Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
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ONGOING
The Magnetic Theatre presents… Landscape With Missing Person
An Existential Rom-Com by John Crutchfield
Thursdays-Saturdays August 2nd-25th @ 7:30pm
Directed by Steven Samuels
John Crutchfield’s latest play crosses America,from coast to coast, from one dusty highway to the next, roadside diners, dirty highway bars, bus stops and the all of the dark spaces in between.
Landscape With Missing Person is a dramatic exploration into the strangeness of everyday life. A hitchhiker’s guide to postmodern 21st Century America. An existential Romantic-Comedy. A gripping and poignant journey with a score of characters, three extremely talented actors, and John Crutchfield’s inimitable wit and style. Tickets $12/15 (previews on 8/2 & 8/3 are $8).
For a full description visit: http://www.themagneticfield.com/landscape-with-missing-person/
The Merry Wives of Windsor
July 27, 2012 – August 18, 2012
Location: Montford Park Players
Address: 100 Gay St, Asheville, NC 28801
Times: 7:30pm
Admission: Free
Phone: 828-254-5146
This uproarious social comedy features the hilarious courtships of fat knight, Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare’s only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life. Falstaff’s attempts to woo 3 different married women result in a turning of the tables and a hilarious comeuppance. We haven’t performed this one since 1995, so you’re in for a real treat!
ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE: The Odd Couple
THE ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS THE NEIL SIMON COMEDY “THE ODD COUPLE” ON STAGE AUGUST 10TH THROUGH THE 26TH. SHOWS ARE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 7:30 AND SUNDAYS AT 2:30.
828-254-1320
35TH ANNUAL SOURWOOD FESTIVAL
THE BLACK MOUNTAIN – SWANNANOA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS HOSTING THE “35TH ANNUAL SOURWOOD FESTIVAL” – AUGUST 11TH AND 12TH. THE FAMILY-ORIENTED FESTIVAL FEATURES ARTS & CRAFTS VENDORS, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT AND CARNIVAL RIDES. LIVE MUSIC AT THE EVENT INCLUDES: BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY, FOLK, SQUARE DANCERS, GOSPEL, AND ROCK & ROLL.
800-669-2301
www.sourwoodfestival.com
FRIDAY
Mindy Smith with Angel Snow
Grey Eagle
8pm. $15 advance / $17 day of show.
Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets.
Fully seated show.
Known for her “smartly written folk and country-tinged tunes” (People) and “her bright soprano…” (Rolling Stone), critically lauded Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mindy Smith will self-release her fifth studio album on Giant Leap/TVX Records June 26. The self-titled effort is her first album of new material since 2009’s Stupid Love and her first as an independent artist.
Returning to the sound of her first two albums, “…her music has a reflective surface that can make it difficult to look inside” (Nashville Scene), Mindy Smith further showcases her timeless sound and music.
Of “Closer,” Mindy says, “Many times in life’s journey, we find ourselves disoriented. For me, I make destructive decisions that can distract me from my ultimate goal. I think I am making the right choices and staying close to my agenda but I just run off course. In “Closer,” I see the North Star as the prize. One that I am always getting so close to but unable to grab a hold of and then it eludes me. Personally this song paints a picture of how I see my musical career and that I see NOW is my moment. Taking the time to listen for the answers to my questions. I guess NOW is always our moment even if it is only etching out one little piece of the bigger picture.”
Co-produced with Jason Lehning, the collection features 11 original compositions—seven of which Smith wrote with the remaining four as co-writes. Recorded at Sound Emporium Studio in Nashville, the album features some of Nashville best players, including Bryan Sutton (guitar); Lex Price (bass); Ian Fitchuk (drums); and Joe Pisapia (guitar), Jason Lehning (guitar), and Dan Dugmore (pedal steel).
Prior to the release of her 2004 debut, the New York native charmed fans with her rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” for the much-praised Dolly Parton tribute album, Just Because I’m a Woman. Her Vanguard Records debut album, One Moment More, went on to earn numerous critical accolades, featured the hit single “Come to Jesus,” and sold over 300,000 copies. She subsequently released Long Island Shores (Vanguard, 2006), My Holiday (Vanguard, 2007), and Stupid Love (Vanguard, 2009).
In August 2011, Mindy and longtime friend Daniel Tashian recorded “Taking You With Me,” A duet featured in the film and soundtrack for Paul Rudd’s film Our Idiot Brother. Her music’s also been featured in national television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, HBO’s Six Feet Under and the WB’s Smallville and Summerland.
