LEAF isn’t just for kids! Join us in the Mezzanine while you wait for your youth to finish their class or just to hang out!

Demo Day is coming Tuesday, October 24, 2023! Stay tuned for more details.

Please join Venture Asheville’s Elevate entrepreneurs for a fast-paced, high-energy Demo Day. Hear pitches from startups that are investment-ready and actively raising capital.

For more information on the Elevate program visit VentureAsheville.com/Elevate

A ticket and registration is required.

American Patchwork Quartet (APQ) is on a mission to reclaim the immigrant soul of American Roots Music. With several Grammy awards among its members, APQ brings together diverse backgrounds and talents to reimagine timeless songs from America’s past. By weaving together the music, stories, and experiences of many people, APQ creates a beautiful musical tapestry that draws connections between contemporary American culture and its immigrant roots. Their repertoire includes expert reimaginings of classic songs such as “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Pretty Saro,” and “Beneath the Willow.”

Conceived by Clay Ross, a multi-Grammy award-winning musician known for his work with Ranky Tanky, APQ represents an earnest effort to reconcile traditional Southern roots with decades of experience collaborating in New York City’s jazz and world music scenes. With a sound that blends jazz refinement, country twang, West African hypnotics, and East Asian ornaments, APQ creates a musical patchwork that celebrates both differences and commonalities, serving as a metaphor for a more inclusive nation.

Since launching in 2020, APQ has covered nearly 20,000 miles together. Their impressive credentials include collaborating with prestigious cultural institutions such as Carnegie Hall in NYC, Forbes Center in VA, Weis Center in PA, and Walton Center in AR. The group made their international festival debut in 2022 at the World Expo in UAE. APQ has received both residency and touring grants from South Arts and Mid-Atlantic Arts, and they have been selected as official showcasing artists at Western Arts Alliance, Arts Midwest, NC Arts Market, and Folk Alliance. Their debut album, recorded at Echo Mountain Studio’s in Asheville, NC will be released in Fall of 2023.

Coco Live-to-Film Concert features a screening of the complete Disney Pixar film with Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s musical score performed live by the 20-member Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México. In addition to the original score by Giacchino, “Coco” also features the Oscar®-winning song “Remember Me” by Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina. Audiences will travel with Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) on his extraordinary journey to the colorful Land of the Dead to unlock the real story behind his family’s history set to a live orchestra.

Disney Pixar Coco es un evento especial que no te puedes perder. El evento consta de la proyección de la película, mientras la Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México interpreta la música  del compositor ganador del Oscar® y el Grammy®, Michael Giacchino, en vivo. Además de la música original de Giacchino, “Coco” también incluye la canción ganadora del Oscar® “Remember Me” de los compositores ganadores del Oscar Kristen Anderson-Lopez y Robert Lopez, así como otras canciones coescritas por Germaine Franco y el codirector y guionista Adrian Molina. La voz original de Miguel, Anthony Gonzalez, transportara a los espectadores a la colorida Tierra de los Muertos, para descubrir la verdadera historia de su familia.

About the Movie: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Disney and Pixar’s Coco is directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist Monsters University) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3).

The Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México of the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México by Silvia Lozano, is a musical group that stands out for its ability to fuse pre-Hispanic instruments with instruments from the colonial era, thus creating a unique and distinctive sound that evokes the rich history and culture of Mexico.

This orchestra is made up of expert musicians who are highly trained in the interpretation of a wide variety of genres and styles of Mexican folk music, such as Mariachi music, Jarana music, Son music, and Huapango music, among others. In addition, their repertoire includes songs and instrumental pieces dating from pre-Hispanic and colonial times, which allows them to connect with the country’s historical and cultural roots.

Among the instruments used by the Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México are traditional pre-Hispanic drums, such as the “Huehuetl “and “Tepobaztli”, as well as flutes, “Ocarinas” and other pre-Hispanic wind instruments. They also use guitars, violins, double basses, and other stringed instruments that date back to colonial times, resulting in a unique and surprising sound combination.

