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.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Cinderella Magic Package
May 16 all-day
online w/ Flat Rock Playhouse

We are excited to bring this special package to you and your loved ones. It’s super easy!

  1. Pick your show date – June 14, 17, 21, 24 (Evening only)
  2. Choose 2 Adult Seats and 2 Student Seats
  3. At Checkout, discount will be applied

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

Your wish is granted!

TICKETS + INFO

If you have any problems, our Box Office is happy to help!

828.693.0731

Tryon Fine Arts Center Summer Art Camps Registration Open
May 16 all-day
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) Camp
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) 2023
June 19 – 23
Our Summer Arts Camp is a one-week encounter with visual as well as performing arts. Our campers will be given the flexibility to choose their own art experience. They may want to dabble in the performing arts or take part in the visual arts or perhaps do a bit of both.
Ages 5 – 12 years. Cost: $180 – $225
PacJAM Camp
PacJAM Camp 2023
June 26 -30
Students will experience group lessons, jams, music theory, traditional art, songs, stories, and dancing, with an impressive lineup of regular and guest artists. Scholarships and instrument rentals are available.
Ages 6 year and up. Cost: $150
Theater Camp
Theater Camp 2023
July 31 – August 5
Presented in collaboration with Tryon Little Theater, the annual Summer Theater Camp allows students to put on a fully-staged production in just one week! Students learn about the ins and outs of theater-from auditions Monday morning to a fully-staged public show with lights, sound, sets,
props & costumes on Saturday!
Cost: $180 – $225
Circle ‘Round the Music with Kindermusik and the Asheville Symphony– West Asheville Library
May 16 @ 10:00 am
West Asheville Public Library

In May the Asheville Symphony will once again present their annual Mozart festival, Asheville Amadeus. The Library will host three kindermusik events at Pack Library, West Asheville and Skyland Libraries in conjunction with the Asheville Amadeus Festival.

Kindermusik educator, Yvette Odell, will present Circle ‘Round the Music for kids, a music and movement program for preschool age children. “Ms. Yvette” — as she is known to many young children in the Asheville area — will introduce a live string quartet at each informal event, a special opportunity for very young children to get an up-close experience with music-making. Ms. Yvette will lead families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers in singing and dancing along with the string quartet.

These events are free and no sign up is required. This program is presented by Weetunes, an education program of the Asheville Symphony, and Buncombe County Public Libraries. Recommended for ages birth to five.

PATIO: MANY A SHIP
May 16 @ 5:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

MANY A SHIP

 

Many a Ship is an indie-folk-rock band deeply rooted in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Formed in 2017, this group of musical friends united to craft a new sound, drenched in inspiration from nature, humanity, frailty and nostalgia. Many a Ship features Vickie Burick (Warm the Bell, Nevada) on vocals, guitar, songwriting; Josh Gibbs (Dave Desmelik, Velvet Truckstop) on lap steel and Andy Gibbon (Dave Desmelik) on bass. Collectively their music is a sea of stories about life, love, heartache, truth and hope. Their love and respect for each other as well as the music they create is palpable. The group released their debut full length album “Sturdy Little Boat” in December 2019. Many a Ship has been interviewed/featured on Asheville and regional radio stations including 103.3 WPVM, 98.1 The River, BuzzRadioAsheville and 88.7 WNCW, as well as streaming platforms world wide. Airtime songs include “Sturdy Little Boat”, “Belong here”, “All the Pretty Birds”, “Butterfly” and “ We All Fall Down”.

 

many a shiplast night in our rocking chairsunder starsclouds pushing up like wavesin the deep blue seaeach time tilting backmy heart open to the skywith music sounding from thewooden slats beneathlifting like fireflies, like sparks from a flamerising into the airone star the portanother the bowurging the clouds into waves of the seamany a ship have set sail in these watersmany a ship yet to be            (sowers/burick)
I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. FEATURING ALEX MEIXNER with The HawtThorns
May 16 @ 7:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– SEATED SHOW

– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

I SEE HAWKS IN L.A.

