Ashvegas Hot Sheet: Hemp farm pilot project approved for Western North Carolina

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More of what’s going around:

-The new N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission has recently been approving applications from people who want to grow hemp, including the first application from a grower in Western North Carolina. I’m not sure of the location yet. The federal government outlawed hemp in the 1930s, but in 2014 approved a bill that allows universities and state agriculture departments to begin growing it for research and small pilot projects. Hemp, which contains almost none of the chemical that gives the buzz of marijuana, is used to make a number of products, including fabric and clothing. The Raleigh News & Observer has a story here about a legal battle shaping up over hemp. N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission meeting info here.

-Music Video Asheville celebrated its 10th anniversary with a great awards event at the Diana Wortham Theatre on Wednesday night. Local musicians, videographers, fans and supporters turned out to watch the screening of more than two dozen videos that spanned a variety of genres. It was an all-around great night of honoring the city’s vibrant music scene.

-Word on the street: The J. Crew distribution warehouse’s clearance store in Arden has apparently closed for good, though periodic sales will still be held there.

Asheville Zombiewalk is looking for volunteers to help lead this year’s event, set once again for October.

-Former Ashvegas movie reviewer Edwin Arnaudin has launched his own movie review site, called Asheville Movies. He’ll be launching a crowd-funding effort soon, with reward including free tickets to see films around town. Check it out.

-The Laughing Mermaid Soap Co. at 68 College St. in downtown will be closing its doors for good on Tuesday after nine years of business, according to Dig Local.

-Record Store Day is Saturday, April 22. Harvest Records on Haywood Road in West Asheville is a great place to celebrate it.

-Independent Bookstore Day is April 29. Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville is a great place to celebrate it.

-The Asheville People’s Climate Rally will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on April 29 at the Vance Monument in downtown. The event is part of a national group organizing similar events around the U.S.

-The nonprofit RiverLink’s summer concert series RiverMusic is moving to the Salvage Station on Riverside Drive this year. (The former location was near the Cotton Mill artist studios on Riverside Drive.) The music is as follows:

June 9th: BLACK JOE LEWIS, Travers Brothership and Coconut Cake

July 7th: SUSTO, Banditos, and Tall Tall Trees

August 26th RiverFest: The Get Right Band, Ben Phan and the Soul Symphony, and The Greenliners

September 8th: DRIVIN N CRYIN, Darrin Bradbury, and Ouroboros Boys

-UNC Asheville’s Concerts on the Quad will return this summer with four free Monday evening shows, featuring Americana/roots, jazz, funk, rock and soul music. The music is as follows:

June 19 – Chatham County Line

June 26 – Westsound

July 10 – Flood: Electric Herbie Hancock Tribute

July 17 – Southern Culture on the Skids