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.
Dana Cooper
Dana is a poetic songwriter, an insightful storyteller, and a rousing musician whose performances engage and inspire audiences around the world.
“Dana Cooper is an honest and passionate veteran who has paid his dues, done the work, and whose name deserves to be on the wall beside every other great who made Americana, folk and the music of the 70’s the treasure that it is today.”
Merlin David- M Music & Musicians Magazine
“Dana Cooper is an Americana treasure that you likely have never heard… If you are not previously hip to the Dana Cooper scene, use this opportunity to right a grievous wrong.”
Rock is the New Roll – Five Cool Ones
Cooper’s lifelong passion & devotion to music began at age 2 in Kansas City. His father, George, was a huge influence. One of Dana’s earliest memories is of his father taking him to the Calico Cat, popping a coin in the jukebox and listening to Dana sing along with Hank Williams & Ernest Tubb.At age 20 a move to LA resulted in a record deal with Elektra Records where he recorded his first album with members of “The Section” Russ Kunkel and Leleand Sklar, as well as other luminary players Jim Horn, Al Perkins, Jim Gordon, Joe Osborne, and Lee Holdridge. This album still wins accolades today and was recently reissued on the Warner/Japan label.
After several years in California and a year recording in Seattle, Cooper moved to Texas where he wrote and performed with Shake Russell. They released several independent albums and one album for Southcoast/MCA.
Cooper’s songs have been recorded by a variety of artists such as bluegrass singer Claire Lynch, Irish vocalist Maura O’Connell, Nashville songbird Jonell Mosser, as well as songwriters Pierce Pettis and Susan Werner. His incredible catalogue and musical sensibilities have led to endorsements from AirPlay Direct and Elixir Strings.
https://www.danacoopermusic.com/
—————–
Jeff Black
“His words and voice hold down center stage with a craft so deeply in the artistic pocket that it obscures anything outside”
Hyperbolium – No Depression
Boston’s WUMB listeners voted Jeff Black as one of the top 100 most important Folk artists of the last 25 years.
Black’s songs have earned GRAMMY recognition, radio chart-topping stats and numerous BMI awards. Although flying below the radar as a performer himself, he has been recognized by NPR as a musical pioneer in the digital age. His flagship podcast “Black Tuesdays” circa 2005-2007 are classic imprints on the format and his catalogue of critically acclaimed albums continues to grow. Composing music for film and television, his credits include numerous indie-film soundtracks and a repertoire of songs cut by artists as diverse as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Waylon Jennings, BlackHawk, Dierks Bentley, Jon Randall, John Oates, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush. Black has forged a reputation as a true folk troubadour entertaining audiences globally for over three decades. A master songwriter and performer in the tradition of the great storytellers, his passionate, soul driven live performances of songs from his vast catalog are not to be missed.
https://www.jeffblack.com/biography.html
A fresh take on a timeless classic, perfect for the whole family. With great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. Inspired by the acclaimed teleplay starring Whitney Houston and Brandy, this version of the magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance.
Romance. Tragedy. Passion. Parties! Filled with timeless melodies, iconic arias, and an unforgettable score, Violetta and Alfredo’s love story will transport you to a bygone era. Join BMC’s Janiec Opera Company and see why Verdi’s La Traviata is the world’s most beloved opera.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center
Brevard Festival Orchestra
Dean Anthony, stage director
Steven White, conductor
GIUSEPPE VERDI La Traviata
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Auditorium seating is reserved.
Collie Buddz will be performing LIVE on the Indoor Stage at Salvage Station on Thursday, June 29th, 2023 along with Sammy Adams! Doors open at 7PM and the music starts at 8PM. This is a General Admission, 18+ show (no exceptions). FREE PARKING!
Root Down will be serving their delicious twist on Southern Soul food and we’ll have a few rotating food trucks on-site as well! There will also be MULTIPLE full bars open for you to enjoy!
AGE LIMIT: Must be 18 or Older
– ALL AGES
– SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE
Greg Ruby, Don Stiernberg, Evan Price and Kevin Kehrberg will bring their unique tapestry of acoustic string swing to the Grey Eagle on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Performing work from their latest record “Rhythm Twist,” they will weave together elements of Hot Club jazz, mando-bop and old school swing – all on an acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin and upright bass.
With Greg from New York, Don from Chicago, Evan from San Francisco and Kevin from Asheville, the four have collaborated every summer while in residency as teaching staff at the Swannanoa Gathering. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from getting together so instead they created a remote record – “Rhythm Twist”. Each musician composed one song and arranged two others. Passing charts, tracks and ideas between them, they created something unique and collective. Guitarist Greg Ruby states, “not only did this project help us maintain a sense of sanity and ground us in creativity, it kept us in touch with each other while riding out a very strange period of human history.”