I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. are Southern California’s leading Americana/folk rock band, with ten critically acclaimed releases and consistently high Americana radio charting. Countless miles and bars and festivals from the Mojave desert to the Carolinas to UK and Europe have earned an enduring global following. “We thrive in the margins,” say the Hawks. They’ve emerged from pan isolation with a stronger live show than ever, with a busy 2022 including a headliner slot at fall’s Kerrville Folk Festival. Their latest release “On Our Way” has perhaps the best reviews of the band’s career:

“Glorious.” — Nigel Williamson, UNCUT

“The quartet is all breathing as one, and the clear night sky full of stars is the limit. Listen and hear not only what has come before, but what is also right around the next bend. See the Hawks.” — Bill Bentley, Americana Highways

Formed in 1999 by Rob Waller and brothers Paul and Anthony Lacques during a philosophical discussion and rock throwing session on an East Mojave desert trek, I See Hawks In L.A. first gathered on the front porch in Echo Park, Los Angeles, drank whiskey and wrote their first batch of songs. They sought advice from local country rock guru David Jackson (John Denver, Dillard & Clark, Emmylou Harris). Jackson promptly joined the Hawks for their first recording, featuring legendary fiddler Brantley Kearns (Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin). The CD established the Hawks signature sound: dense three part harmonies, innovative telecaster and steel, and also unadorned all acoustic songs, musing on mortality, whales, and the geography of preapocalyptic L.A.

ALEX MEIXNER (sitting in with I See Hawks in L.A.)
Alex Meixner is a nationally acclaimed musician, performer, bandleader, educator and a leading advocate of polka music. Formally trained in classical, jazz and ethnic music, Alex has cross-pollinated his versatile playing styles through pop music, funk, jazz and polka. He is an active ambassador for polka music, revitalizing interest coast to coast resulting in sold out shows, renewed cultural interest, and growing mainstream acceptance. For Alex, it’s more than playing energetic shows; it is a mission to provide a much needed positive experience that pulls communities together to celebrate history, culture and genuinely good times.

THE HAWTTHORNS

An Americana band whose sun-kissed songwriting, versatile guitar work, and lush vocal harmonies evoke the California coastline as much as the Bible Belt countryside, the HawtThorns are rooted in the collaborative chemistry of husband-and-wife duo KP and Johnny Hawthorn. Both have had celebrated solo careers and were members of LA based touring bands. That chemistry reaches a new peak with Tarot Cards and Shooting Stars, which marks the band’s second collection of hook-driven country-rock and amplified Americana. Recorded in both L.A. and Nashville, it nods to both sides of the group’s geographic and musical roots. 

Asheville Amadeus Festival presents BÉLA FLECK WITH THE OPAL STRING QUARTET
May 16 @ 8:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

A highlight of the Asheville Chamber Music Series 2022/2023 season is the performance of world-renowned banjoist, Béla Fleck, performing his original work, The Night Flight Over Water with members of the Opal String Quartet. “Mr. Fleck can lay claim to the title of the most popular living banjoist, having done much to push the instrument beyond the bluegrass terra firma into jazz, classical and beyond.” — The New York Times

Begun in Asheville in 2006, the Opal String Quartet is the only local ensemble of its kind, performing masterworks of the string quartet repertoire and collaborating with living composers to premiere new works.

This performance is part of Asheville Amadeus.

Program includes:

Ernest Bloch, Prelude

Florence Price, String Quartet No. 2, mvmts 3 & 4

Caroline Shaw, Entr’acte (2011) 11′

Jessie Montgomery, Strum

Bela Fleck, Night Flight Over Water

Date(s):

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Tryon Fine Arts Center Summer Art Camps Registration Open
May 17 all-day
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) Camp
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) 2023
June 19 – 23
Our Summer Arts Camp is a one-week encounter with visual as well as performing arts. Our campers will be given the flexibility to choose their own art experience. They may want to dabble in the performing arts or take part in the visual arts or perhaps do a bit of both.
Ages 5 – 12 years. Cost: $180 – $225
PacJAM Camp
PacJAM Camp 2023
June 26 -30
Students will experience group lessons, jams, music theory, traditional art, songs, stories, and dancing, with an impressive lineup of regular and guest artists. Scholarships and instrument rentals are available.
Ages 6 year and up. Cost: $150
Theater Camp
Theater Camp 2023
July 31 – August 5
Presented in collaboration with Tryon Little Theater, the annual Summer Theater Camp allows students to put on a fully-staged production in just one week! Students learn about the ins and outs of theater-from auditions Monday morning to a fully-staged public show with lights, sound, sets,
props & costumes on Saturday!
Cost: $180 – $225
Steel Magnolias
May 17 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” Written in just 10 days as a tribute to his sister Susan by playwright Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. Filled with hilarious repartee and humorously acerbic verbal lacerations, the play deepens when the spunky Shelby (who is diabetic) contradicts her doctor’s advice and risks pregnancy. Steel Magnolias exemplifies the universal and unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love.