In conjunction with the dancers of the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México by Silvia Lozano, the Orquesta Folclórica manages to transmit to the public the energy, passion, and diversity of Mexican culture through its music and dance, creating an authentic and exciting experience for all those who have the pleasure of enjoying the show.

Join us at Keynote Speechcrafters and

Discover the
Joy of
Public Speaking!

It’s natural to enjoy things you do well,
and you will get good at this.

Our members are committed to meeting each week because

steady progress
requires
steady practice.

Our motto:

When you show up
You speak
Every meeting
Every week

So come join us at the South Buncombe Library on Wednesday evenings and prepare to become a better you.

Please Click here to let us know you are coming.

Guests are always welcome. We look forward to speaking with you!

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.

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.

Business After Hours

Join us for an evening with folk trio Palmyra at Citizen Vinyl on Thursday, October 26.
7 p.m. show / 6 p.m. doors. $15 advance / $20 at the door. Neo-folk songwriter and performer Vandiver opens the show.

Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and foot percussion. In 2022, Palmyra made their Newport Folk Festival debut, were named the FloydFest 2022 On The Rise Winner, and performed over 200 tour dates on acclaimed stages up and down the East Coast. The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them). Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each live performance.

Vandiver is the moniker of Asheville Neo-folk songwriter and performer, Andrew Hammond. Born and raised In Hall County Georgia at the southern tip of Appalachia, Vandiver would find its musical beginnings farther north, in Brooklyn, NY. A bit of alchemy happens when a gentle folk singer is wrung through the cogs of a hundred apathetic gutter punk dive bars. Vandiver’s nylon stringed guitar and his meticulous “every word counts” approach to songwriting, support a soulful, delicate and explosive vocal show. Since the release of the What May Rot EP, and a move to the vibrant music scene of Asheville, NC. Vandiver’s music has leaned even deeper into the support of its Appalachian roots.

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

The most sought after trio in the world, the Grammy nominated Eroica Trio enraptures audiences with flawless technical virtuosity, irresistible enthusiasm and sensual elegance. The three women who make up this celebrated ensemble electrify the concert stage with their passionate performances. The New York Times writes, “There is an edge of the seat intensity to every note they produce.”

The Trio won the prestigious Naumburg Award, resulting in a highly successful Lincoln Center debut and has since toured the United States, Europe, Middle East, South America and Asia. While maintaining their demanding concert schedule, the Eroica Trio has released eight critically lauded recordings for Angel/EMI classics Records, garnering them multiple Grammy nominations. The first all female chamber ensemble to reach the top echelon of the field, the women of the Eroica Trio have shattered the age-old gender barrier, leading the vanguard and inspiring many to follow.

ARTISTS

Erika Nickrenz, piano
Sara Parkins, violin
Sara Sant’Ambrogio, cello

Auditorium seating is reserved.

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.

Local Crafts

Food Trucks

Music

This virtuosic fiddler blends traditional Irish music with jazz, bluegrass and other world influences to deliver a musical experience like no other. Through dynamic playing, adept improvisation and soulful expression, Finn’s performances are an electrifying fusion of old and new, with masterful musicianship that’s earned him multiple appearances on MTV-U, PBS and NPR, as well as a spot in the All-Ireland Fiddle Championship finals.

Since forming in 2004, Lake Street Dive have matched their sophisticated musicianship with a fearless refusal to limit their sound. As shown on their most recent full-length album, 2021’s critically acclaimed Obviously, the Boston-bred band also possess a keen talent for combining sociopolitical commentary with immediately catchy pop gems. With their current lineup comprised of founding members Rachael Price (vocals), Bridget Kearney (bass), and Michael Calabrese (drums) — as well as keyboardist/vocalist Akie Bermiss and touring guitarist James Cornelison — Lake Street Dive continue to create joyously soulful rock & roll with equal parts ingenuity, intelligence, and irresistible abandon.

