Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
It’s the weekend. We made it. Go have some fun, Asheville!
ONGOING
Blue Skies Burlesque presents: The Dreaming
Genre: Dance, Theatre
Presented by Blue Skies Burlesque
Hosted by The Magnetic Field
Blue Skies Burlesque presents their debut of The Dreaming at the Magnetic Field. Featuring both neo and classical burlesque styles, audiences can expect to see drag, pole dancing, and traditional striptease in this wild and dynamic performance. Fridays & Saturdays Aug 17-25. 10:30pm. Tickets $15
Performances:
Fri, Aug 17, 2012, 10:30 PM
Sat, Aug 18, 2012, 10:30 PM
Fri, Aug 24, 2012, 10:30 PM
Sat, Aug 25, 2012, 10:30 PM
Tickets: $15
To buy tickets:
http://www.themagneticfield.com/events
- August 24, 2012 – August 26, 2012
- Location: Downtown Asheville
- Address: Downtown Asheville, Asheville, NC 28801
- Venue: Downtown Asheville
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
GoomBay is a three day African-Caribbean festival, located in downtown Asheville, that lives up to its West African name, meaning rhythm or drum, with rhythmic sounds and colorful sights. The Goombay dancers wear colorful costumes and high headdresses topped with feathers. Often times, grotesque masks help to enhance the free and exotic movements. Located on Eagle Street in downtown Asheville.
- August 24, 2012 – September 15, 2012
- Location: Montford Park Players
- Address: 100 Gay St, Asheville, NC 28801
- Venue: Montford Park Players
- Times: 7:30pm
- Admission: Free
- Phone: 828-254-5146
Based on the life of King Richard II of England (ruled 1377 – 1399), this Shakespeare history is the first play of a tetralogy, followed by three plays concerning Richard’s successors: Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, all of which are familiar to our audiences from past performances. Richard II is the only part of this tetralogy we’ve never staged and will be presented for the very first time at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre.
Invisible Ink: Gabriel Shaffer to Exhibit at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Gallery
UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union Gallery presents a new exhibition, “Invisible Ink: Works on Paper by Gabriel Shaffer,” opening Friday, Aug. 10. A reception featuring a short talk by the artist and refreshments will be held in the gallery from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23. The reception and exhibition are both free and open to the public.
Based in Asheville, Shaffer fuses elements of craft, graffiti and the conflicted genre of visionary/outsider art to create urban folk art. In “Invisible Ink,” contemporary and iconographic characters narrate mythologies based on dreams and experiences. Serendipity and salvaging materials are a crucial part of Shaffer’s process.
Shaffer has exhibited across the country and has appeared in many magazines, newspapers and blogs including Raw Vision, Art Papers, The Huffington Post, C-Monster and Juxtapoz. In 2009 and 2010, Mountain Xpress readers voted Shaffer the #1 Visual Artist in the Best of WNC awards.
“Invisible Ink: Works on Paper by Gabriel Shaffer,” will be on view 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 12-6 p.m. Sundays, through September 17. For more information, visit http://cesap.unca.edu/about-gallery or call 828/251-6991.
FRIDAY
- August 24, 2012
- Location: River Arts District Green
- Address: 144 Riverside Dr., Asheville, NC 28801
- Times: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
- Admission: Free
- Phone: (828) 252-8474 ext. 11
- Visit Website
Sirius.B, and The Blood Gypsies.. RiverLink and New Belgium Brewing present RiverMUSIC, a summer concert series in the River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina. In our continuing efforts to bring folks to the French Broad River to enjoy its splendor, RiverLink has teamed up with New Belgium Brewing Company and Heira Productions to offer the community great live music from a variety of genres and a blend of local and national artists.
- August 24, 2012
- Location: Biltmore
- Address: One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803
- Venue: Biltmore
- Times: 8:00 pm
- Admission: $70 – $85 per ticket
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Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas bring their blend of roots music and country, rock and pop to Biltmore. Krauss has sold in excess of 12 million albums and garnered 26 Grammy® Awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for Raising Sand, her 2007 release.
GREED!
Genre: Theatre, Comedy, Off-beat
Presented by Red Herring Puppets
Hosted by The BeBe Theater
Wrinkly old white men have written economic history for centuries! It’s time for puppets to rise up and help silly humans see what’s really happening in the US economy! After all, who could do it better than a puppet?
GREED! puppet shows take you on an enlightening and entertaining journey through economic time. A mixture of facts, drama, and humor are used to explore key events that have shaped our economy.Now, for the first time, you can learn a people’s history of economics–from puppets!
Performances:
Fri, Aug 24, 2012,
Fri, Aug 24, 2012,
Tickets: $12 in advance / $15 at the door
To buy tickets:
http://www.deepeconomics.com/advance-ticket-sales.html
For more information:
Read more about the venue, The BeBe Theater
Call the venue: 828-254-2621
Malcolm Holcombe CD release show
9pm. $10 advance / $12 day of show.
