FEATURED EVENTS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Wed October 7
Woody Wood
at The Blackbird Restaurant
8pm
Aaron “Woody” Wood may be a legend.
The skinny white boy from the mountains of Western North Carolina carries around more soul in his restless bones and battered guitar than most of us ever dream of. With a background as diverse as his music, Woody converges elements from all walks of life to present music that contains a sense of familiarity like no other. His songs are stories that are delivered as if he was giving his first account and confession of the subject matter. When he sings he SPEAKS to you,not at you.
“I think the most important thing is that you have to be completely honest in your music,” Wood says.
And he bears it evidently and without shame. One look at the long list of artists he has shared the stage with exemplifies his diversity, not to mention respect from his musical peers. From Jimmy Martin to Leon Russel, R.L. Burnside to Warren Haynes,country music superstar Sara Evans,or Carlos Santana,Woody has played and learned from some of those who have helped shape music into what it is today.
Growing up, Woody was steeped in the knowledge, legacy, and traditions of Bluegrass music. His father, A.L. Wood,and his band, The Smokey Ridge Boys, toured the traditional bluegrass circuit extensively alongside legends like Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers and The Seldom Scene. Tagging along with his father to various festivals, Woody experienced first hand the power of music and the etiquette that goes into it.
As he got older his appreciation of music grew to much wider horizons. Soul, R&B, blues, folk, rock, jazz and world music now started to blend with the sounds of his childhood. As a professional musician, Woody was a pivotal member of the Blue Rags, with whom he had success with National media coverage (MTV) and international tours.
Woody was also recorded and performed with a slew of New Orleans and WNC’s finest musicians in what was a blending of musical styles, combining New Orleans Jazz and Bluegrass. The Blue Brass Sessions featured members of Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Larry Keel,Troy”Trombone Shorty” Andrews, and many others. Woody delivers his music with all the soul, power, and energy that have made him renowned as a musician’s musician, sets the stage and then proceeds to burn it down with original material that breathes a new fire of of passion and honesty."
Wednesday October 7
Electric Owls Pavane and Galliard
Plus a screening of the movie:
Beer Y'all at Pisgah Brewing
6pm
Last summer, seven friends from Asheville hit the road to tour 27 craft breweries in North Carolina. They kept cameras rolling for the nine-day road trip. The resul t was Beer Y'all, a documentary that SamCalagione of Dogfish Head called "a mash-up of three of my favoritethings: craft beer, original music, and entrepreneurial righteousness." This summer, Beer Y'all has screened for crowds in Asheville, Durham, Wilmington, Winston-Salem,and Chapel Hill.
On Wednesday, October 7, Pisgah Brewing Company hosts the FINAL PUBLIC SCREENING at the brewery in Black Mountain. The event will feature live music from two great bands featured in the movie soundtrack, food from the Lobster Trap, beer from Pisgah Brewing Co., and Beer Y'all DVDs on sale.
Take four classically trained musicians and let them loose on indie-pop original material, adding a hint of Latin influence and a sultry-voiced lead vocals, and that's the band Pavane and Galliard. The musicians are a powerhouse of knowledge, academic degrees and technical ability, set loose on writing, progressive sounds, singing and general fun.
The schedule for the evening:
8 PM - Movie screening (runtime 1 hr.15 min.) Admission $5 Beer Y'all DVDs on sale for $10
Thursday October 8
Jo Henley
at The Town Pump Tavern
9pm
Jo Henley is not a person. Rather, Jo Henley is the name under which longtime friends and musical collaborators Andy Campolieto and Ben Lee write, record, and perform a modern mix of folk, rock, bluegrass, and country that their fans affectionately refer to as "new roots" music. Inspired by everything from old-timey music to arena rock, Campolieto's and Lee's mutual love of all forms of American music shines through in Jo Henley.