PATIO: STRAWHOUSE, OLD WEATHER AND TAYLOR KNIGHTON
May 17 @ 5:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

STRAWHOUSE
A band based out of Asheville, NC that weaves the musicial leanings of Joey Lee Intermingling Folk, Rock, Americana, Country, and Pop writing into a style that catches your ears and sticks with you. Crafting songs starting in the Latter half of 2020, Strawhouse was built upon the prior experience playing in other projects throughout the years. With a thought provoking and soulful vocal style as well as the skillifill guitar playing of Joey Lee , Strawhouse is bringing you our brand of Folk Rock right to you.

OLD WEATHER

Absolved by time, an instinctive design. Inspired by shape and shade, shadow and line; a boy in a world left to the utterly blind.

 

An unknower of truth and seeker of mind, the unsung story of the gracious sublime.TAYLOR KNIGHTON
Singer-songwriter Taylor Knighton grew up on the Gulf Coast but now calls the mountains of Western North Carolina home. Her musical stylings reflect her southern roots, with plenty of twang, a big heartfelt voice, and a sweet pop influence. She likes to incorporate her love of mythology and folk tales into her songwriting, telling timeless stories with a fresh, fun spin.

Improv Level One: Communicate. Collaborate. Play
May 17 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Whitmire Activity Center

Enrollment is now open for two adult improvisation acting classes offered by Hendersonville Theatre (HT). Classes will be taught by professional improvisation actor and comedian Emily Swindal. Both classes are open to anyone over the age of 18, regardless of experience level.

Improv Level One: Communicate. Collaborate. Play. meets on Wednesdays from April 5 to May 24. Tuition is $180. In the class, students will work at getting comfortable on stage while having fun doing it. Students will learn to have compassion for themselves and their classmates as performers as they learn the fundamentals of improvisation and develop support and spontaneity. Together, they will learn the importance of “yes-and-ing,” heightening the absurdity and raising the stakes. They will also cover the differences between short form and long form improv. This is a short form class similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?

AN EVENING WITH RIKI RACHTMAN: ONE FOOT IN THE GUTTER
May 17 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– AGES 18+
– FULLY SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

RIKI RACHTMAN

After his hugely successful spoken word show debut in Charlotte, North Carolina in September, Cathouse founder and former host of Headbangers Ball,  Riki Rachtman will take One Foot In The Gutter on the road. An intimate evening of stories, tales and true life fables from Riki himself…from growing up in Hollywood, to all the raunch roll sleaze and debauchery that happened at the Cathouse.  Never before has he shared his experiences of Headbangers Ball in an uncensored spoken word event.

 

In all the “Once In A Lifetime” moments he’s had, and he’s had A LOT, this spoken word show is a personal highlight

 

The former host of MTV’s legendary Headbanger’s Ball as well as the Founder of Hollywood’s most notorious rock club and epicenter of raunch, the infamous party place, the Cathouse, Riki did something he’s never done before:  appeared in front of a very large audience and told his stories…not only some never before shared stories of the early days with some of the biggest names in rock n roll, but he opened up with his tales of drug addiction, jail, bankruptcy and his true rags to riches to rags to riches story.

 

“One Foot In The Gutter,” is Riki’s very first speaking tour, the first time he’s discussed with an audience his career and past, how he helped define metal culture, and beyond.  Riki is uncensored, unapologetic and not at a loss for words.  What was it really like hanging with some of the biggest rock stars on the planet when the cameras weren’t on?  What really happened on MTV with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Ozzy and others?