“Spontaneity, conversation, and swingin’ good vibes” – The Mandolin Café
LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.
Scholarships are available! Qualifications include:
- Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
- Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
- Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)
To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].
Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.
In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.
Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.
• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)
• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience
• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording
• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)
• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace
Register for Summer Camps
Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.
This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members
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.
– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
KIM SMITH
Kim Smith is a singer-songwriter/collaborator based out of Asheville, North Carolina. “Songwriting is not just a passion, it’s an expression and extension of myself in the most vulnerable and strongest times.” Kim continues to record and release songs produced by Asheville-based Chris Rosser as well as Nashville-based Dean Miller.
The beats of the Friday Night Drum Circle have been rocking Pritchard Park for decades and the circle has become so popular that it is featured in magazines and TV commercials.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be performing LIVE on the Outdoor Stage at Salvage Station on Friday, June 30th, 2023 with Of Good Nature opening the show, and Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers closing the night out on the indoor stage! Doors open at 5:30 PM and the music starts at 6:30 PM. 12+ ONLY (no exceptions)! PAID ON-SITE PARKING opens at 4:30 PM and our FREE shuttle service to our satellite lots will be available. Root Down will be serving their delicious twist on Southern Soul food PLUS we will have several food trucks and FULL bars open for you to enjoy!
Camping chairs are welcome for this event.
The Friday Night Music series will present the familiar 50’s and 60’s
classic rock and beach music from a host of different bands. Food vendors like Babbles Ice
Cream, Blue Ridge Hospitality and Eggs Up Grill will provide a some spice. The Carolina
Mountain Car Club will participate as in years past.
Friday Night Concerts
Super 60’s June 9
Gotcha Groove June 16
It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere June 23
Marsha Morgan June 30
Shades of Gray July 7
Thomas Brown July 14
Emporium July 21
Johnnie Blackwell Band July 28
Rock and Roll Reunion August 4
208 Army Band August 11
Night Moves Band August 18
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
Kenny George Band
Music’s elders and icons established the initial template for Rock ‘n’ Roll, but it’s the newer generation that keeps it thriving and moving forward. So credit the Kenny George Band for doing exactly that. Comprised of Kenny George (lead guitar, vocals, songwriter), Randy Borawski (drums, harmony vocals), Center Ely (steel guitar), and Brooks Andrews (bass) this hardworking ensemble has earned their stripes the hard way. Performing an average of 100 shows per year throughout the heartland, they bring their music to the masses one gig at a time. “Our goal has always been to connect with our audiences,” George insists. “Our music is honest and organic, and we deliberately avoid pretense. We may seem like a ragtag bunch, but there’s a passion, purpose and sincerity that underscores everything we do, and hopefully that’s apparent even the first time you hear us play.”
The group can further be described as a country, southern rock and folk band, owing as much to Waylon and Willie as they do modern archetypes such as Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson. Hailing from Aiken, South Carolina, the Kenny George Band has created an indelible impression with fans throughout the Southeast and Midwest. They’ve traveled the highways and byways between North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Missouri, reconnecting with their fervent followers and picking up new fans along the way.
BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart leads the BMCO in Béla Bartók’s virtuosic showpiece Concerto for Orchestra. Maestro Lockhart opens the program with Gabriela Lena Frank’s spirited Three Latin American Dances, and renowned pianist and BMC Artist Faculty member Norman Krieger joins the orchestra in Manuel de Falla’s lyrical Nights in the Gardens of Spain.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Music Center Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Norman Krieger, piano
GABRIELA LENA FRANK Three Latin American Dances
MANUEL DE FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain
BÉLA BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra
Lead Sponsor: Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations
Auditorium seating is reserved. Lawn seating is general admission.
A fresh take on a timeless classic, perfect for the whole family. With great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. Inspired by the acclaimed teleplay starring Whitney Houston and Brandy, this version of the magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance.
This will be a one-of-a-kind show ….. unlike anything you’ve seen before !!!!!
Don’t miss this special event .
Kerrville New Folk winner John John Brown is bringing giant comics and iconic photographs to the stage. Titled Songs, Stories, & Art- Lessons from Strangers, this original project weaves together storytelling songs and the visual arts in a live performance. Throughout the concert, Brown takes the listener inside the lives of 14 unique characters, while strumming his guitar and singing beside a projected graphic story. Unfolding is an imaginative and colorful world revealing the idea that all people, strangers alike, have a story we can learn from.
