Andy Shauf at Asheville Masonic Temple
– ALL AGE- SEATED SHOW – AT ASHEVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE (80 BROADWAY ST) ANDY SHAUF Andy Shauf’s latest album, Norm, out now on ANTI-, and presents its lead single/video, “Wasted On You.” In conjunction, Shauf announces a 2023 Norm Tour including some of his biggest shows to-date (tickets are on sale this Friday). Hailed as “a gifted storyteller” (NPR Music) for 2016’s The Party and 2020’s The Neon Skyline, Shauf writes albums that unfold like short fiction, full of colorful characters, fine details and a rich emotional depth. With Norm, however, Shauf has slyly deconstructed and reshaped the style for which he’s been celebrated, elevating his songwriting with intricate layers and perspectives, challenging himself to find a new direction. Under the guise of an intoxicating collection of jazz-inflected romantic ballads, his storytelling has become decidedly more oblique, hinting at ominous situations and dark motivations. Shauf had planned to be touring around The Neon Skyline but, like many of us in the early days of the pandemic, he spent a lot of time alone instead. He sequestered himself in his garage studio, self-producing and playing every instrument on Norm, a collection of more conventional songs written predominantly on guitar, piano and synths. The latter was essential to creating the more spacious and tactile sounds he sought. Shauf’s goals were uncomplicated: create something melody-driven rather than chord-driven, and make it modern. Shauf recruited Neal Pogue (Tyler, the Creator, Janelle Monae, Outkast), a prodigious shaper of genre-and-time-defying tracks, to mix the album, further building on the gently levitating, synth-laden atmospherics. During this period, he was captivated by David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, which seemed to validate Shauf’s instinct to mix perspectives and tinker with shadowy narratives. He even rewrote all of the album’s original lyrics, recreating the story, and enlisting Nicholas Olson as a story editor – it was only after writing the title track that Shauf decided to build a narrative around the character Norm. “The character of Norm is introduced in a really nice way,” Shauf says of the pleasant songs that precede the album’s centerpiece. “But the closer you pay attention to the record, the more you’re going to realize that it’s sinister.” After gaining indie notoriety with The Party and a Polaris Music Prize nomination, performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS This Morning: Saturday, and praise from the likes of Pitchfork, ESQUIRE, NPR Music, Stereogum, The Atlantic and beyond for The Neon Skyline, Shauf has left the realm of things he’s known on his third album, pivoting away from the semi-autobiographical, and pushing himself to grow as a songwriter in an entirely different way. With Norm, he recreated his idea of a concept album, and also made it about faith and fatalism. But Shauf has realized he doesn’t need to moralize. He’s assigned that task to us, the listeners. At once narrators and investigators, we fill in the blanks.LUTALOAfter releasing their 2022 debut EP, Once Now, Then Again, the 24-year-old born Lutalo Jones emerged as a rising presence in the indie world, catching the attention of Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold and Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, who invited the young musician on tour. Along with the vinyl release of that breakthrough project, they are releasing its companion EP, AGAIN, which reveals their prenaturally masterful range in sonic expression and philosophical thought.
William Elliott Whitmore
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMIITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEWILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE A man armed only with a banjo and a bass drum can be a formidable force, especially if his name is William Elliott Whitmore. With his powerful voice and honest approach, Whitmore comes from the land, growing up on a family farm in Lee County, Iowa. Still living on the same farm today, Whitmore has truly taken the time to discover where his center lies, and from that he will not be moved. Whitmore has repeatedly carved his own path, honoring the longstanding tradition of folk music throughout his nearly 20 year career, while always allowing his blues, soul and punk rock influences to shine through. Getting his first break opening for his friend’s hardcore band with just a banjo in hand, he would discover bands like The Jesus Lizard, Bad Brains, Lungfish and Minutemen and soon learn to play his own brand of rural, roots music with that same DIY ethic. William Elliott Whitmore has been back and forth across the United States and to cities around the world. He’s toured with such diverse acts as Frank Turner, Trampled By Turtles, Clutch and Chris Cornell to name a few. He’s appeared on some of the biggest stages around the world including Stagecoach Fest, Byron Bluesfest (Australia) and End of the Road Fest (UK). His willingness to take his show to any playing field has proved invaluable as he turned strangers to diehards with every performance.CHRIS McGINNISChris McGinnis writes songs that exist somewhere between a hiccup and a heartache. His debut EP, Songs For You, touches on the peculiarity of your hometown morphing beyond recognition. It tells the story of two Baby Boomers falling in and out of love across time zones and decades. It’s about connection and disconnection alike. With the release of his debut full-length album Mamaw’s Angel, Chris veers deeper into these familiar themes. Through tales of stolen Winnebagos and hip-shaking grandbabies, Chris’ music is Appalachian absurdity for the 21st Century.