 

Riki explains, “In my entire career, there is nothing that I am more proud of than this show. Walking out on stage was surreal for me. I was not introducing another band as I had done for decades. I was the opener and headliner. It was bizarre for me to realize that the packed house was there for me. The show was far more than a behind the scenes Headbanger’s Ball tell all. The show was not just the description of the raunch that happened at my club Cathouse.

 

I opened up about my battles with drugs, my arrests, bankruptcy and a lot of bad choices. To know that some found inspiration in this show is the highest form of flattery.”

 

“With one show done I am ready to do it again and again and again. I will incorporate multimedia more and deliver an experience with highs and low’s. The idea of taking OFITG on tour truly is not only a dream come true, but the highlight of my career”.

Steel Magnolias
May 17 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” Written in just 10 days as a tribute to his sister Susan by playwright Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. Filled with hilarious repartee and humorously acerbic verbal lacerations, the play deepens when the spunky Shelby (who is diabetic) contradicts her doctor’s advice and risks pregnancy. Steel Magnolias exemplifies the universal and unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love.

The Revolutionists (produced by Immediate Theatre Project)
May 17 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Company

By Lauren Gunderson

Produced by Immediate Theatre Project

Four badass women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. It’s a true story. Or total fiction. Or a play about a play. Or a raucous resurrection…that ends in a song and a scaffold.

From the people who brought you Silent Sky comes this grand and dream-tweaked comedy about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world.

 

Discretionary Content: Adult themes and badass ladies

HARI KONDABOLU
May 17 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
Ages 18+

FULLY SEATED SHOW

Hari Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn. The NY Times called him “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” and described his 2018 Netflix special Warn Your Relatives as “an incisively funny and formally adventurous hour that reveals a comic in command of his powers.” The special was named on many “Best of” lists, including for TimePaste MagazineCosmopolitan, E! Online, and Mashable. He was also named one of 2018’s “Comics To Watch” by Variety. Hari currently hosts the new Netflix food competition series Snack vs Chef along with Megan Stalter.

In 2017, his truTV documentary The Problem with Apu was released to critical acclaim and spurred a global conversation about race and representation. The Nation called it “a devastating critique of the ultimate comedic sacred cow: The Simpsons.” It is now used in high school, college and grad school curriculums around the US.

Hari has also released two comedy albums, Waiting for 2042 & Mainstream American Comic with legendary indie rock label Kill Rock Stars. Additionally, he has performed on such shows as ConanJimmy Kimmel Live, and The Late Show with David Letterman among many others. He is also a former writer & correspondent on the much loved, Chris Rock produced FX show Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.

A regular on the public radio, Hari is a panelist on the NPR game show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me. As a podcaster, he co-hosted the popular Politically Reactive with dear friend W. Kamau Bell. Additionally, he also co-hosts what he politely describes as a “pop up podcast,” The Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Podcast with his younger brother Ashok (“Dap” from HBO’s Chillin’ Island and defunct rap group Das Racist.)

Hari attended both Bowdoin College and Wesleyan University, graduating from the former institution with a B.A. in Comparative Politics. A former immigrant rights organizer in Seattle who worked under the leadership of now-Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Hari also earned a Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Economics in 2008. He was the “Artist In Residence” at NYU’s APA Institute for the 2014-2015 Academic Year and at Shangri La Museum in Honolulu in 2018.

Thursday, May 18, 2023
Cinderella Magic Package
May 18 all-day
online w/ Flat Rock Playhouse

We are excited to bring this special package to you and your loved ones. It’s super easy!

  1. Pick your show date – June 14, 17, 21, 24 (Evening only)
  2. Choose 2 Adult Seats and 2 Student Seats
  3. At Checkout, discount will be applied

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

Your wish is granted!

TICKETS + INFO

If you have any problems, our Box Office is happy to help!