Fully seated show.
In the end, our lives are simply gatherings of contradictions. We are capable of being cruel, funny, angry and unfathomably kind, sometimes all in the space of a few minutes. The same mouth that launched angry words at a driver who cut us off in traffic will kiss and sing a child to sleep. The wise ones among us know this, and the best artists embrace this paradox and use it to fuel their making.
Malcolm Holcombe’s new album Down the River, his ninth, is born from that bed of contradictions we all lie in. There are songs here such as “Twisted Arms” and “Whitewash Job” that sizzle with anger at a society that seems intent on losing its way and running over its poor and disenfranchised. These are coupled with songs from a softer, more generous perspective such as “The Crossing” and “In Your Mercy,” written in the voice of an old woman who sees “All I worked for/…sold and surely gone,” but who trusts that “many years will tell the truth.” There is truth embedded in these songs the way quartz is embedded in the steep driveways and black dirt of Malcolm Holcombe’s western North Carolina.
The multiple perspectives of these songs speak of the man who wrote them. Malcolm Holcombe takes the stage in the same clothes he wore driving to the gig, and his soft voice, rasped from years of smoking and singing to be heard in honky tonks, rises to a howl as he frails his guitar with furious precision. He stomps, growls, rolls his eyes as he plays, then between songs cuts the tension with a corny joke. A veteran of Nashville who has little good to say about the music industry—“a bunch of people trying to buy their way to fame”—he has won the praise of such artists as Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams as he works and tours from his home in western North Carolina. A once-legendary drinker and hell raiser, Malcolm is now many years sober and embraces a gentle if non-specific spirituality.
Down the River is just the most recent step in a journey that began in western North Carolina in 1955. The youngest of four children, Malcolm was fascinated by the guitar early, an interest he fed watching TV in his parents’ living room. “If it had a guitar in it, I’d watch it,” he has said. After high school and a brief stint in college, Malcolm played for a while with a trio called Redwing, then in a duet with Sam Milner. Eventually he found his way to Nashville where he established a local reputation and signed with Geffen Records.
In 1996, in one of those twists of logic only understood in the music business, Geffen signed Malcolm and paid to record his major label debut A Hundred Lies. The album was pressed, promotional copies were sent, and the album, a stunning, low-key masterpiece, was never released. In the wake of that fiasco, Malcolm made his way back to Asheville, North Carolina. A Hundred Lies was eventually released on a much smaller label and garnered some attention, including a four star review in Rolling Stone, and Malcolm began booking his own shows. There are stories from this time of drinking, drugs and wild behavior, but like most in recovery, Malcolm would rather let the past stay in the past. “It’s miracle to be here every day,” he offers. “I’m just glad to be able to drive on my side of the road.”
Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes w/ special guests Naren, Wash Hollow
9:00 pm
Cost:
$5
Nashville and Asheville based indie rock.
For more info:
danielellsworthandthegreatlakes.com
narenmusic.com
washhollownc.bandcamp.com
SATURDAY
The Little Flea: Flea market from the organizers of The Big Crafty
From our love of flea and farmer’s markets comes The Little Flea – our dream flea. Hand-selected fare and wares from Asheville’s emptied attics, backyard studios, and lovingly-tended farms.
Please join us for all of our four events:
August 25
September 1
September 8
September 15
The Little Flea is held from 8:30-12:30 on Saturday mornings at 718 Haywood Road in West Asheville, in the parking lot of Grace Baptist Church. That’s the same location as the amazing West Asheville Tailgate Market, held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm.
46th Annual Shindig on the Green.
A joyously spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers on summer Saturday evenings in downtown Asheville, NC. Stage show and informal jam sessions. Pack Square Park on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage in the heart of downtown Asheville. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, family and friends. 7:00p.m. nightly. June 30; July 7, 14, 21; August 11, 18, 25; and September 1, 2012. Free. Info: www.folkheritage.org or (828)258-6101 x345.
- August 25, 2012
- Location: US Cellular Center
- Address: 87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801
- Venue: US Cellular Center
- Times: Noon-5 p.m
- Admission: $60 for VIP (access at noon); $45 for general admission (access at 1:30 p.m.)
Named by the New York Post as one of the best festivals of its kind in the country, the Asheville Wine & Food Festival features the finest regional, national, and international wines, exceptional local restaurants, craft beer and spirits, and handcrafted artisanal foods for three days of palate-pleasing indulgence. The big event is the Grand Tasting, held in the newly renovated U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville’s lively downtown, with cooking demonstrations and a mixology contest.
