Jane Kramer, Free Planet Radio will close out music at The Altamont Theatre in Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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It’s the last music show at The Altamont Theatre. Here’s the full press release:

Songstress Jane Kramer with the members of Free Planet Radio – River Guerguerian, Eliot Wadopian and Chris Rosser – as well as Billy Cardine, at The Altamont Theatre. /photo courtesy of Vicki Burick

A group of Asheville’s most talented musicians will come together for the final show at The Altamont Theatre, the beloved downtown listening room, when songstress Jane Kramer, dobro master Billy Cardine and world musicians Free Planet Radio (Eliot Wadopian, River Guerguergian and Chris Rosser) come together for the 8 p.m. show on Dec. 22.

It’s the last music show for The Altamont Theatre, which opened in 2010 as a flexible space that’s featured everything from theater productions and comedy acts to wedding receptions. In 2015, the Church Street location morphed into a full-time music venue. The Altamont has played host to a long list of notable local, regional and national musical acts. Over time, the Altamont Theatre’s superior acoustics helped it earn a reputation as the best listening room in Asheville.

“The stars aligned to have two of our most favorite artists in the world close out the Altamont Theatre,” co-owner Sam Katz said. “It’s bittersweet, but we can’t think of a more fitting show to go out on.”

The musicians sending The Altamont out on a high note represent some of the best in Asheville. There’s no better place to hear the Appalachian-inspired folk originals by Kramer.

“Ever since returning home to Asheville three years ago, I have had some of the most memorable and poignant shows of my career on the Altamont stage,” she said.

“What these fellas have done to create an environment where the music is truly the focus, from the crystalline sound in the room to the beauty and intimacy of the space. It’s resulted in a truly magical and remarkable venue. I’ll miss it, as will will my musical colleagues and all the music lovers in our community.”

Wadopian, a two-time Grammy-winner, echoed Kramer’s sentiments.

“I’m going to miss playing there. I’ve always loved the folks working at The Altamont and the great audiences that attended,” he said. “It will be missed.”

Kramer, Free Planet Radio and Cardine have headlined many shows together, with the band backing Kramer. But the upcoming show will be different.

“We will each be playing sets of our own music this time and I’ll be joining in on some of Free Planet’s compositions, which will be a first for us,” Kramer says. “I’m honored and excited to bring something new and different to their sound, just as they continually do to mine.”

Kramer will also be showcasing some new original songs for the first time. They’ll be part of a new album she plans to begin recording early next year.

About songstress Jane Kramer

After releasing her second solo album, “Carnival of Hopes,” in February 2016, Kramer has been playing listening rooms and festivals around the country to support it. Recognized as “an artist on the rise” by the acclaimed Gauthier, she’s performed with such well-known artists as Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Appalachian troubadour Malcolm Holcombe and star Joan Osborne.

About Free Planet Radio

Since 2001, Free Planet Radio has been bringing its exciting and innovative world-jazz-classical music blend to both concert stages and classrooms. Based in Asheville, this musical partnership began with a clear mission statement as “the shared vision of three multi-instrumentalists exploring the infinite and seamless relationships between musical cultures through the universal language of sound.” Free Planet Radio consists of two-time Grammy winner Eliot Wadopian leaping effortlessly between rhythm and melody on electric and string basses; River Guerguerian on an extensive array of global percussion instruments including Middle Eastern frame drums and doumbek, the Indian kanjira, African djembe, and Western drum set; and Chris Rosser exploring melody on the 17-stringed Indian dotar, Turkish cumbus oud, guitar, piano and melodica.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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