I recently took a family vacation to Washington, DC and while we were there we naturally spent a LOT of time in the various Smithsonian Museums. We enjoyed it immensely, and so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Mars Hill College is currently hosting a Smithsonian Exhibit titled New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.
Listen to America
[SWF]http://www.youtube.com/v/AZKZUrrcu5c,640,505[/SWF]
The first time I heard Johnson’s Crossroad, it was this song (‘Tween You and I) and I got goosebumps. Not many bands or songs do that to me these days, so I knew these guys had something special. Maybe it was that haunting melody or maybe it was lead singer Paul Johnson’s gravelly voice. I don’t know for sure, but they instantly rocketed into my favorites. After I heard more of their songs, their place of honor in my music collection was solidified.
They will be playing Jack of the Wood on August 27th. From the press release:
Johnson’s Crossroad is taking their love of the old time mountain music, bluegrass, and the Texas singer/songwriters of the 1970’s and putting their own stamp on the ever-widening and increasingly popular ‘Americana’ genre, nurturing a sound they like to call “Appalachian Soul.”
The band was born in the bars of small town Lewisburg, WV. Johnson’s Crossroad performed the old songs they love and began to craft their own material. As audiences began to grow founding members Paul Johnson and Keith Minguez decided to head south over the Blue Ridge Mountains to the budding music scene of beautiful Asheville, NC where they found like-minded musicians and formed a touring band.
Their debut album “Blood in Black and White” brings together some of Asheville’s finest musicians to perform JXR’s original material. The album is steeped in the traditional country themes of lost love, lost fortune, lost time, and overcoming hardships, but Johnson’s Crossroad have clearly found a unique voice. With “Blood in Black and White” they give country music fans an alternative to the “polished” sound, though staying true to the roots that have made country music great.
Johnson’s Crossroad
Jack of the Wood
Friday, August 27th, 2010
8pm, $5, 21+
95 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC? 28801
(828) 252-5445 ext 105
Those of you looking for a great musical experience should mark August 28 on your calendars. Amelia’s Mechanics has announced that they will be presenting “An Evening with Amelia’s Mechanics” at Jack of the Wood on that date.
From the press release:
Amelia’s Mechanics is: Molly McGinn (vocals, acoustic guitar, lap steel), Molly Miller (vocals, electric guitar, ukulele), and Kasey Horton (viola)
Despite what the oil-and-iron name might suggest, the women of Amelia’s Mechanics swap that toughness for a more urban, sophisticated take on Americana music, using luxuriating harmonies and classical swells to temper their lyrical frustrations with love and life. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies of Amelia’s Mechanics result in a genre-busting sound best described as “vintage country with a moonshine concerto.”
The band released their debut album “North, South,” produced by Jim Avett (father, The Avett Brothers,) in February of 2010 to critical acclaim and embarked on an inaugural spring tour to the delight of audiences all across the southeastern United States. Amelia’s Mechanics is currently working on their second album (at Echo Mountain Studios) to be released Spring 2011.
Amelia’s Mechanics
Jack of the Wood
Saturday, August 28th, 2010
Doors 7pm
95 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC? 28801
(828) 252-5445 ext 105
Asheville Skyline is presenting a giant, 2 day concert series at the Diana Wortham Theatre on July 1st and 2nd. There’s a huge lineup for the 2 nights, featuring the likes of Acoustic Syndicate, Col. Bruce Hampton with Jeff Sipe and Ike Stubblefield, with special guests and more. Individual day tickets are $28 through May, then they go up to $33, with limited VIP tickets available for $125 (includes both nights, early admission, reserved seating, meet and greet).
On July 1, experience performances by legendary artists Col Bruce Hampton, Ike Stubblefield and Jeff Sipe along with Manney Yanes, Shane Pruitt, and will be joined with by other special guests including Janelle Funk, Craig Sorells, Tony Kennedy, Jay Sanders and others TBA. Opening sets by the bands Velvet Truckstop and Big Daddy Love!
On July 2, regional favorite Acoustic Syndicate headline the evening. Asheville based alt-country band The Honeycutters and songwriter Chris O’Neill open the show.
If there’s one thing I can get behind, it’s beer. Also, bands. BBQ as well. OK that’s 3 things. I’m also in favor of healthy boobs, so that’s 4… 4 things I can get behind. So it looks like my dreams have come true as Beauty Through Cancer is hosting the Asheville Affiliates’ “3 B’s For Boobs”, the 3 B’s being beer (mmmm, beer…), bands and BBQ.