828.693.0731

Tryon Fine Arts Center Summer Art Camps Registration Open
May 18 all-day
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) Camp
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) 2023
June 19 – 23
Our Summer Arts Camp is a one-week encounter with visual as well as performing arts. Our campers will be given the flexibility to choose their own art experience. They may want to dabble in the performing arts or take part in the visual arts or perhaps do a bit of both.
Ages 5 – 12 years. Cost: $180 – $225
PacJAM Camp
PacJAM Camp 2023
June 26 -30
Students will experience group lessons, jams, music theory, traditional art, songs, stories, and dancing, with an impressive lineup of regular and guest artists. Scholarships and instrument rentals are available.
Ages 6 year and up. Cost: $150
Theater Camp
Theater Camp 2023
July 31 – August 5
Presented in collaboration with Tryon Little Theater, the annual Summer Theater Camp allows students to put on a fully-staged production in just one week! Students learn about the ins and outs of theater-from auditions Monday morning to a fully-staged public show with lights, sound, sets,
props & costumes on Saturday!
Cost: $180 – $225
Steel Magnolias
May 18 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” Written in just 10 days as a tribute to his sister Susan by playwright Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. Filled with hilarious repartee and humorously acerbic verbal lacerations, the play deepens when the spunky Shelby (who is diabetic) contradicts her doctor’s advice and risks pregnancy. Steel Magnolias exemplifies the universal and unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love.

Wine Tasting with the Asheville Dulcimer Orchestra
May 18 @ 4:00 pm
Magnetic Theatre

Members of The Asheville Dulcimer Orchestra invite you to join them for an intimate wine tasting event with Metro Wines. Enjoy a range of repertoire, from Southern Appalachian tunes to Baroque and Classical pieces. Metro Wines’ wine experts will guide you through a curated selection of classic domestic wines. Join us for a truly unique wine tasting experience, pairing the life and loves of Mozart with a celebration of American culture.

American Art + Sound: An Evening of Innovators and Innovation
May 18 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Join The Asheville Art Museum and the Moogseum for an immersive evening exploring synergies between American Art and the pioneering sound of Moog synthesizers. These two organizations are collaborating to present a unique program examining ways material and form have been expressed within visual art objects and electronic sound. The program will include a live synthesizer performance and discussions centered around select works of art from the Museum’s collection.

PATIO: JOHN ALLEN KECK
May 18 @ 5:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

JOHN ALLEN KECK

John Allen Keck is originally from California, but now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. While living in California, John had a record deal with Epic in the 90s with his band “Hand of Fate.” John has played with people from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. His earlier stuff was Alternative Rock. John stopped playing music over 25 years ago, but started writing songs and playing again in 2018. John’s music is influenced by Tom Petty, U2, Jason Isbell, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and The Beatles. His EP, “Let You In” is his first release since “Hand of Fate.”

Rhythm + Brews Concert Series
May 18 @ 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
South Main Street

Rhythm & Brews Concert Series

 

Presented by Horizon Heating & Air, Rhythm & Brews Concert Series brings together live music, local craft beverages, and the community! These FREE shows take place on the third Thursday of every month from May-September, closing part of South Main Street to make room for all the fun. Local food trucks will line the street cooking delicious eats from kettle corn to pizza to barbecue. Each show begins with an opener at 5:30 p.m. followed by the headlining performance from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. 

May 18: Hawktail [[Bluegrass/Americana/String]] with Holler Choir [[Americana/String]]

June 15:  Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights [[Blues Rock/Southern Rock]] with Carolina Drifters [[Southern Rock]]

July 20: The Stooges Brass Band [[New Orleans Brass Band]] with Zydeco Ya Ya [[Zydeco/Cajun Swing]]

August 17: Fireside Collective [[Progressive Bluegrass]] with The Roving [[ Americana/Indie/Rock]]

September 21: Melissa Carper [[Americana/Western Swing]] with Angela Easterling & The Beguilers [[Singer/Songwriter]]

Beer & Wine Garden

Adults can sip Henderson County beverages from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Bold Rock Hard Cider, Guidon Brewing Co., Oklawaha Brewing Co., Dry Falls Brewery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, and Flat Rock Cider Company. 

All net proceeds from adult beverage sales will benefit the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville 501c3 nonprofit serving the Downtown Program, whose mission is to identify, preserve and enhance the key factors that contribute to the authentic small town urban character of historic downtown Hendersonville. 

 

Kids love Rhythm & Brews, too!  