Dirty Projectors at the Peel
Times: Show: 9:00 pm Doors: 8:00 pm
Admission: $18 advance / $20 day of show
“Dirty Projectors have been a part of my life since I heard their first album, The Glad Fact. At the time, I knew nothing about Dave Longstreth or the album he’d recorded under his own name as a college freshman, The Graceful Fallen Mango – an album I’ve always wanted to call “a fine slice of New England soul music” (whether or not that’s really accurate). The Glad Fact inspired me to write my first and only record review, in which, with all the awkwardness befitting an inexperienced and overzealous writer, I proclaimed, “Dave Longstreth is making his own fucked-up version of American music.” It’s funny to think that I would go on to play in the DPz touring line up and have my keyboard playing make it on to the New Attitude EP – let alone become budz with the dude!” – Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
French Broad Fridays in Marshall: Dog Daze
August 10, 2012, 5pm.
Parade of dogs with prizes for various attributes. Hot Dog eating contest! Enjoy Steve Garrison and The Skylanders on the island stage at 5pm and The Screamin’ J’s on the courthouse steps at 7pm.
Tales and Ales
FR (8/10), 8pm – Tales and Ales, a storytelling open mic, will be held at Anam Cara Collective, 203 Haywood Road. Free. Beer and wine available for suggested donation.
SATURDAY
Gift of Gab with Crazyhorse & Colston
Location: Asheville Music Hall
Cover: $10adv./$12d.o.s.
Doors: 9pm
Showtime: 10pm
Genre: Hip Hop
An Evening with The GrandMothers of Invention
http://www.grandmothersofinvention.com/
Grey Eagle
“Great news for Zappaphiles!”…”If you ever dug Zappa, you don’t want to miss the GrandMothers of Invention.”…”They are THE authentic live version of Zappa’s music.”…”This isn’t just another comeback, this is the reincarnation of the Mothers of Invention!”…”From Zappa’s mid to late 70’s Mothers bands, the GrandMothers are touring the world and keeping Zappa’s music alive.”…”The evening contained a lot of the contradictory eclectic, serious and circusy flavors of a Zappa show…the GrandMothers were able to go deeper into the material, rather than merely parroting Zappa’s notoriously tricky composed lines.”
The GrandMothers of Invention are the only Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention alumni who have been consistently performing the music of the maestro since 2003. From the classic “Freak Out”, “Absolutely Free”, “We’re Only In It For The Money”, “Uncle Meat”, and “Burnt Weeny Sandwich” – to – “Weasels Ripped My Flesh”, “Apostrophe”, “The Grand Wazoo”, “Overnite Sensation”, “Roxy & Elsewhere”, “Bongo Fury”, and “One Size Fits All” – they have performed on a very long list of classic Frank Zappa & the Mother’s of Invention’s albums, movies and other projects. (See their combined Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention discography and videography lists.) “Rare are the musicians who can even play Zappa’s music, let alone make it live and breathe. So Thank the Lord for the GrandMothers of Invention.”…”With three different Zappa eras represented, the GrandeMothers have a wide palette of material to choose from.”…”They served up vintage psychedelia – rock songs with surreal lyrics, jazz-like harmonies and melodic complexity, with flashes of wacky satire.”…”Amazing virtuoso musicians, fun and funny.”
The GrandMothers of Invention are: NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK (with Mothers of Invention / Frank Zappa from 1974 thru 1984), on vocals, tenor saxophone, flute, suavenicity, and dancing(!) – TOM FOWLER (with Mothers of Invention / Frank Zappa from 1973 thru 1976), on bass, hats, and musical M.D. – DON PRESTON (with Mothers of Invention / Frank Zappa from 1967 thru 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1974 as a Special Guest), on keyboard synthesizers, electronics, IPOD, magic tricks(!), and vocals. Also featuring the incredible MIROSLAV TADIC on electric guitar, and the masterful CHRISTOPHER GARCIA on drums, percussion, marimba, and vocals.
The GrandMothers were formed in August of 2002, when four legendary former members of Frank Zappa’s “The Mothers of Invention”, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Roy Estrada, Bunk Gardner, and Don Preston were invited to perform the music of Frank Zappa in Leipzig, Germany. It would be the first time that these esteemed “Mothers of Invention” alumni would be getting together to rehearse and perform classic Frank Zappa material. Finally, on March 27th 2003, after 6 months of intensive rehearsals, The GrandMothers of Invention took the stage to a standing room only audience in Leipzig, Germany. This event was recorded, filmed, and released by Warner Classics in Europe, and has been broadcast and re-broadcast repeatedly on European television. Due to the overwhelming demand since then, they have performed more than 140 concert events across America, Canada and Europe, including performances in: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland. Each performance providing indisputable proof that “THEY CAN (AND DO) STILL DO THAT ON STAGE!”