“A melting pot of humor, longing, satire, and hope, Brown invites us to explore the peculiar lives of individuals that, like us, don’t always have it easy but manage to persist despite life’s impending trials.”- Music Mecca
“An imaginative musical performance woven into a unique visual experience”– Gallery 25
With his guitar in hand, John John may have found a new way to sing a song. Above all, he stays rooted in the soil of a good story.
CLICK HERE to learn more about John John Brown and the amazing show he’s bringing to the White Horse stage.
Is a Chilean singer & songwriter based in North Carolina, USA
Her sound is easily identified by her soft and firm vocal tones. Mostly her music stands out in the reggae genre, clearly noticing her Latin roots as well as her vocal accents influenced by genres such as Blues, Roots, Rocksteady among others.
vocalist of “Jahlistic” in which 3 members including herself are South
Americans.
develop his sounds and beliefs.
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
The Grateful Brothers pay tribute to two of the richest catalogs of music in American history: The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band.
Formed in early 2016, The Grateful Brothers combine the catalogs of The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead. Often intertwining songs through segues and transitions, they carry out the improvisational spirit of the two groups in their own space. They use the songs as more of a template rather than adhering to strict album-style covers, creating a unique, high-energy, and genuine crowd experience at every performance. The seven musicians making up the band have known each other and played in various outfits with one another for upwards of twenty years. The camaraderie between them is obvious and the familiarity leads to the ease of musical exploration.
LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.
Scholarships are available! Qualifications include:
- Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
- Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
- Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)
To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].
Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.
In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.
Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.
• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)
• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience
• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording
• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)
• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace
Register for Summer Camps
Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.
This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members
Ooh La La Curiosity Market is an artist’s market that takes place in Pritchard Park, located in the center of beautiful downtown Asheville and will showcase the work of more than a dozen local artists. Taking place on Saturdays throughout Summer and every Saturday in October. Ooh La La will feature works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters, up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic and jazz acts.
A fresh take on a timeless classic, perfect for the whole family. With great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. Inspired by the acclaimed teleplay starring Whitney Houston and Brandy, this version of the magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance.
Romance. Tragedy. Passion. Parties! Filled with timeless melodies, iconic arias, and an unforgettable score, Violetta and Alfredo’s love story will transport you to a bygone era. Join BMC’s Janiec Opera Company and see why Verdi’s La Traviata is the world’s most beloved opera.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center
Brevard Festival Orchestra
Dean Anthony, stage director
Steven White, conductor
GIUSEPPE VERDI La Traviata
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Auditorium seating is reserved.
Food Trucks, Art Vendors, Live Music and more!
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
THE SCATTERLINGS
The Scatterlings are a three-piece acoustic/Americana band based in Asheville, North Carolina. The members share a fondness for songs about heartbreak, whiskey, and killings, although they promise they are actually all very peaceful people. Many of their original songs offer masterful personal storytelling, while others are steeped deep in local history.
The Scatterlings are: Elfy Kornfeld on lead vocals and baritone ukulele, Brad Pope on guitar and mandolin, Kevin Gary on guitar, mandolin, and harmony vocals
The Scatterlings have released two albums–‘Being Human’ and ‘The Scatterlings’
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.
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
is a lively and extremely danceable world percussion ensemble based in Asheville, NC, that has been playing around the Southeast for over a decade. Their music is played on an array of large wooden African-style marimbas, accompanied by hand percussion and drum kit. Chikomo Marimba is known for their high-energy, tight arrangements, and infectiously joyful grooves. They are sure to get people of all ages up and shaking their bodies!
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.
all ages welcome
Steep Canyon Rangers will be performing LIVE on the Outdoor Stage at Salvage Station on Saturday, July 1st , 2023 with Jon Stickley Trio opening the show! Doors open at 6PM and the music starts at 7PM. This is a General Admission, All-ages (kids under 7 are free; all others must have a ticket).
Root Down will be serving their delicious twist on Southern Soul food, along with a couple of other amazing local food trucks on-site (and, of course, we’ll have several full bars open for you to enjoy)!
Yue Bao, the Houston Symphony’s electric young Assistant Conductor, makes her Brevard debut with Rachmaninoff’s driving and rhythmic Symphonic Dances. Bao has conducted orchestras from Chicago to Shanghai, and shares her international perspective with the Brevard Sinfonia.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Sinfonia
Yue Bao, conductor
Chad Hoopes, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK An American Port of Call
W.A. MOZART Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major, K. 364
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Auditorium seating is reserved. Lawn seating is general admission.