Michael Hochanadel of the Daily Gazette says, "It has guitars, fiddle and a spry rhythm section with a thumping lope. And it has really, really good songs." The reference is to the band's debut EP Long Way Home, but could have just as easily been about the band itself. Live, Jo Henley is known for fun, rollicking sets filled with well-crafted original songs that often stretch out into boot-stompin' bluegrass territory and even jazzy improv jams without losing focus. In just over a year's time Jo Henley has been featured on television, radio, festivals, and continues to win over new audiences with its high-energy performances and well-crafted songs.
Jo Henley is a top-notch act not to be missed. Jo Henley is: Andy Campolieto (vocals, guitar), Ben Lee (guitar, vocals), Jordan Santiago (fiddle, mandolin), Jeremy Foti (bass).
Friday October 9
Outlaw Symphony
at Town Pump Tavern
9:30pm
It's honky-tonk time again at the Town Pump Tavern. Outlaw Symphony performs American Music heavily influenced by Outlaw country,Deep south soul,gospel,Texas Red dirt and Southern Rock...from Macon to muscle shoals. "I'm not sure we sound like anybody.We have our musical heros but we have to travel our own paths...and experience our own growing pains! "
Texas Country Music (more popularly known just as "Texas Country" or "Texas music") is a rapidly growing sub-genre of Country Music. Texas Country is known for fusing traditionalist root sounds (similar to Neotraditional Country) with the outspoken, care-free views of Outlaw Country. Texas Country blends these sub-genres by featuring straight-forward, truthful lyrics, a "take it or leave it" approach, a "common working man" theme, comical, witty undertones, intense live performances, and loyal fan-bases. These often combine with stripped down music, increasing the intimate connection between a singer and audience.
Friday October 9
Kevin Scanlon
at Straightaway Cafe
6pm
Kevin began his journey into song-writing in his early teens, and has been a prolific lyricist ever since. The first instrument Kevin played seriously was the guitar, and has since developed a refreshingly traditional finger-picking style that is suited to the songs he writes and performs. Whether it's an original piece or the works of Elizabeth Cotten to Townes Van Zandt, Kevin is able to perform a very authentic sound, especially when his harmonica is hanging from his harness.
In the mid 90's, Kevin's taste in music started to shift to historical cultural music. . Walking into a local pub during an open Irish jam would change him as a musician. This music has a simple honesty in both the subject matter and music arrangement, which is what ended up the foundation for Kevin Scanlon as a musician. It opened up a world of new music study, including old European folk music, Irish sea shanties, old country and bluegrass. Logically, his next instrument of interest was the banjo. He developed competent technique in both claw-hammer(old time)and 3 finger(bluegrass) styles.
Now Kevin had the tools in his bag to perform century old folk music as well as popular modern music. Add a very unique vocal timbre and lyrics written for the common man about the real world around us, and we have a well rounded, straight forward artist who's message needs to be heard.
In the past years, Kevin has toured all over the eastern seaboard playing with a diverse group of artists, as well as solo performing. He has performed with a professional vocal ensemble, a few bluegrass groups, folk projects, rock and roll, and projects in Irish music from traditional to modern Irish punk. Currently residing in rural North Carolina, his art having been tempered by his life experience, Kevin has come into his own. His very original sound is defined and polished. Now all that remains is to spread his message to the public. www.myspace.com/klscanlon
Friday Oct 9
Larry Coryell Jazz Trio
at Pisgah Brewing
8pm
LARRY CORYELL is one of the world’s acknowledged guitar masters. He has recorded more than 75 albums over the past 40 years as a bandleader, soloist and ‘featured accompanist’. Hailed by his legion of fans as one of “the guitar gods” in the late 1970s and as a “truly Renaissance musician who excels at all styles of playing”, he has also been christened as “a true pioneer of rock-jazz fusion” by the New York Times, and dubbed “the Godfather of Fusion” by Dan Ouellette of Down Beat Magazine.