The list of dates at clubs, concert halls and festivals is long, and includes headlining the Frankfurt Jazz Festival, the Zappanalle Festival, the Vancouver Folk Fest, performing classic Frank Zappa material with the Bergen Filharmonik Orkester in Bergen Norway, performing the orchestral music of Frank Zappa under the baton of Kristan Jarvi, the Ottawa Blues Fest, the Winnipeg Folk Fest, the Sarajevo Jazz Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Jazz Festival , and performing classic Frank Zappa material with string orchestra (the Trondheim Soloists) at the Trondheim Jazz Festival in Norway.
9pm. $18 advance / $20 day of show.
Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets.
Partially seated show.
Fiddler Casey Driessen at the Altamont
The Altamont website says that, using digital loops, Driessen will build his show by layering sounds “in real time in front of the audience. The result is a one of a kind experience that pushes the boundaries of musical genres and styles.” Local multi-instrumentalist Billy Cardine lends support on slide guitar; the Asheville Analog Collective also performs.
The concert begins at 8 p.m., tickets are $12 in advance or $15 day of the show.
Col. Bruce Hampton and Pharoah Gummit
8 p.m./9 p.m.
Pisgah Brewing
Bringing in the one and only Col Bruce Hampton (retired) for a very special performance at Pisgah Brewing! Pharaoh Gummit also features standing lap-steel extraordinaire A.J. Ghent, son of the legendary pedal steel player Audrey Ghent.
Col. Bruce Hampton has been making music since he formed his first band in 1963. The Colonel has been in constant motion ever since leaving a trail of memorable live performances with his many bands, including The Late Bronze Age and Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit.
Along the way he appeared in the movie “Sling Blade” as poet and band manager Morris and starred in Mike Gordon’s cult classic “Outside Out” as a mystical guitar ‘out’structor.
Still rolling down the road, Col. Bruce continues his quest for the tonal center at each exit #6.
“The music is sheer genius – it’s jazz, but The Colonel’s too smart to call it that – plus it’s a lot of other things, such as blues and, most of all, fun.” – Stanley Booth – liner notes “One Ruined Life”
“Hampton’s formula is that he surrounds himself with extraordinary musicians, gives them a strong framework with which to play and then sets them loose.” – Scott Freeman – Creative Loafing Magazine
“Music involving vocalist/guitarist Col. Bruce Hampton is likely to go in as many unpredictable directions as a conversation with him.” – Bill Meredith – Jazziz Magazine
“Over the years he served as a conduit for avant-garde interpretations of jazz and bluegrass and blues, the pure forms of American music thrown into a blender and poured into a steaming chalice of strangeness.” – Tom Speed – Honest Tune Magazine
2nd Saturday Shakedown
SA (8/11), 2-8pm – Anam Cara and Hip Thrift, 203 Haywood Road, will host an afternoon of art, craft, vintage clothing, music, hula-hooping, face-painting and more. Featuring an art opening for Lynette Elaine McDonough. Free. Info: www.anamcaracollective.com
HOTTER THAN HAITI 10K
THE FIRST ANNUAL “HOTTER THAN HAITI 10K RACE” WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE MORNING SATURDAY, AUGUST 11TH STARTING AT 8:00. THE RACE WILL BE HOSTED BY THE ASHEVILLE OUTDOOR CENTER IN WEST ASHEVILLE. THIS EVENT SUPPORTS CONSIDER HAITI, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN ASHEVILLE WHOSE ONE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN HAITI.
hotterthanhaiti10k.com
SHINDIG ON THE GREEN
SHINDIG ON THE GREEN IS HAPPENING ON SELECT SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE, AT PACK SQUARE PARK ON ROGER MCGUIRE GREEN. SHINDIGS WILL BE HELD ON JULY 21ST; AUGUST 11TH, 18TH, 25TH; AND SEPTEMBER 1ST, WITH ALL STAGE PERFORMANCES ON THE BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD STAGE.
Harvest Records 8-year anniversary sale
Here’s to many more for the West Asheville institution. Emptying your bank account of cash before you drive over is optional but advisable and possibly unavoidable.
Saturday, August 11th 2012 @ Harvest
FREE TO EVERYONE.
Here we are again. How does this keep happening?
We’re older, yes, but wiser and prettier, we think. Which translates into the anticipation for our best-EVER sale!
EVERYTHING in the store marked down…
+ THE BASEMENT SALE!
