13th Annual Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration

– ALL AGES- LIMITED SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED13TH ANNUAL DJANGO REINHARDT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FEATURING:  Russell Welch & the Champaigniacs “Russell is not only the most sought after guitarist in New Orleans, he is also one of the finest Django style players in the world!” – Django a Gogo Festival 2022 RUSSELL WELCH is a jazz guitarist/composer based in New Orleans, and a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Russell is a New Orleans’ “Best Traditional Jazz Artist” and “Best Traditional Jazz Album” 2019 nominee. He was New Orleans’ “Best Guitarist” nominee, 2016. Russell’s first, all-original album, “Showarama Hot Trio,” was also a New Orleans’ “Best Traditional Jazz Album” 2012 nominee. Russell’s second album, “Pour Vous” featured original arrangements of traditional New Orleans jazz classics. His third, all-original album, Russell Welch Hot Quartet album “Mississippi Gipsy” (2015) was reviewed as “masterful” and a “tour de force” by Offbeat Magazine.  Russell was recently asked to teach and perform at two of the most prestigious Django festivals in North America – Django a Go Go (2022), and Django in June (2022). Russell’s fourth album, “Acetate Sessions” is a New Orleans’ “Best Traditional Jazz Album” 2019 nominee A mix of originals and classics, It was recorded using acetate masters and vintage recording equipment, to recreate vintage recording sounds, which, according to an Offbeat Magazine review, “crackle with the energy of youth discovering someplace magical…(and) sound as fresh as tomorrow.” Gustav Viehmeyer Gustav Viehmeyer Is an international Composer, musician and guitarist. Gustav has the rare gift of merging soulful pleasures through music. His playing is free spirited, wild, intensely passionate and executed with skillful precision. Gustavs guitar music is rooted in the style of Django Reinhardt, The Sinti Virtuosos and a love for film composition. Daniel Coolik & Jim Tanner Quartet A consummate musician’s musician, Daniel Coolik, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, swept into the Lafayette, LA scene in 2009 and quickly added his name to many respectable rosters, loaning his talents to such groups as Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Les Malfecteurs, The Red Stick Ramblers, and helped found the GRAMMY nominated band The Revelers. Daniel was already an adept multi-instrumentalist in the Asheville, North Carolina scene where he focused on playing swing and jazz on guitar & mandolin as well as old time Appalachian traditional music, and has since emerged as a violoniste extraordinaire here in Acadiana. His abilities have taken him all over the globe, including Haiti, Thailand, most countries in Western Europe, and Canada. He is an in demand session musician who has played bass, guitar, mandolin, steel guitar, and fiddle on numerous recordings including the most recent release by Shovels and Rope (By Blood 2019).

John Craigie at Asheville Masonic Temple

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– w/ GRACE ROWLAND (OF THE DEER)- ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW – AT ASHEVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE – 80 BROADWAY ST (downtown AVL)  JOHN CRAIGIEPortland, OR-based singer, songwriter, and producer John Craigie adapts moments of solitude into stories perfectly suited for old Americana fiction anthologies. Instead of leaving them on dog-eared pages, he projects them widescreen in flashes of simmering soul and folk eloquence. On his 2022 full-length album, Mermaid Salt, we witness revenge unfurled in flames, watch a landlocked mermaid’s escape, and fall asleep under a meteor shower.  After selling out shows consistently coast-to-coast and earning acclaim from Rolling Stone, Glide Magazine, No Depression, and many more, his unflinching honesty ties these ten tracks together. The album comes from the solitude and loneliness of lockdown in the Northwest. Someone whose life was touring, traveling, and having lots of human interaction is faced with an undefinable amount of time without those things. So, he began writing new songs and envisioning an album that was different from his past records. The sound of everyone playing live in a room together was traded for the sound of song construction with an unknown amount of instruments and musicians—a quiet symphony. Rather than steal away to a cabin or hole up in a house with friends, Craigie opted to set up shop at the OK Theater in Enterprise, OR with longtime collaborator Bart Budwig behind the board as engineer. A rotating cast of musicians shuffled in and out safely, distinguishing the process from the communal recording of previous releases. The core players included Justin Landis, Cooper Trail, and Nevada Sowle. Meanwhile, Shook Twins lent their signature vocal harmonies, Bevin Foley arranged, composed, and performed strings, and Ben Walden dropped in for guitar and violin plucking parts. “Instruments were scattered around the theater and microphones placed in various spots,” he recalls. “It’s hard to say who all played what exactly.” Craigie had reached a series of watershed moments in tandem with Mermaid Salt. Beyond headlining venues such as The Fillmore and gracing the stage of Red Rocks Amphitheater, his 2020 offering Asterisk The Universe earned unanimous tastemaker applause. Rolling Stone noted, “tracks like ‘Don’t Deny’ and ‘Climb Up’ bridge a Sixties and Seventies songwriter vibe with the laid-back cool of Jack Johnson, an early supporter of Craigie,” while Glide Magazine hailed it as “one of his best records.” Perhaps, No Depression put it best, “For many weary and heavy- listeners hearted, the album might be exactly what they need.” Along the way, he generated over 40 million total streams and counting, speaking to his unassuming impact.  In the end, Craigie offers a sense of peace on Mermaid Salt.

