Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s more of what’s going around on the music front:
-David Byrne is bringing his American Utopia Tour to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on May 8.
-The National is coming to the ExploreAsheville Arena in the US Cellular Center on May 4.
-String Cheese Incident is coming to the US Cellular Center on April 21.
-The Steep Canyon Rangers have chosen a new bass player, the Asheville Citizen-Times’ Carol Rifkin reports. Barrett Smith, who has been filling in on a temporary basis, is old friends with the band members, who all met when they were in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Smith has performed for several years with Shannon Whitworth, who is married to Steep Canyon Rangers guitarist Woody Platt. Smith replaces Charles Humphrey III, a founding member of the Steep Canyon Rangers who left the band in December to pursue other interests. Steep Canyon Rangers will release a new album, Out in the Open, recorded with Humphrey on Ramseur Records, on Jan. 26. They’ve already begun a national tour that includes a stop in Asheville Jan. 27, where they will host their annual hometown concert, which will include 10 members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and River Whyless at the US Cellular Center.
-The Jon Stickley Trio has announced a change in its line-up. Drummer Hunter Deacon has come on board to replace former drummer Patrick Armitage, a well-loved Asheville musician who’s been on the scene for awhile now. Deacon, who is from Knoxville, is classically trained and has heavy jazz influences, according to a press release. He’ll join Stickley (guitar) and Lyndsay Pruett (fiddle) immediately.
-Moog Music recently introduced the Drummer From Another Mother (DFAM), the first addition to the Mother eco-system of semi-modular analog synthesizers. “Drummer From Another Mother is a highly-interactive, semi-modular analog percussion synthesizer and a vibrant deviation from the traditional drum machine,” according to a press release.
–Andrew Scotchie’s Birthday Bash is set for Jan. 20 at Isis Music Hall. The event will feature Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats, Shake it Like a Caveman, Brie Capone, David Earl Tomlinson, members of Deja Fuze and more.
-Mark your calendars for the Triple Threat Dance Party on Jan. 27 at The Mothlight. The show will feature three groups full of Asheville musicians who are teaming up for a night of globally influenced dance music and musical collaborations. The bands are: Below The Bassline, Les Amis and Oso Rey. Members of several other bands will be joining in, according to a press release, including Toubab Krewe, Empire Strikes Brass, The Digs, Dub Kartel, Zansa, and more.
-The Get Right Band will be recording a live album at Asheville Music Hall on Feb. 10.