For the youngest in the family, the Hendersonville Honeycrisps & the Hendersonville Toy Company Kid Zone will provide kid-friendly fun, including hula-hooping and activities provided by Hands On! Children’s Museum.

Camp chairs and picnic blankets are welcome. Please leave coolers and pets at home. 

R&B Super Fan Package  – LIMITED QUANTITIES REMAIN – Purchase here!

The R&B Super Fan Tent provides an enhanced experience with an exclusive, shaded viewing area including beer, wine, and refreshments. Individuals can become R&B Super Fans by purchasing a season package sponsorship for $200 per show. The package includes two sponsor tent tickets to each show and two R&B season t-shirts. By becoming a R&B Super Fan, you are supporting our 501c3 nonprofit organization Friends of Downtown Hendersonville. Your support will not only help sustain R&B, but all our other events as well, including Garden Jubilee, Hendersonville Farmers Market, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk, and more. The Super Fan Sponsor Tent is sponsored by B Squared Realty.

Volunteer

Looking for a fun volunteer opportunity? Lending your time at Rhythm & Brews is a great way to meet new people and get involved in a community event. Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form to get started. 

 

 

 


The Inclement Weather Policy is to delay each act by 30 minutes before moving onto the next act. If the headlining act is unable to perform by 8 p.m. the show will be cancelled. Follow the weather decisions on our Facebook page. 

Please leave your pets and coolers at home.  

 

Intro to Sketch
May 18 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Whitmire Activity Center

Want to know how to write like they do on SNL? Would you like to level up your comedy knowledge? Learn the basics of sketch comedy writing! We’ll talk about the history of sketch, and the differences between the famous sketch and improv schools based in NYC, Chicago, and LA. Want to learn about the crossover of skills practiced in sketch writing and improv? Are you interested in learning some of the differences between British and American humor? Are you curious about the similarities between sketch and satire? (Think: The Onion.) We’ll talk about it! We’ll read a variety of sketch scripts, break them down into parts, and learn the mechanics. We’ll watch a number of sketches together, practice identifying the formula, and specifically labeling what’s funny about them. We’ll also practice idea generation and pitching. Hold onto your hat!

About the Teacher

Emily Swindal lived in New York City for 8 years as an actor and improv comedian and relocated to Hendersonville during the pandemic. Emily has studied and performed improv and sketch comedy writing at NYC’s Magnet Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY. Emily has performed with an assortment of improv teams. Some of her past instructors include Elana Fishbein, Peter McNerney, Ross Taylor, Michael Lutton, and Nicole Drespel. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. Emily can’t wait to meet you.

Songs of the Folk Benefit Concert
May 18 @ 6:30 pm
Continuum ART

Doors open at 6:30pm
Music at 7:00pm
$10/person at the door
All proceeds from the cover will be donated directly to the Hendersonville Rescue Mission
All are welcome
The concert will celebrate the release of Songs of the Folk’s latest album, Sun-Scorched Land. Hear the full album live with drums, bass, & keys. CDs and new merch will be available for purchase.

Songs of the Folk is a music duo formed by A.T. and Lauren Cason, based out of Western North Carolina, who perform original music that incorporates folk revival and roots-based elements within an elevated art form that focuses on lyrical content, innovative harmony, and unique instrumental techniques.

“‘Is there a more aptly named musical act than Songs of the Folk? Their music recalls the beginnings of folk. Not early America, not Celtic troubadours, but the beginnings of music itself, when song was a tool to tell stories. When you hear a Songs of the Folk selection, you will be impressed with the harmonies and the instrumental skill, but what will stick with you are the stories. You kind of get the idea they are building a world, and you’re hearing the first scenes in something larger. They sing about someone in their community and you can’t help but picture the whole town, and the next song seems to exist in that same town. You look forward to the next tune like you do the next chapter of a book. One you don’t want to put down.” -Ron Taylor, WNC Original Music Podcast

The Darren Nicholson Band
May 18 @ 6:30 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

You can catch Darren almost every week sharing the music he loves somewhere, traveling both nationally and internationally – as a solo artist, with his own Darren Nicholson Band, or in collaboration with other musicians. With new music on the way, Darren is booking now for the 2023 season and beyond.