(thousands and thousands of CDs & LPs all for a $1 each!!!)
+
FREE POSTERS,
RAFFLE PRIZES,
FOOD TRUCKS,
& The first 20 customers will win a FREE BRAND NEW HARVEST SLIPMAT + COMPLIMENTARY TALLEST MAN ON EARTH 7″!
FOOD TRUCKS WILL INCLUDE: EATBOX FOOD TRUCK, THE LOW DOWN FOOD TRUCK & THE HOP ICE CREAM!
Be here. 10am-8pm.
Peter Frampton: Grin and Bear It
Biltmore Estate
Times: 8:00 pm
Admission: $60 – $75 per ticket
Peter Frampton Grin and Bear It will perform on the South Terrace of Biltmore House. Grammy® winner Peter Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. At 16, he was the lead singer and guitarist for British band the Herd. At 18, he co-founded one of the first super groups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. His session work includes such legendary artists as George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, John Entwistle and many others. His fifth solo album, the electrifying Frampton Comes Alive!, is one of the top-selling live records of all time.
Downtown Heroes Celebration and 25th Anniversary Gala
Join us on Saturday, August 11 from 6-10pm in the Banquet Hall of the U.S. Cellular Center as we celebrate the people who have made Downtown Asheville what it is today. Tickets for members are $25 or $175 for a table of eight. Potential members are $35 or $250 for a table of eight. Tickets will be available beginning Monday, June 25.
The ADA also celebrates its 25th year serving the downtown community in 2012. Founded in 1987 by a group of business owners, residents and city staff, the ADA remains committed to the preservation and improvement of the central business district through programming, civic support and annual objectives. As the voice of downtown residents, merchants and workers, the ADA advocates for policies and practices that will best help growth and preserve the quality of life in downtown.
HOMEGROWN TOMATO CONTEST
THE “HOMEGROWN TOMATO CONTEST & PARTY” IS HAPPENING ON AUGUST 11TH FROM 2:00 TO 5:00 AT THE MARKET PLACE, ON WALL STREET IN ASHEVILLE. THE EVENT OFFERS THE CHANCE TO UNCOVER THE LOVELIEST AND UGLIEST (THERE ARE CATEGORIES FOR BOTH), WHILE SAMPLING TOMATO HORS D’OEUVRES AND COCKTAILS. GARDENERS CAN BRING TWO HOMEGROWN TOMATOES, AS WELL AS ONE UGLY FRUIT. ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED BASED ON FLAVOR, COLOR, SHAPE, APPEARANCE AND TEXTURE.
828-252-4162
www.asapconnections.org
RiverFest 2012
Location: French Broad River Park
Address: Amboy Road, Asheville, NC 28806
Times: 1:00 – 7:00pm
Admission: Free
Fun for the whole family! Celebrate Western North Carolina’s most under utilized asset—the French Broad River. This party has an exciting lineup of music with Asheville’s own Nikki Talley leading off the afternoon, followed by Mountain Feist, and RiverFest 2012 headliner the Galen Kipar Project. There will also be kids activities, food, beer, crafts, and of course, the Anything That Floats Parade of rafts!
SUNDAY
Asheville Pizza Showdown
SU (8/12), 4-10pm – The Asheville Pizza Showdown, a benefit for MANNA FoodBank, will feature more than 10 local pizzerias and celebrity judges. Held at The Garage at Biltmore, 101 Fairview Road. All-you-can-eat pizza and beer samples. $30. Info: www.mannafoodbank.org.
Tribute to Doc Watson with David Holt
Benefiting Shindig on the Green
Sunday, August 12, 2012
3:00 PM
$20
Doc Watson left an amazing legacy of music and stories. Hailed as one the countries greatest folk musicians Doc has left an indelible mark on American music and culture. David Holt traveled and performed with Doc for the last 14 years across the country, including three memorable performances at the Diana Wortham Theatre. A recording of one of those concerts became part of the Grammy Award winning CD collection “Legacy”.
Doc became his mentor and “musical father”, and David always brought out the best in Doc. Now David will pay tribute to Doc as he traces Watson’s life through stories, songs and historic photographs.
Outward Hounds Hiking Club
9am – 12pm
Carrier Park along the French Broad Greenway (map)
The Outwards Hounds Hiking Clubs meets at the BWAR Adoption Center, every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday morning to take some sweet shelter dogs to great local hiking locations throughout WNC. A wonderful enrichment activity for the shelter pups and a chance to explore some of the best hiking trails in the southeast! Contact [email protected] for more details.