Although a certain spirited eclecticism has defined Lake Street Dive since their earliest days, the band’s four original members (including former guitarist/trumpet player Michael “McDuck” Olson) first crossed paths while studying jazz at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music. Their full-length debut In This Episode… arrived in 2007, followed by three more independently released and rapturously received albums. As the band’s energetic live show continued to earn them a devoted following, Lake Street Dive made their Nonesuch Records debut with Side Pony: a 2016 effort that instantly shot to No. 1 on three Billboard charts and later landed on Paste’s 50 Best Albums of 2016 list. The following year, the group experienced a new infusion of creative energy with the addition of Bermiss (previously their touring keyboardist), who has since begun sharing writing and arrangement duties. Arriving in 2018, Lake Street Dive’s self-produced sixth album Free Yourself Up debuted in the top ten on the Billboard 200 and spent seven-and-a-half months on the non-commercial radio charts, with the smoldering hit single “Good Kisser” holding steady in the top five at Americana radio for over a month.

In recent years, Lake Street Dive have brought even more boldness to their kaleidoscopic sound while deliberately expanding their songcraft. To that end, Obviously finds the band examining such complex matters as gender inequality (on “Being a Woman”) and the monumental challenges faced by younger generations (on “Making Do”), shaping each track with a profound intentionality and ineffable mastery of melody and groove — a process Price refers to as “putting these messages into three and a half minute snippets, dropping whatever truth we can and hoping it’s the type of thing that people want to ruminate on.” Made with producer Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Mary J. Blige), the result is an endlessly illuminating body of work that’s earned praise from the likes of Rolling Stone (who noted that “[a]t a moment when pop strives for lo-fi, solitary-world intimacy, the jazz-pop-whatever band refuse to think small”).

Last fall, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their first covers EP, Lake Street Dive released Fun Machine: The Sequel, a 6-track EP of cover songs produced by Robin MacMillan and recorded at Figure 8 Recording in Brooklyn and Lucy’s Meat Market in Los Angeles. This new collection of songs reveals what makes the group so unique and their curations so special. Lake Street Dive don’t just inhabit these interpretations; they knock the walls down, re-finish the floors, and on some of them add a new room or two — it’s a way to both acknowledge their inspirations while also advancing their own musical foundation, inspiring a new generation of fans along the way. And as always, it’s their signature combination of immaculate musicianship, exceptional, inventive chops, and free-wheeling, playful sense of fun and originality leading the way.

Over the years, they’ve captivated massive audiences at such esteemed festivals as Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Toronto Jazz Festival, in addition to headlining tours all across the globe and sharing stages with acts like Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow. And through their fierce commitment to constantly elevating their artistry, Lake Street Dive have ultimately emerged as one of the most compelling voices in alternative music today, both reliably sublime and thrilling unpredictable.

Noah Reid has earned a permanent place in the music industry as a result of his powerful vocals and honest delivery. Evident on his debut album Songs from a Broken Chair (2016), sophomore album Gemini (2020) and his highly-anticipated third album Adjustments (2022), which collectively have garnered over 180 million streams, two nominations at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards in the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘New/Emerging Artist of the Year’ categories and landed Noah on four Billboard charts. Reid’s songwriting style is reminiscent of singer-songwriters of the seventies but with a contemporary twist, resulting in a signature polished, albeit slightly rusted over, tone.

As an actor, Reid is best known for playing ‘Patrick’ in the Emmy-winning comedy series Schitt’s Creek, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with the cast, for ‘Best Ensemble.’ In 2022 he was seen in Brian Watkins’ Amazon series Outer Range opposite Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots and Lewis Pullman and wrapped up his Broadway debut as the lead of Tracy Letts’ Tony-nominated play The Minutes, which received rave reviews.

On his third album Adjustments, singer-songwriter Noah Reid documents the kind of minor schisms and major upheavals that leave our lives forever altered. Endlessly revealing the nuance and character of his voice, the Toronto-bred artist imbues his incisive storytelling with a potent expression of unease and frustration and ineffable wonder—an emotional complexity perfectly echoed in the album’s elegantly orchestrated yet unpredictable form of alt-rock. At a time when turmoil feels strangely commonplace, Adjustments ultimately allows for a moment of quiet transcendence within the chaos, wholly transforming the very texture of our experience.