American Patchwork Quartet
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

These Grammy-recognized artists merge their diverse backgrounds and talents to reimagine timeless songs from America’s past. By weaving the music, stories and experiences of many cultures into a beautiful musical tapestry, APQ draws connections between the nation’s contemporary culture and its immigrant roots, celebrating all that makes us different through the songs that bring us together, with selections such as “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Pretty Saro” and “Beneath the Willow.”

Presented as part of the 2023 Asheville Amadeus Festival in partnership with the Asheville Symphony.

Engage with the Musicians

Intro to Indian Music Master ClassLearn about different styles of Indian music with “Rini” Raghavan. May 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Henry LaBrun Studio. Learn more and register.

ANDREW DUHON + ABE PARTRIDGE
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

ANDREW DUHON

It was Leo Tolstoy who said “All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town,” and in the case of Andrew Duhon and his latest album Emerald Blue, both instances are true. Duhon temporarily left New Orleans, his longtime home and musical muse in 2019, finding himself inspired by the landscape of the Pacific Northwest and notably, its colors—a hue he describes as ‘emerald blue’ for which the album is named, the same shade looking back at him in his partner’s eyes. Had he overlooked the specific shade of her eyes while living below sea level? Or did the change of location open his mind more acutely? The record does just that: examine the familiar in the context of the unfamiliar. Emerald Blue is a probing appreciation of the dailiness of life; a note-taking exercise in living.

 

ABE PARTRIDGE

 

Abe Partridge is a heralded musician, singer/songwriter, visual artist and podcaster based in Mobile, Alabama.  His 2018 debut, Cotton Fields and Blood For Days, earned him rave reviews, with Tony Paris saying in Bitter Southerner, “He plays guitar the same way he writes lyrics, bashing the strings with abandon until they’re just about to come loose, then beautifully picking the notes until every last word falls into place.  More to the point, Partridge writes to make you sit up and think.  He wants to jar your reality.  Sometimes, his lyrics are sly and subtle.  Sometimes they come at you with a roar and thunder, as if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were approaching, and the heavens were opening up to herald a warning.”

 

Since the release of his debut, Partridge has toured relentlessly, including several tours of the Netherlands and the U.K. developing a reputation for moving, passionate, and sometimes comedic, performances at prestigious songwriter festivals including 30A Songwriters Festival and Americana Music Fest, and is a regular at Bluebird Café in Nashville and Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta.  He has performed on the syndicated radio programs Mountain Stage and Woodsongs Olde Time Radio Hour and shared the stage with Morgan Wade, Paul Thorn, Steve Poltz, Dan Bern, Jerry Joseph and more.

 

In September of 2022, Partridge released the “Alabama Astronaut” podcast, where he explores songs previously undocumented at churches in Appalachia as well as the culture around the handling of serpents.  It was in the Top Ten documentary podcasts on Apple Podcasts within days of the release and now has over 30K downloads and a 4.9 star rating.

 

Partridge will also release his 3rd full-length recording, Love In The Dark, on Baldwin County Public Records on April 14, 2023.

Divine’s Drag Cabaret
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company

 Fundraiser for Asheville Poverty Initiative. Featuring Alexis, Diamond, Divine and Natasha. Ages 21+.

Jazz Jam
May 18 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts Center

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!

North Buncombe High School Chorus—’Choral Spotlight’
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
First Baptist Church

North Buncombe High School Chorus—’Choral Spotlight’

OUTPOST: SOLVIVOR
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
The Outpost

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE

Solvivor
‘Based in Asheville, NC, with a Post Modern Blues Rock sound (Black Keys, The Record Company, Gary Clark Jr), Solvivor is a 3-piece original Rock band featuring Ian Harrod on vocals / bass, Dorsey Parker on guitars and Joel Clark on drum kit.  Constantly at work in the studio and on their live show, Solvivor boasts a large and growing catalog of originals, plus many current and ‘classic’ covers, all delivered with authenticity and ability, ranging from acoustic Country Blues stylings to Modern Rock sounds, depending on the set, party or venue.  Solvivor recently released their first two studio recordings ‘Carolina Country Blues’ / ‘Cold Feet’ and look forward to many ‘small batch’ releases of studio material as well as regional performances into the new year.’