This is a great chance to attend an event that features 3 of my favorite things, all to benefit my 4th favorite thing. The show is tomorrow, May 27th at the Highland Brewery at 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite H from 6:30pm – 9:30pm.
“3 B’s For Boobs”. Beauty Through Cancer Hosts the Asheville Affiliates for the 1st Annual
Beer, Bands and BBQ Festival, 2010!
This is a benefit Concert and BBQ Festival…visit www.beautythroughcancer.org to learn more about the organization….Live Music from Underhill Rose, The Honeycutters and The Trainwreks!!!
Guest Artists Dave Desmelik, Robert Greer of Town Mountain
and Graham Sharpe of Steep Canyon Rangers joining in!Proceeds from this event benefit Beauty Through Cancer programs, such as support groups, free wigs, education programs and areola pigmentation (restorative medical tattooing) for breast reconstruction patients.
There is an amazing video showing the work of this organization’s founder at
http://www.vimeo.com/11288210This is our inaugural event…….
What a great way to kick off Memorial day weekend than great music, great BBQ from Luells’s BBQ, Okie Dokie Smokehouse, Crooked Condiments, Chef In Motion, Ultimate Ice Cream and Beverages from Green Sage, Turning Leaf Wine and Catawba Valley Brewing Co, and of course Highland Brewing Company Beer.!!!!!Join Josh Michael from Star 104.3 (Clearchannel) with a live remote during the festivities! Josh is our MC for the night and Star 104.3 will make it a fun and exciting event…..
We will also be serving wine, and non alcoholic beverages.
Raffles, and silent auction items….including, Hot Air Balloon Rides, White Water Rafting, Zip Line Tours, Restaurant Gift Certificates and more….
…
Tickets are available at Beauty Through Cancer and Highland Brewing Co.
Please call 828-252-8558 for more information or to purchase tickets over the phone.
This event Will Most Likely sell out so do not count on tickets at the door!!!
Tickets should be purchased in advance but will also be available at the door if we do not sell out…..
Advance tickets are $25 or $30 at the door. Buy tickets at http://www.showclix.com/event/9113/ or http://www.beautythroughcancer.org/ThreeBsForBoobs.html
Pulp at 103 Hilliard Avenue has announced 3 upcoming open mic nights, the first of which is tonight. Signups start at 7:30 PM, so if you are one of the many undiscovered superstars inhabiting our fair city, come on out on tonight and show us all what you’ve got.
Pulp is “a new private club under the Orange Peel” (oh, I get it…) that is open on show nights only. They will also be holding open mic nights next Wednesday, June 2nd and Thursday June 10th, so if you are unable to blast us with your awesomeness tonight, don’t fret. You still have a chance for greatness.
MPAC (Multi Purpose Athletic Complex) has announced a huge lineup for their 4th of July WNC Block Party, to be held on Sunday, July 4th at the North Buncombe High School soccer practice field. The price of admission is an ultra-affordable zero dollars and the event will be taking place from noon to 10 PM. Looking at the musical lineup alone it seems like it is going to be a huge event, but they’re throwing in lots of other stuff like sports demos, a songwriter area, a storytelling area, fashion, food (reason enough to go right there) and they’re recommending you to bring your own instrument for a “pickin’ party”.
MPAC has a fabulous musical lineup with Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Afromotive, Galen Kipar, Chris O’Neill with Jay Sanders & Billy Cardine, Richard Shulmann,The Red Hot Sugar Babies, Buyaka, Dave Wendelin, the Traveling Bonfires and others tba.There will also be a plethora of performing arts including The Asheville Puppetry Alliance, Asheville Hula Dancers, The AVL Aerial Artists, the Blue Ridge Roller girls and many others.
Also, get a sneak peak fashion preview, “A Taste of PUSH Asheville Fashion Runway Show” for the Fourth of JUly in advance of the PUSH Asheville Fashion Runway Show Benefit for MPAC that will take place on Friday, July 16, 2010 at the Orange Peel.
Also keeping with the MPAC mission there will also be sports demos going on all day in the soccer field adjacent to the stage. Look out for the Weaverville Futbol Club, the Madison and Yancey Counties Youth Soccer teams, Asheville Rugby, Asheville Lacrosse, and High Flight Gymnastics amongst others.
And what Fourth of July festivities would be without Patriotic and Civic activities? MPAC has invited the NBHS ROTC Color Guard and WNC Civil Air Patrol Color Guard.