- August 25, 2012
- Location: WNC Agricultural Center
- Address: 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC 28732
- Times: 5pm
- Admission: $10
Double Header: BRRG All Stars vs Atlanta Rumble B’s and BRRG French Broads vs Vandalettes of Vero. Asheville, NC’s first all female, flat track roller derby league! Yes, roller derby is back! And yes, roller derby is a fast-paced, aggressive, REAL SPORT! Founded in June of 2006, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls make up Asheville, NC’s first all-female, flat track roller derby league
- August 25, 2012
- Location: River Arts District
- Address: Clingman Ave. at Lyman St., Asheville, NC 28801
- Venue: River Arts District
- Times: Phil Mechanic Studios (Flood Gallery) (3PM-7PM); The Grey Eagle (9PM-1AM)
- Admission: $10 presale and $15 the day of the event. Tickets will be available to purchase at The Grey Eagle and on their website, at Harvest Records, Orbit DVD, and from the organizers personally.
Rad Fest is an extension of other great events in the Arts District like the Studio Strolls, and Second Saturdays. It is primarily a means to showcase great local art-music and enhance the community of local artists and residents by creating another inviting event that will inspire new and more of the same folks to embrace the R.A.D.
SUNDAY
Goombay presents: Arrested Development
plus Asheville Horns & Zansa
All Ages
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm Tickets: $22 advance / $25 day of show
On August 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2012, the YMI Cultural Center, in conjunction with Powerhaus Productions, will host the 31st annual Goombay! Festival on the historic Eagle and Market street block. Goombay! is a traditional celebration of the rich African and Caribbean culture that is infused throughout the nation. Every year, the streets of downtown Asheville NC rumble with the beating of West African drums, ring with the harmonic horn lines of funk, groove with the rhythmic sounds of reggae and the melodic voices of soul. Art, music, performance, and cuisine, being the greatest form of self expression, come together at Goombay!, the place where culture and community unite.
The YMI is one of the oldest, most celebrated African-American cultural institutions in the region. It is a community based organization that provides programming and exhibitions on local African-American history, arts, and music as well as being a community resource center. Goombay! provides a place for the local, regional, and international African community to showcase their cultural and artistic contributions and to honor the influential impact that African heritage makes on the world today. As an integral fundraising component for the YMI Cultural Center, Goombay was created to serve the community center’s mission; “In celebration of and with respect for people of all ethnicities, the YMI Cultural Center promotes interculturalism and the preservation of cultural identity. An historic gathering place, the YMI strives to provide programs and events for all.”
Powerhaus Productions, an event production, management, and staffing company led by Jen Gordon and Roshon Cray, has been contracted by the YMI to bring their expertise in event planning to produce Goombay! and bring a new vision to this cornerstone event in Asheville. They want to highlight the festival’s role in catalyzing dialogue and building cross cultural relationships that empower communities to celebrate and honor heritage and culture while breaking boundaries to represent the importance of our shared existence.
In conjunction with the YMI Cultural Center, Powerhaus Productions presents Arrested Development at the Orange Peel. This event is a fundraiser to help support the production of the Goombay Festival:
In celebration of their 20th year anniversary, Arrested Development will be performing many dates across the USA beginning in September and continuing throughout October and November. We will be posting the dates as they are confirmed so please check back regularly to see when they will be performing in your city. Please come out to the shows and celebrate twenty years of Arrested Development, You will hear all the songs from their Grammy award winning album 3, years 5 months and 2 days. AD is looking forward to seeing you on the road and thank you for your continued support.
Rafting with River fundraiser
Open to the Public!
Full Moon Farm is hosting a “Rafting with River” fundraiser on Sunday, August 26th at USA Raft in Marshall, NC. Come out and support a good cause, have a great time on the River and meet our ambassadog River the wolfdog. Must be at least 8 years old to raft. Adult tickets are $40, children ages 8-14 are $20. Please call 828-664-9818 or email [email protected] to register.
Full Moon Farm is an organization dedicated to the well-being of the wolfdog (wolf hybrid). A wolfdog is a dog that has a pure wolf ancestor within the last 5 generations. Situated on 17 beautiful mountain acres in Black Mountain, NC, Full Moon Farm operates as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization for abused and refused wolfdogs who find themselves in need of love, shelter, and care through no fault of their own.
Full Moon Farm provides a safe haven for animals that cannot be placed into homes for the rest of their lives. Our rescued wolfdogs come from animal control agencies, closed breeding situations and occasionally, an owner in crisis. We evaluate each animal upon intake and work with them at their level of comfort. Some animals are “hands off” and we respect their choice, as well as that of the animals that crave human interaction. Our goal is to enrich the lives of the residents, allowing them to reach their highest potential.
For more information about Full Moon Farm visit our website at www.fullmoonfarm.org.