DURRY

– w/ PINK BEDS- ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYDURRYFormed in 2020 in the depths of the pandemic, quarantined siblings Austin and Taryn Durry joined forces to make music together for the very first time. In 2021 their careers were launched by their tiktok viral track Who’s Laughing Now. Quickly gaining notoriety on social media and beyond, Durry is poised and ready to take on the music scene with their unique brand of Nostalgic Indie-Rock.PINK BEDS Pink Beds is a cerebral indie pop band formed in 2020 at the cusp of the initial lockdowns. Composed of four friends from Asheville, NC, they’ve cultivated a strong bond through a shared passion for lush soundscapes, artfully crafted tunes, and rhythms you can’t help but be moved by. The mélange of dream pop, new wave, lounge, and disco aims to create an ethereal listening experience with a combination of low-end groove, velvety guitar, silky keys, gritty synth, and catchy melodies. Making good use of isolation, the group combined their songwriting abilities and production chops to manifest a lush, warm, and evocative sonic environment with their December 2020 debut LP, All I Have. From tracking and production to mixing and mastering, each stage of the process was kept entirely within the group. The essence of Pink Beds, like its namesake, should be enjoyed with your own senses and a group of good friends. Along with two singles in 2021, the band released a live album in 2022, Live From Echo Mountain, from the fabled Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC. After a productive 2022 securing a foothold in southeast markets, becoming a FloydFest On-the-Rise artist, and a Relix Magazine Sonic Showdown Finalist, the band is releasing a new album in the Spring of 2023. Pink Beds comprises Aaron Aiken (Vocals & Guitar), Jackson Van Horn (Keys & Guitar), Ryan Sargent (Drums & Percussion), and Logan Hall (Bass).  “What started out as a casual jam to entertain a keg party has morphed itself into one of the most intriguing new musical acts in Western North Carolina.” Aiken, a Brevard native, now fronts an Asheville group that stands at the intersection of indie rock, psychedelic folk and cerebral pop. It’s a seamless blend, more so a vibrant flow, that harkens back to the sounds of early 2000s indie icons The Strokes and Keane, with a thick thread leading to the melodic camps of Tame Impala and Snow Patrol.”  — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone Contributing Writer

JAZZ IS DEAD: 25th Anniversary Tour

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– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- FEATURING STEVE KIMOCK, ALPHONSO JOHNSON, PETE LAVEZZOLI, BOBBY LEE RODGERSJAZZ IS DEAD celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary with an all-star ensemble performing a limited run of shows to honor the 50th Anniversary of The Grateful Dead’s ‘WAKE OF THE FLOOD.’ The acclaimed All-Star instrumental ensemble, famous for interpretations of classic Grateful Dead songs with jazz influences, returns in 2023 to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Co-founder Alphonso Johnson will be joined by Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli & Bobby Lee Rodgers, performing Grateful Dead’s ‘Wake of The Flood’ marking it’s 50th Anniversary, in addition to other beloved selections. Jazz Is Dead XXV ‘reunites’ two greats! Steve Kimock & Alphonso Johnson, who together in heavyweight post-Garcia Grateful Dead offshoot The Other Ones together with Bob Weir, commanded the instrumental prowess of that band. Formed in 1998 by bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report, Santana, Bobby & The Midnites, The Other Ones), drummer Billy Cobham (Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bobby & The Midnites), keyboardist T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs) & guitarist Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Widespread Panic), with drummers Rod Morgenstern (Dixie Dregs) & Jeff Sipe (Leftover Salmon) replacing Cobham in 1999, and guitarist Jeff Pevar (CSN, David Crosby CPR, Phil Lesh & Friends) replacing Herring in 2000, recorded 3 acclaimed albums, the second of which ‘Laughing Water’ in 1999 was in fact an instrumental ‘Wake of The Flood’ reinterpretation – so there is precedent. That album also featured Derek Trucks, Donna Jean Godchaux & Vassar Clements. On Laughing Water, the fusion ensemble Jazz Is Dead one-ups the band that it sets out to honor. Laughing Water is a superior remake of the Grateful Dead’s rather ordinary rock album Wake of the Flood. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a Deadhead to appreciate this album. Laughing Water not only fuses jam-rock with jazz, but it possesses a country-bluesy Americana flavor. The songs on Laughing Water are long and improvisational, but they seldom grow boring. From a purely technical standpoint, each musician in Jazz Is Dead is a superior player to his counterpart in the Grateful Dead. But unlike many pop-jazz remakes of rock albums, Laughing Water manages to capture the rock ‘n roll animus of the original. The communal carefree spirit of tie-died counter culturalism lives on in this music. Not only should Deadheads come away happy, but fusion freaks and aficionados of improvisational rock should, too. – Ed Kopp, All About Jazz 1999