“I wrote this album during a transitional period where a lot of tectonic shifts were taking place in my life,” says Reid, also an accomplished actor known for his role as Patrick on the award-winning series Schitt’s Creek. “I was getting married, Schitt’s Creek was coming to an end, the pandemic was beginning—some of the changes were more internal and others were more at the societal level, but they all involved a shift in my thinking about the world around me.”

Recorded live at Toronto’s Union Sound Company and produced by Juno Award nominee Matthew Barber (who also helmed Reid’s 2016 debut album Songs from a Broken Chair and its 2020 follow-up Gemini), Adjustments came to life over a series of sessions with musicians like guitarist Christine Bougie (Bahamas, Amy Millan), drummer Joshua Van Tassel (Great Lake Swimmers, Amelia Curran), and trumpet player Bryden Baird (Feist, Ron Sexsmith). On the album-opening lead single “Everyday,” Reid offers a sublime introduction to the expansive sonic world of Adjustments, sharply contrasting the song’s heavy-hearted mood with bright guitar tones and effervescent melodies. “I wrote that song in the early days of the pandemic, when I’d look out the window at this park that’s usually full of kids and families but now was totally desolate,” says Reid. “It came from a feeling of being forced into a sort of loneliness, and not really knowing what to do about that.” With its ethereal textures and swooning steel guitar, the piano-driven “Left Behind” speaks to the bittersweet freedom of living life at your own unhurried pace. Meanwhile, on “Rivers Underground,” Reid presents a gorgeously tender meditation on love and luck and risk, amplifying the track’s intensity with a luminous string arrangement courtesy of Drew Jurecka (a Grammy-nominated composer who’s worked with Buffy Sainte-Marie and The Weather Station). “My wife Clare and I have talked at various points about how easy it would’ve been for us not to find our way to each other,” says Reid. “Writing that song, I was thinking about how Toronto’s built on all these underground creeks and rivers, and how that’s a good metaphor for the strangeness of human connection—these waters trying to find their way out to the lake, flowing together or ending up apart.”

One of the most galvanizing moments on Adjustments, “Statue’s in the Stone” begins as a weary lament for the state of the human heart (“We treat it like it’s all infinite/And we throw it all away”), then unfolds into a soul-stirring anthem lit up in lush harmonies and incandescent horns. “We live in a very judgmental time, where social media really highlights this urge to tear each other down,” says Reid. “But I think if we looked inside ourselves with any kind of honesty, we’d realize that what we need is within us, and we’d be able to lead with a little more love and kindness.” Several songs later, Adjustments closes out with the thrilling catharsis of “Everything’s Fine”: an eight-minute epic that reaches an ecstatic frenzy at its gloriously sprawling, guitar-drenched bridge. “Over the past few years it seems like we’re simultaneously being told everything’s fine and absolutely nothing is fine, and it can be so hard to tell what’s real,” says Reid. “That song came from the confusion of that, and in the studio we decided to just to let the band rip and completely burn the house down.”

A longtime musician who began composing melodies on piano as a child and later developed his songcraft while studying at the National Theatre School of Canada, Reid infuses all of Adjustments with the clarifying directness of a close conversation—yet unfailingly demonstrates a poet’s ability to draw immense meaning from the most granular details. As a result, the album abounds with warmly delivered wisdom—an element that’s illuminating for both audience and artist alike. “Sometimes a line will jump out of my mouth when I’m out on a walk or driving or alone in my house playing piano or guitar, and I’ll just to try to follow that line wherever it takes me,” says Reid in discussing his creative process. “I often don’t really understand what I’m saying as I’m saying it, but then I’ll listen back later on and go, ‘Oh, okay—that was useful.’ This record has definitely done that for me, and I hope it will keep on talking to me over time.”