo Carillo is a long-time professional cook and gardener who volunteers at the Elder and Sage Community Garden in downtown Asheville. He will share techniques and his delightful recipes from his repertoire. Arturo’s family is originally from Ecuador and his cooking is influenced by time spent in his grandparents kitchens. |
– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
DOC ROBINSON
“Poppy and infectious with a taste of Motown and a splash of indie rock.” – RIFF
Melding eccentric lyricism, heartbreak harmonies, and dueling lead guitar synergy, the band has catapulted itself beyond genre categorization into a midwestern “gumbo” concoction. From front man Jon Elliott’s commanding tenor vocals, abstract interludes at a moment’s notice, and blissful melodic interjections, Doc revels in a deliberate spectrum of sounds, the audial counterpart to a beautifully splattered Jackson Pollak canvas.
It’s “quirky sh*t”, says Elliott, who co-founded Doc back in 2016. Since its inception, the band has established itself as a pioneering voice in the grassroots indie movement of the late 2010s. Nationwide tours (alongside Caamp, Neal Francis, The Brook and the Bluff, and more) and song placements on major TV series (The Walking Dead, BoJack Horseman) have allowed them to reach audiences worldwide and has transformed their live performance into feel good sing-along parties.
Following the release of four stylistically distinct and evolving albums, Doc continues to embrace the range of diverse perspectives each band member contributes to its “melting pot” sound. Shedding their skin as redefining singles usher in a new creative era and foreshadowed fifth album, the six-musician powerhouse looks toward new horizons. Doc plans to hit the road with a fresh slate of tour dates across the United States and beyond in support of their new works.
An evening of original songs, creative instrumentation, and zany stories. Come for the truly unique Dr. Keyboardian experience & delightful Larrimore sounds!
All ages welcome. Open donation; special merchandise available.
Dr. Keyboardian was formed out of spite in 2013 when bandmates suggested I stop tinkering with my yard sale Seiko DS 250 keyboard and get back on drums where I belonged. They said I was a bad keyboard player. “I’ll show them,” I accidentally said out loud, “I’ll start a solo project and call it Dr. Keyboardian, and ten years later, I’ll still be bad, but I’ll hustle for gigs and make songs and design merch. So here we are today, ten years later, but not Ten Years After, ladies and gentlemen, it’s Dr. Keyboardian. He showed them.” Then I got back on drums.
Tim Greene, Head Coach, Dr. Keyboardian
Ian Larrimore teaches music to elementary students in McDowell county, writes songs, and studies guitar.
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, and educates, encourages, challenges and inspires the community through music, film, literary, and contemporary art.
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
Airpark
Formed in 2017 by brothers Ben Ford and Michael Ford, Jr., Airpark is a Nashville-based duo whose songs explore the wide expanse of forward-thinking pop music.
It’s a sound that’s both timely and timeless, rooted in sharp grooves one minute and dreamily rounded edges the next. Over the course of four EPs, the Fords have created music that’s honest and ever-evolving, glued together by nuanced arrangements, an attention to melody, and the refusal to make the same record twice.
With the release of their debut album, Prehistoric Feeling – featuring production from Tennis, St. Lucia, and Eric Cannata (Young The Giant) – Ben and Michael double down on their unique brand of pop. Tracked in Highland Park, Los Angeles – the Fords created an effortless and joyous work that, with the passing of time, will take listeners back to the exact place they were when they first heard it. Appearances from Eric Cannata (Young The Giant), Jean-Philip Grobler (St. Lucia) and Jessie Baylin provide inimitable flourishes to the eleven song debut. Prehistoric Feeling is available everywhere 9/16/22.
Brother Bluebird
Brother Bluebird is a twin brother duet playing heartfelt, lyrically engaging indie folk.
The 57th season of Shindig on the Green, a free event in the heart of downtown Asheville with a stage show and informal jam sessions, takes place on Saturday evenings July 1 through August 26, 2023.
Locals and visitors alike come together at downtown’s Pack Square Park “along about sundown,” or at 7:00 pm for those who wear a watch, and continues until 10:00 pm. Concessions are available! The remaining Shindig on the Green events will be held on July 1, 8, 15, 22 and August 12, 19, 26, 2023.
The stage show takes place on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage, named for the founder of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. Since the outdoor event’s inception in 1967, hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the region and throughout the world have shared and enjoyed the rich traditional music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in this outdoor setting.
Shindig on the Green remains a free event due in part to net proceeds from ticket sales to the nation’s longest continually running festival, the granddaddy of all festivals, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.
Danish composer Carl Nielsen described his Fifth Symphony as “the division of dark and light, the battle between evil and good, and the opposition between ‘Dreams and Deeds’. Powerful, genuine, and beautiful, Nielsen’s symphony was largely unrecognized outside of Denmark until Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic recorded a seminal account of the work in 1962. Grieg’s Piano Concerto, on the other hand, quickly became one of his most famous works and was performed by the leading pianists of the day. It was so popular, in fact, that it was the first piano concerto ever recorded. Maestro Rune Bergmann returns to Brevard in this performance with the BMCO.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Music Center Orchestra
Rune Bergmann, conductor
Natasha Paremski, piano
EDVARD GRIEG Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
CARL NIELSEN Symphony No. 5
Lead Sponsor: Jan Tore Hall
Auditorium seating is reserved. Lawn seating is general admission.
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.
Heritage Fire is an outdoor culinary experience that brings together local chefs and memorable brands for a live-fire celebration. With over 20 participants, guests will enjoy an all-inclusive feast while taking in the sights and sounds of an open flame. Savor the flavors of diverse cuisine and premium beverages, all in a unique and unforgettable setting.
After indulging in each dish, the ‘Best Bite of the Day’ will be determined by the crowd, and one champion will be announced.
3.1 WEB – WebTrac Activity Search (vermontsystems.com)
Social Seniors
Grove Street Card Sharks
Senior Dining
Billiards
Exercise
Be Active Live Longer
A Cappella Alive
Square Dancing
Groove at the Grove
Pen to Paper Writing Group
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
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas! Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century. Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and our popular Cajun seasoned Pulled Pork BBQ with Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce cooked in our special spices and slow roasted to perfection! During the month of October, 9am departures will feature the option of a delicious Cheesy Shrimp & Grits or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole while 2pm departures will be served the popular BBQ meal.
Burlesque Brunch is a monthly burlesque and bellydance show with a classic speakeasy feel. Join our dancing dames and dandies every third Sunday of the month for a little singin’, strippin’, and sippin’ starting at noon. It’s a Sunday afternoon to delight the senses!
Burlesque Brunch is a monthly burlesque and bellydance show with a classic speakeasy feel. Join our dancing dames and dandies every third Sunday of the month for a little singin’, strippin’, and sippin’ starting at noon. It’s a Sunday afternoon to delight the senses!
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!
-AGES 18+
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE
This Summer the Land of the Sky Burlesque Festival in Asheville invites you for a night of combined Cabaret, Variety & Performance Art with Burlesque for a Festival unlike any other. Brunch/food/drinks not included.
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.