Hank, Pattie and The Current + Brek

– ALL AGES- FULLY SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEHANK, PATTIE AND THE CURRENT Bluegrass visionaries Hank Smith (banjo) and Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw’s (fiddle) innovative twist on traditional bluegrass music is a soulful brew flavored with classical, Motown, jazz, and pop influences. Joined by Billie Feather on guitar and Stevie Martinez on bass, this dynamic, North Carolina based group is performing in support of their fifth album, LETTERS, out now on Robust Records. BREK Brek is an acoustic band from Iceland that mainly plays original, folky music with influences from various sources. The band members focus on creating an interesting but cozy atmosphere in their playing. In addition there is a focus on the multifaceted use of the Icelandic language in the band’s lyrics. Brek released its self-titled debut album in the summer of 2021 and received the Icelandic Music Awards for Folk album of the year as well as being featured as Album of the week on Iceland National Radio – Rás 2 in early 2022. 

Byrds of a Feather: A Tribute to Gene Clark and Gram Parsons

– ALL AGES- PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW- SEATED AND STANDING ROOM ONLY TICKETS AVAILABLEBYRDS OF A FEATHER After a 2-year forced hiatus, the Byrds of a Feather tribute to Gene Clack & Gram Parsons is back at the Grey Eagle celebrating its 12th annual show! This year will spotlight the 50th anniversary of Gram’s solo debut album ‘GP’ and some of the ones we missed in ’20 and ’21 like ‘Gene Clark’ (aka White Light) and the Flying Burrito Brothers’ 2nd album ‘Burrito Deluxe’.  The band will feature members of Asheville’s classic country crew CyndiLou & the Want To, Claude Coleman Jr (Ween) on drums, Marty Lewis (Sons of Ralph) on guitars, John McKinney (Carpal Tullar) on keyboards, Drayton Aldridge (Drayton & the Dreamboats) on fiddle and more! Special guests include Morgan Geer (Drunken Prayer), Liliana Hudgens, Chris Mondia (The Green Fields), Claire Whall and others. 

Julia Sanders Album Release Show

– w/ K.M. FULLER- ALL AGES- PARTIALLY SEATED SHOWJULIA SANDERSAmericana artist Julia Sanders’ new album Morning Star—produced by John James Tourville of The Deslondes—unfolds a meticulously arranged musical landscape anchored by transfixing vocals and a compact but thoughtful narrative style that calls to mind forebearers like Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. On Morning Star, Sanders explores the complexities of transitions: from woman to mother, partners to parents, and free-wheelin’ musician to an adult with roots and responsibilities. The album is a poetic, often dark, yet silver-lined portrait of transformation and growth. With each track, Sanders explores a different facet—a career, a partner, a child—and the range of emotions they carry with them, from joy and pleasure to struggle, loneliness and self-doubt. Unafraid to address the complexities that walk hand in hand with the bliss of having children—such as the loss of autonomy and the fracturing of identity—Morning Star provides a much-needed soundtrack to the experience of matrescence—the physical, emotional and social transition to motherhood.K.M. FULLER

Asheville’s All-Stars: The Last Waltz Anniversary

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYASHEVILLE’S ALL-STARS AND ALL ABOARD RECORDS PRESENT: THE LAST WALTZ ANNIVERSARY Asheville’s All Stars are recreating “The Last Waltz” concert and film by The Band and Martin Scorsese on Nov. 23rd at The Grey Eagle. Hosted by Eric Travers, Alex Bradley, Jonathan Lloyd, Oliver Snow, Spiro Nicolopoulos and more!!

A Tribute to Roger Miller (hosted by Cyndi Lou and The Want To)

– ALL AGES- PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW- SEATED AND STANDING ROOM ONLY TICKETS AVAILABLEA TRIBUTE TO ROGER MILLER (HOSTED BY CYNDI LOU & THE WANT TO) A proper Asheville tribute to legendary livewire Roger Miller has been a long time comin’ but we’ll be a long time hummin’ his clever catchy classics on Sunday, Jan. 29th at the Grey Eagle! Hosted by traditional country crew CyndiLou & the Want To with special guests Drayton Aldridge (Drayton & the Dreamboats), Phil Alley (Heavenly Vipers), A. Lee Edwards, Morgan Geer (Drunken Prayer), Liliana Hudgens, Brody Hunt (Brody Hunt & the Handfulls), Josh Pierce (Shake a Leg), Jake Sessoms, Jessie Smith (Jessie & the Jinx) and more!

An Evening With Martin Sexton

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– ALL AGES- PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW- GUARANTEED SEATING AND STANDING ROOM TICKETS AVAILABLEMARTIN SEXTON”The real thing, people.” -BillboardMartin Sexton returns with what RollingStone calls his “soul-marinated voice,” acoustic guitar, and a suitcase full of heartfelt songs. The 2023 Tour takes Martin across North America in support of his latest ep 2020 Vision (produced by 3-time Grammy nominee John Alagia (Lukas Nelson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews) as well as reinventing his own classics for these critically-acclaimed solo performances.Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series such as Scrubs, Parenthood, Masters of Sex, Sprung, and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for a new experience every time.