Born in Galveston, Texas, Larry tried his hand at a number of instruments before settling on the guitar. He credits Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry and (later on) Wes Montgomery, as his prime influences. Larry arrived in New York City via Seattle in 1965, and began honing his formidable instrumental skill as the basis for his musical expression. To master every aspect of the guitar, Larry also studied classical guitar with Leonid Bolotine. After developing the first incarnation of his virtuoso technique Larry played his “first big time job” with Killer Joe Piro. National recognition then came during his tenure with the Gary Burton Quartet in 1967. The late 60s thru early 70s saw Larry as one of the most in-demand guitarists in Rock, Jazz and all musical genres. During that time Larry was part of Rock’s experimentation, and toured with Jack Bruce, and was featured in sessions with Jimmy Webb, the 5th Dimension, Charles Mingus, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin.
Through the albums produced during this period, Larry Coryell emerged as a profound music prophet who merged Rock, Jazz, Eastern modes and scales and free-form improv flashing Classical riffs. In 1974 Larry formed The 11th House , the most popular and successful Fusion band of its time, which included his friend and colleague Randy Brecker.
Larry has designed and is spokesman for his own professional line of guitars made by Cort. He also endorses Parker Guitars, Sibelius Music Software, DR Strings and the Henriksen “Jazz Amp”. The most recent recordings Larry has done are available on Chesky Records (“Impressions”, “Traffic“ & “Electric“), Rhombus Records (“Laid Back & Blues” ), HighNote (”Cedars Of Avalon”), and Favored Nations(”Tricycles”) .
$10 in advance.
$12@ the door.
LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE.
Friday October 9
Appalachia Song
at White Horse Black Mountain
8pm 
From Irving Berlin to the Carter Family, Appalachia Song takes you on a musical journey through generations of great American music in an enjoyable and informative way. A versatile and talented group of performers who bring the diverse music of not only the mountains, but America itself, to life. Sharing over one hundred and twenty years of combined experience performing a broad variety of music, This group is unique in it's warm vocal harmonies, it's solid delivery of instrumentals, and it's wealth of songs
Kirk Randleman - Beginning with playing “Little Brown Jug” on the ukulele at age 9, Kirk has played music ever since. He discovered bluegrass music upon returning to Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C. after a stint in the Army. A muliti-instrumentalist, Kirk plays the mandolin, autoharp, banjo and guitar. During the past thirty seven years, Kirk has played in many groups in many places. He has been associated with renowned fiddler, Dr. Mack Snoderly, in the Reel Band, with Flave Hart and in Doc Snoderly’s Painless Band, a group that included Laura Boosinger, fiddler Tom Brantly, banjoist Bill Rasnick and Craig on bass.and the Reel Band. He played at the 1982 Worlds’ Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee with the Colly Swamp Review. In April 2007, Kirk performed at the World Folkdance Festival in Palma, Spain as a member of the Buncombe Turnpike providing accompaniment for the Bailey Mountain Cloggers from Mars Hill College. Other groups Kirk has played with include: The Hornpipers, with fiddlers Doc Snoderly and the great Tommy Hunter; The Bear Wallow Gap; The Legal Grass; Bluegrass Anonymous; Steel Rail; The Bluegrass Five; and several others. In his “day job”, Kirk serves as a Child Welfare Attorney with the North Carolina Department of Justice in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Angelina Giampocaro Spencer - When she got chills performing with Appalachia for the first time at the renowned Folk Festival 2007, she realized it didn’t matter what type of music as long as she was singing! This is Angelina’s first experience with mountain music. Musical theater is Angelina’s forte. Among her favorite roles have been Mother Abbess in “Sound of Music”, Nettie Fowler in “Carousel”, and Reverend Mother in “Nunsense.” Whether it is being honored as Actress of the Year for her role in Asheville Community Theater as Mama Rose in “Gypsy” or singing on an Atlanta Billy Graham Crusade and in Atlanta’s Robert Shaw Chorale or singing for the past 12 years in Asheville’s Midday Musicals and for hundreds of weddings, singing has been one of the great joys of Angelina’s life. The greatest joys in her life are her husband of 24 years and her sons, Corporal Emmanuel of the USMC and Clarke, a student at UNCA. Angelina’s days are spent as a Program Consultant with NC DHHS/DSS in Foster Care Licensing.