Leanna Firestone
– ALL AGES – STANDING ROOM ONLY LEANNA FIRESTONELeanna Firestone is an impressive artist and talented musician from Nashville, Tennessee. While attending Recording Industry school, Leanna entered the professional world of songwriting by fusing her writing with the community of anime stans she found when she first joined TikTok. Ultimately, this led to a short snippet of what would become her first release, “Strawberry Mentos” which reached 5M streams. Then, in 2021, her next track “Least Favorite Only Child” reached 4M streams, while her EP Y/N peaked at #8 on the US singer-songwriter iTunes Charts. One of her songs was also featured during an episode of Love Island UK. In early 2022, she released her first full album Forward / Slash, featuring “Diet Coke”, “Gambling Addiction” and “Smitten.” Currently, Leanna is signed to Frtyfve Records out of London.ABBY CATES Abby Cates is a singer/songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Cates started performing in musicals at the age of seven and plays a variety of instruments including guitar, piano, and ukulele. After competing on The Voice in 2018, she continued to pursue music, uploading covers and snippets of original music to social platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok. After garnering an impressive and loyal following on socials, Cates released her debut single, “roadtripsong” in June 2021. When she’s not creating music, Cates spends her time in class at Belmont University and enjoying the outdoors, from where she finds most of her inspiration. SYDNEY ROSE
Josiah and the Bonnevilles
– ALL AGES – FULLY SEATED SHOW – LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE JOSIAH AND THE BONNEVILLES Josiah and the Bonnevilles is a musical project led by singer-songwriter Josiah Leming. Josiah was born in Morristown, Tennessee and as a child, Josiah was fascinated by music and began playing the piano and guitar at a young age. Josiah’s musical talents became evident to his family and friends, and he began performing as a teenager catching the attention of music industry professionals. In 2010, he formed Josiah and the Bonnevilles, which presented a unique blend of Folk, Americana, and Country that draws from his roots as a true Appalachian artist, embracing honesty and putting life’s realities into his songwriting. In 2015, Josiah and the Bonnevilles released its debut album, On Trial. The album was praised for its raw, vulnerable lyrics and its combination of acoustic and electric instruments that underpinned the storytelling. The band went on tour in support of the album with the artist LP, performing at various venues across the United States and Europe. Since the release of On Trial, Josiah and the Bonnevilles have continued to make music and tour, gaining a devoted fan base along the way. Josiah remains grounded and focused on his music. He has spoken openly about his struggles with mental health, addiction, and the music industry as a whole and uses his songwriting as a form of therapy. He continues to inspire his fans with his honesty and vulnerability, and his music has touched the hearts of people around the world. MON ROVIAI’m Mon, born in Mon Rovia, Liberia. My life can be summed up by being born into a civil war, escaping the life of a child soldier, rescued by the hands of missionaries. Spent a lot of my developmental years living in a variety of places with a number of life experiences. And then layered on top of all of this is the assimilation I felt being a transracially adopted refugee. My music in a nutshell is a culmination of these experiences blended with the empathy I feel for the experiences with others. The mission of my music is to heal with others — with every nation and tongue, in due time.
