Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Grammy winning 11-member blues-rock group led by husband-wife team Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, have proven to be one of the hottest, most uplifting acts on the road today. The band, currently touring while also working on its next album, have recently announced its Asheville debut at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on May 2 – the band’s first trip to the area since they headlined Merlefest last year.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com or in person at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium box office: Reserved $39, $49 and $75. $1 of each ticket will benefit MANNA FoodBank.
For Trucks and Tedeschi, this will be an opportunity to showcase the full force of TTB — as their fans know them — to a community they have long ties with. Both have performed in Asheville several times over the years with their respective solo bands – from early years when a teenaged Trucks played small local venues, to Bele Chere performances in 2005, and multiple appearances at Christmas Jam to support friend, and Trucks’ Allman Brothers Bandmate, Warren Haynes. The band’s management is also located in town.
Though Tedeschi Trucks Band has not played live in Asheville before, the band’s music has been popular with the local community with both of its albums placing highly on the WNCW Top 100 list (Revelator #6 and Everybody’s Talkin’ #11). Fans will also get to enjoy local musician Jeff Sipe, whose trio will open the show. Sipe is a longtime musical friend to both Tedeschi and Trucks.
The upcoming show is a chance for the band to help raise awareness about the issue of hunger that affects Western North Carolina. TTB is working with local organization FATE (Funding America Through Entertainment) and Oskar Blues Brewery (Brevard, NC and Colorado) to support MANNA FoodBank.
“We have long loved Asheville and been supported by the wonderful community here. With close friends and members of the TTB family living here, we wanted to do something to give back to the area,” says Tedeschi. “When you realize that just $1 can provide three meals for someone, you understand how even a small gesture can make a big difference” she adds.
In addition to the band’s donation of $1 for every ticket sold to MANNA, Oskar Blues Brewery will donate $2,000 to MANNA FoodBank. Fans are also encouraged to participate by bringingnon-perishable food items to be collected at the venue on show day.