Craig Bannerman – Craig was first bitten by the music bug when he attended 1960’s jam sessions of mountain pickers in Asheville NC. He began playing guitar then switched to electric bass while playing with Blackhawk Bluegrass during college. Over the years he continued to play with many award winning bluegrass and old time bands including Blackhawk Bluegrass, Crooked Pine, 107 String Band, Don Pedi Band, The Painless Band, Mungo Kelly and Graybeard Ramblers . Craig found that his music could best be expressed through playing the stand-up bass. His skills include tasteful arrangements, creating graphic artwork and adding production skills to the mix as well as solid rhythm and bass to the bands sound. The Appalachia experience has allowed Craig to re-unite in a band with Kirk after some 20 years and explore different types and styles of music that keep diversity and the joy of creating sound at the forefront. Craig currently supports his music habit by serving as Deputy Chief for the Black
Mountain Fire Department..
Saturday October 10th
Dave Turner
at
The Straightaway Cafe
6pm
"My earliest memory of being moved by music is from 1968, when at age six I heard Hey Jude by The Beatles on a jukebox at the YMCA in Rochester, Minnesota. The sound of that song still takes me back there."
As a singer-songwriter-pianist Dave Turner has developed his style in part by combining the traditions of Elton John and Tom Waits. He is a prolific writer of words and music, plays the piano with power and passion, and has a strong, soulful voice.
His most recent album, "Could Have Talked All Night," was released November 16, 2007. Its captivating songs were inspired by empty pockets and starry skies, Kentucky bourbon, late-night diners, old lovers, Blue Ridge mountains, California dreams, desperation, roadside shrines, hangovers, unsent letters, beer joints, bar buddies, staying put and getting away.
In fall 2007, Dave was one of eight finalists selected from across the United States in the North Carolina Songwriters Co-op 10th Annual Song Contest with two songs from the "Could Have Talked All Night" album, "Never Meant To Stay" and "Amber River."
"I began playing the piano shortly after and I started writing songs in grade school, inspired by Elton John at the height of his career. After high school my band mates and I went off to college with dreams of making it big, but by the end of college I had succumbed to a variety of external and internal pressures with a degree in journalism and a fledgling career in corporate communications. But all along the desire to make music has churned inside me.
So after 18 years in advertising and public relations, after many late nights at home playing the piano and writing songs, and after countless experiences wishing I was doing what I saw and heard musicians doing all around me in venues, on television and on my stereo, I released my first album (Stories That Are True) in 2004.
With the realization that I was 43 years old, releasing the CD lit a fire under me. I cannot, I concluded, live out my life without staying engaged in performing and recording music. In 2007 I released what I consider my first serious attempt at a professionally produced album: Could Have Talked All Night. I'm working on my third record now, including the large task of raising the money I need to produce it."
Saturday October 10th
The Belleville Outfit
with Seth Walker
at White Horse Black Mountain
8pm
“The only music that hasn’t influenced us is the music we haven’t heard.” - Phoebe Hunt, The Belleville Outfit
“… the sextet is one of Austin’s most musically accomplished and adventuresome, mixing gypsy swing, big-band jazz, a touch of bluegrass and some Walter Hyatt covers into a unique mix that flows like a whiskey river.” - The Austin Chronicle
“Mix hot-saucy Texas honky-tonk, city-slicker indie pop, jam-grass mischief, cool jazz and big-band swing, and you’ve about half-described this hot Austin band …” - The Boston Globe
The sights and sounds of soulful roads traveled influenced the music the band has performed for thousands upon thousands of people. While sharing stages with Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, and the Del McCoury Band, The Belleville Outfit soaked up both nuance and energy. Brought together less than two years ago, the six band members’ personal stories also helped contribute to a distinctive swing and often sassy sound that defines TIME TO STAND. Gigs connected by long winding roads through North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and on to Colorado and California, via the many places in between, have helped weave the charm and energy that defines The Belleville Outfit’s second album, TIME TO STAND.