Sarah Jarosz: Polaroid Lovers Tour
ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- Limited Number of Polaroid Lovers Tour VIP Experiences available, including: • One (1) general admission ticket • Pre-show soundcheck performance • Q&A with Sarah • Group photo with Sarah (Sarah stays on stage) • Exclusive poster signed by the artist • Early entry into the venueSARAH JAROSZ Four-time GRAMMY winner Sarah Jarosz has announced her new album, Polaroid Lovers. The record is set for release on January 26th, 2024 via Rounder Records. To mark the occasion she has shared the album opener, “Jealous Moon,” and its companion video. WATCH HERE. The song finds Jarosz backed by a decidedly more electric band, with her Texas lilt as clear and evocative as ever. Polaroid Lovers is available for pre-order today digitally and on vinyl with gray, lavender, orange and green splatter variants. Indie retailers will also have a special blue and green splatter vinyl. For more information visit https://store.sarahjarosz.com/LE RENLeftovers, the debut album from Montreal’s Le Ren, stitches together a patchwork of personal songs about different relationships: those we share with mothers, lovers, and friends. Lauren Spear, the artist behind Le Ren, created a physical quilt to mirror the assemblage of stories that comprise her album: a coming-of-age collage that collects over four years of past experiences and finds their present meaning. “When I think of leftovers, I think of things that have been cast aside,” she says. “When they’re picked back up or remembered, they can be repurposed… Leftovers came to mean a collection of feelings and moments of the past that still remain relevant to my present.”Leftovers was originally scheduled to be recorded in LA in early 2020, but the pandemic forced Le Ren to reconsider the kind of album she wanted to make, and how she wanted to make it. Taking the time to revamp old songs and bring the past to bear upon new ones, she distilled years of material into ten tightly executed tracks united by the swooning pluck of her guitar and the crystal clear timbre of her voice. In April 2021, she met with producer Chris Cohen in a rented house in Portland, Oregon, where they had to wait for a neighborhood boy to stop making noise outside before they could record. The album came together much like the patchwork of her quilt, with collaborators Kori Miyanishi, Cedric Noel, Saltwater Hank (Jeremy Pahl), Eliza Niemi, Kaïa Kater, Aaron Goldstein, Buck Meek, and Tenci (Jess Showman) recording their parts separately from across North America. The result is a timeless assemblage of love, heartache, celebration, and lessons hard-learned, written and performed by a musician who has honed the subtleties of her craft.Spear studied bluegrass as a teenager on Bowen Island/Nex̱wlélex̱m, a small municipality on the Canadian west coast. In adulthood she dove headfirst into Montreal’s (/Tiohtià:ke’s) music scene, expanding her artistry into contemporary folk, rock, and country. With the release of her EP Morning & Melancholia in 2020, Le Ren earned comparison to the deft musicianship and sparse, eloquent lyrics of John Prine and Neil Young.
Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEBILL KIRCHEN’S HONKY TONK HOLIDAY SHOW For a real taste of seasonal cheer, nothing says joy to the world like Bill Kirchen singing “Daddy’s Drinkin’ Up Our Christmas!” Bill Kirchen and his Turtle Doves will make a stop on their annual Honky Tonk Holiday Tour at the Grey Eagle on Tuesday 12/12. Featured is a sleigh-full of rarely heard holiday numbers from the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and honky tonk bags: “Silent Surfin’ Night,” “Truckin’ Trees for Christmas,” “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin,” and more. But be ye not afraid, there’ll be so much more than holiday songs of questionable taste; you can count on a truckload of dieselbilly classics, rockers, and country weepers to take the edge off the holiday fuss. So mark your calendars and check ’em twice – Santa Claus is back in town! Kirchen is touring with his all-star Texas guys – Jack Saunders on bass and Rick Richards on drums. Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step on any stage, play those trademark guitar licks which he created for the seminal Commander Cody classic, “Hot Rod Lincoln,” and elicit immediate recognition. As a founding father of the proto-Americana group Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen wrought a diesel-fueled guitar hook that drove their Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top 10 nationwide. Kirchen went on to the Grammys where he was nominated for Best Country Instrumental in 2001. He has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dan Hicks, Maria Muldaur, Hoyt Axton, Hazel Dickens, Gene Vincent and Link Wray, and has toured the world as guitarist with Cody, Nick Lowe, Hoyt Axton and Emmylou Harris. Bill Kirchen was inducted into the Hall Of Fame of the Washington DC Wammie Music Awards in 2001, alongside Dave Grohl and John Phillip Sousa. He joined a remarkable list of prior inductees including Bo Diddly, Duke Ellington, Ruth Brown, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline, Shirley Horn, Emmylou Harris, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. His recent disc, Transatlanticana, entered the Americana Radio Chart Top 10 in 2018, joining his extensive catalogue of over 2 dozen albums, from the Commander Cody discs on through his current 12 releases on the Proper and Last Music Company labels. Bill’s latest releases are Back from the Ozone, a Lost Planet Airmen reunion CD out in October 2023 and, from 2021, the LPs Waxworks and Tombstone Every Mile, along with The Proper Years and Tombstone on CD and in all digital formats, all on the Last Music Company label. Washington Post: “Seldom has traveling across the rock and country landscape been this much fun” Guitar Player magazine: “The Titan of the Telecaster…cuts loose with some of the fattest, gnarliest low-down twang imaginable” Rolling Stone: “A musical treasure, a fantastic player, and, in these roots-conscious times, very much a pioneer, Bill Kirchen is one of our best.”