The album showcases the young band’s signature style of gypsy swing, jazz, big band, country and Americana roots music, highlighted by songs including “Sunday Morning,” “Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby” and “Once and For All.” The new record comes on the heels of the band’s successful 2008 self-released debut, WANDERIN’, which spent more than 20 weeks on the Americana radio chart, rising to #10. “…
This music isn't simple three-chord pop. These are … complex tunes musically featuring some of the best playing you’re likely to hear! How they have been able to develop such a tight sound this quickly is a testament to the band’s talent. …” - Americana Roots
New songs have emerged from the band, which includes members Marshall Hood (acoustic and electric guitar, harmony vocals); Rob Teter (acoustic and electric guitar and lead vocals), Jeff Brown (upright and electric bass), Jonathan Konya (drums and percussion), Connor Forsyth (piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3, Rhodes, vocals), and Phoebe Hunt (violin, lead and harmony vocals).
This merger of talent and experience has firmly established the band within the fabric of its genre. Marshall, Champ Hood’s nephew, Rob and Jeff were originally members of The DesChamps Band in high school in South Carolina. The three moved on after graduating and later reconnected in Austin when a performance was booked at MerleFest.
Additional band members were recruited through connections Rob had made while studying music at Loyola University. Fellow students Jonathan and Connor left New Orleans for Austin to join the band that was to become The Belleville Outfit. The final addition was Austin’s darling, Phoebe, who had been playing with the folk band The Hudsons out of Austin for four years. With Phoebe on board, the band's electrifying stage presence was now undeniable, and after several rehearsals, each band member knew that something good was waiting for them on the road ahead.
As if this weren't enough...Seth Walker will be opening the show.
“The first time I heard Seth Walker at a small club in Nashville I was impressed like I haven't been impressed in 30 years, with performance, presence, and great songs.” - Delbert McClinton
Music audiences around the world were first introduced to Seth Walker with the release of his eponymous long-player on Hyena Records in 2007. It would hit the top twenty of the Americana and Living Blues charts, while receiving praise from publications like No Depression, Blues Revue and Maverick UK Magazine. The Austin-based artist hit the road extensively throughout ‘08, performing at worldrenowned festivals like Flat Rock in North Carolina, Springfest in Florida, Rawa Blues Festival in Poland and Moulin Blues in Holland. He headlined shows across the U.S., often playing to sold-out rooms, while joining the likes of Johnny Winter, The Subdudes and Robert Cray for opening appearances.
It would seem to those previously unfamiliar with Seth Walker that he emerged practically overnight as one of the fastest rising stars in blues and roots’ music. Yet, the 35-year old songwriter, singer and guitarist has been plying his craft in Austin, Texas for upwards of a decade. Growing up on a commune in rural North Carolina, the son of classically trained musicians, Seth played cello before discovering the guitar in his late teens. His introduction to the blues came via his Uncle Landon Walker who was both a musician and disc jockey. Before long Seth was looking to artists like T-Bone Walker, Snooks Eaglin and B. B. King as a wellspring of endless inspiration. During a brief stint in Jacksonville, Florida trying to figure out his life’s calling, Seth made a definitive decision “to sing for his supper,” reasoning there was no better place on earth to cut his teeth in such a trade than “the greatest music city on earth” Austin. “I’m pushing 14 years now having resided in the Austin city limits,” says Walker.
“Through it’s multicultural, competitive, and free spirited vibe, I have grown a much deeper understanding of my music and myself. Not to mention, Austin has definitely kept the grease in my musical recipes. ”
Saturday October 10
Cain and Annabelle
at Town Pump Tavern
8:30 pm
Cain & Annabelle, a southern folk/roots music duo, claim the foothills of the Appalachians as their home. The two met in the winter of 2008, fated meeting that could not have happened at a better time. Since then this duo has spent countless hours writing music, playing music, thinking music...breathing music.
Their debut EP 'The Lake Takes' was self recorded in a small lake cabin one snowy week in January. It will be digitally released June 16th. These two troubadours, Cain Crawford and Annabelle LaFoy, despite their varied musical backgrounds, hope that together, they will have much to offer the world in the way of good, honest, lyrics, heartfelt melodies, and songs that will stand the test of time. From The Daily Times:Their individual musical roots go deeper than their blossoming partnership.
LaFoy grew up with bluegrass and folk music and remembers her grandmother singing to her on the family's front porch; Crawford was raised on country, bluegrass and rock and picked up the guitar for the first time at 19 after a childhood of moving from Tennessee to North Carolina to the West Coast. "My parents are from Southeast Kentucky; I was born in Knoxville and raised partly in Cumberland Gap before my family moved to North Carolina," Crawford said. "I went to middle school and high school in North Carolina, and my parents moved back to Cumberland Gap when I was in college."
Before taking up music as a vocation, Crawford made a detour to Los Angeles, where he tried his hand at acting. Bit parts in such TV shows as "Jericho" and "Swingtown" were good, but music quickly became his passion. He moved back to Tennessee a year and a half ago, and shortly thereafter he started work on that aforementioned EP. "Hauntingly beautiful, rootsy folk graced by the harmonies of Annabelle's powerful, smokey voice and Cain's tender, hushed tones..."-Flagpole Weekly- Athens, GA
Sunday October 11th
Alex Caton
at White Horse Black Mountain
7pm
"Driving fiddle tunes and sultry harmonies. Original and traditional stringband music with soul and attitude."
Forget everything you know—or thought you knew—about old time, Irish standards, bluegrass...gypsy airs (do you really know anything about gypsy airs?), today’s music and tomorrow’s rhythms.
When Alex Caton picks up her fiddle (after putting down her whiskey) all bets are off, all expectations shatter, all preferences and preconceived notions dissolve as fast as a summer storm over the Appalachians or a windy gale on the Kerry coast. And the music made by that exquisite fairy sprite on stage (trust us, there’s a magic about her) will make tunes sound fresher and more real than the moment they were first played. Your re-education—and sublime enjoyment— have begun.But enough of this out-there, lyrical she’s-just-bewitching acclaim.
What really matters is: The girl can fiddle. The chick can sing. She’s got the grace and unaffected charm of a British Isle lass, the sass of a gypsy siren, the vocabulary and talent of a cursing and grunting old mountain fiddler
In celebration of her new CD, “the Sinners and the Saved,” recorded this Spring up at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock, NY, Alex Caton will play a North Carolina State CD release show on Sunday, October 11th at White Horse, Black Mountain, in Black Mountain, NC.
Alex called Black Mountain her home for many years, and honed her music skills in the local venues of the surrounding Asheville area about a decade ago.
She’s thrilled to come back home as a seasoned and well-traveled musician and release her CD in the mountains of North Carolina. Don’t miss her band that infu ses their musical roots with the lonesome sounds from the hollers of Virginia for shows that are original, exciting, intensely personal and always traditional.
"I have always loved Black Mountain and was proud to call it home for years. I miss it and the fine people there that became my friends. The Asheville area really was an incubator for me as a musician. That is where I gained knowledge and confidence as a traditional teacher and performer. It is extremely important to me to keep connecting with that area and with my friends there, hence my decision to release my new CD outside of Virginia, my current home, in my old home of Black Mountain."
"It's a nice mix of music from some very talented players, but with a great theme and nod to honest traditional mountain music throughout. I thank the folks in Asheville and Black Mountain for their past support of my traditionally-based music and hope to continue to have their support at the up-coming show. I can guarantee a good time."
Show starts at 7 PM and tickets cost $8.
or call (828)-669-0816 for show information
or check out http://www.alexcaton.com/ for music information.
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