Chatham Rabbits
– ALL AGES – SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE CHATHAM RABBITSThere is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.JON CHARLES DWYERJon Charles Dwyer’s songs embody the spirit of the Appalachian mountains he is married to: all poverty stricken loss and desire set against the backdrop of the most beautiful springtime of love and fresh hope tumbling over those hills and down to the valleys below.
OUTPOST: Part of This
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Part of This is a dynamic power rock trio hailing from the picturesque town of Tryon, North Carolina, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Formed by three passionate musicians with a shared love for both rock and alternative genres, the band is making waves with their distinctive sound. Alex lays down the groove on bass and also takes the lead with his powerful vocals, delivering raw emotion with each lyric. Rich, a virtuoso on the guitar, adds sonic brilliance, weaving melodic rock riffs with an alternative twist that captivates audiences. Jay’s thunderous drumming provides the rhythmic foundation that propels their music to new heights. What sets Part of This apart is their ability to blend Alternative rock with an indie spirit, creating a musical fusion that’s as refreshing as it is electrifying. Their original compositions resonate with a lively, moody, and anthemic retro vibe, taking listeners on a sonic journey. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences, Part of This crafts songs that are both introspective and relatable. Their lyrics delve into the human experience, touching on themes of emotions, life experiences, and the pursuit of dreams. Part of This released their debut album “Just Fine” in 2023. This album showcases the band’s journey and commitment to their craft, offering a rich tapestry of songs that resonate deeply with listeners. Each track on “Just Fine” is a testament to their dedication to authenticity and musical innovation. With an ever-growing fan base and a sound that defies easy categorization, Part of This is poised to make their mark on the alternative rock scene. Stay tuned as they continue to rock stages and deliver their unique blend of melodic prowess, indie charm, and unadulterated passion.
**CANCELED** OUTPOST: Don Merckle
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Don MerckleA darkly honest and wry singer/songwriter out of Charleston, South Carolina, Don Merckle’s songs are firmly planted among the fertile mixed traditions of American music. He is a workman’s poet, capable of delivering a rock and roll growl or a quiet dose of smoky barroom introspection with equal passion. He has led the popular Appalachian/Irish outfit Loch Ness Johnny, co-fronted the rambunctious Alt-Country American Gun, and founded the lively Don Merckle & the Blacksmiths. In his current solo work he is leaning into more stately and thoughtful singing which highlights the darkly emotional lyrical contours that are the hallmark of his best material. Don has shared stages with acts like Drivin’ N Cryin’, Lucero, Shooter Jennings, The Avett Brothers, Cracker, and more. He has a sound and feel that ably captures the ineffable blend of roots music and rock and roll at the heart of his songs.
Odie Leigh
– ALL AGES – STANDING ROOM ONLYODIE LEIGH Beginning with a bet between friends to see who could go viral, Odie Leigh’s musical journey has always been a bit unconventional. Hailing from suburban South Louisiana, where Lil Wayne and Tim McGraw carry equal reverence, Leigh’s musical influences are as contradictory as the area she grew up in. Singing in school choirs and church praise bands as a child, Leigh didn’t find her voice until 2020 gave her the solitude to create her own sound, free from the judgment and influence of the New Orleans music scene. Once described as “folk-misfit,” Odie Leigh’s songwriting reflects an earnest and fervent search for identity through the confusion of growing up culturally-adjacent in an area with so much history, tradition, and faults. Guided by the classic folk, blues, and country music that floods the southern soundscape, and shaped by her self-taught finger-picking style, Leigh’s music is an eclectic glimpse into feeling stuck in all of life’s in-betweens.KING STRANGKing Strang is the ragpunk, old-timey, and always fun one man band project of Michael Sinner, proudly represented by Portland’s Flail Records. Using influences of traditional folk music as well as 40’s jazz sounds, King Strang blends the old with the new in all of his music. Often playing a resonator guitar, stomp box, and kazoo, King Strang upholds a consistently jazzy barroom sound that remains unique from his work in incredible projects such as the Bridge City Sinners and Clyde and the Milltailers. King Strang’s music is nothing if not music to have a good time to. On his recent record “The Second Coming”, Michael Sinner is joined by Lightnin Luke on the fiddle, bringing even more old time vibes. With lyrics about religious folklore, love and longing, and apathy, King Strang brings a little something for everybody with a love for old time music and incredible jazz vocals.