Kishi Bashi
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY KISHI BASHI The latest full-length from Kishi Bashi, Kantos is a work of exquisite duality: a party album about the possible end of humanity as we know it, at turns deeply unsettling and sublimely joyful. In a sonic departure from the symphonic folk of his critically lauded 2019 LP Omoiyari—a career-defining body of work born from his intensive meditation on the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II—the Seattle-born singer/songwriter/producer’s fifth studio album encompasses everything from Brazilian jazz and ’70s funk to orchestral rock and city pop (a Japanese genre that peaked in the mid-’80s). Informed by an equally kaleidoscopic mix of inspirations—the cult-classic sci-fi novel series Hyperion Cantos, the writings of 18th century enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, a revelatory trip to ancient ruins on the island of Crete—Kantos ultimately serves as an unbridled exaltation of the human spirit and all its wild complexities. “At a time when so many people had begun to panic about AI and what it might mean for our future, I started working on this record as a way to explore the concept of grounding ourselves in our humanity,” says the Santa Cruz, California-based multi-instrumentalist otherwise known as Kaoru Ishibashi. “The album title is a nod to Hyperion Cantos and to Immanuel Kant, but it also refers to ‘canto’ meaning ‘I sing’ in Spanish. The idea is that even with so much technological advancement, songs are still something we very much rely on to connect with other people.” The follow-up to his bluegrass-infused 2021 EP Emigrant, Kantos marks Kishi Bashi’s first full-length since Omoiyari—an album accompanied by a feature-length documentary film and praised by such outlets as NPR, who hailed it as “another sure-footed surprise from an artist who never stops seeking new ways to engage, connect and delight.” During the earliest stages of creating songs for Kantos, Ishibashi’s main intent was to return to his highly eclectic musical roots, in part by tapping into his jazz background and by delving into the dance-rock-leaning sensibilities he previously embraced as co-founder of Brooklyn-bred indie band Jupiter One. But not too long into the songwriting process, he stumbled upon an AI-equipped website capable of composing catchy song hooks based on a prompt—a turn of events that quickly catalyzed the existential inquiry at the heart of Kantos. “On the one hand I’m very intrigued by the possibilities of AI: it’s extremely powerful, and has the potential to solve a lot of important problems,” says Ishibashi. “But there’s also a great deal of value in human innovation, and I’m worried about what happens if we lose sight of that. Because if we don’t value our humanity, what are we valuing at all?” Produced by Kishi Bashi and mixed by Tucan (Hot Chip, Jungle, Aluna), Kantos unfolds with a potent and palpable energy that has much to do with his revisiting of the dance-punk acts who infiltrated the zeitgeist back in his Jupiter One days. “Being immersed in that whole scene in New York in the 2000s was very formative for me, and a lot of this record was heavily influenced by bands like The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem,” notes Ishibashi, whose past experience also includes touring and recording as a violinist for Regina Spektor. OSHIMA BROTHERS
TWEENER TUESDAY: Suns of Stars
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY DARK MOON HOLLOW Dark Moon Hollow is a four-piece bluegrass band hailing from the heart of Lexington, Kentucky, blending the rich traditions of Appalachian music with a modern edge. Over the course of eight years, the band has seen an impressive evolution, with 15 talented members contributing to its sound and identity. Today, the group features an electrifying lineup: Trigger Trey on guitar, Riley Logan on mandolin, JD Thomas holding down the rhythm on bass, and Andrew Taylor weaving captivating melodies on fiddle. Together, they create a dynamic energy that has captivated audiences across the region. The band’s debut album, Dark Moon Hollow, introduced their raw, roots-driven sound to the world, earning regional acclaim and solidifying their place in the bluegrass community. The album’s heartfelt lyrics and driving instrumentals captured the spirit of Kentucky, establishing the group as torchbearers of the state’s storied musical heritage. Building on that foundation, their sophomore album, Final Notice, showcased a bolder, more intricate approach to songwriting and arrangement. The record pushed boundaries, incorporating complex harmonies and innovative instrumental interplay, earning critical praise and cementing their reputation as a band willing to evolve while staying true to their roots. Known for their high-energy live shows and deep connection to their audience, Dark Moon Hollow has become a mainstay of the Appalachian bluegrass circuit. Despite the lineup changes, their dedication to authenticity and musical excellence has remained unwavering. With a sound that blends tradition and innovation, they continue to draw new fans while honoring the legacy of those who came before them, proving that the spirit of bluegrass is alive and thriving in their hands. SUNS OF STARS Orbiting around Asheville’s grateful music scene since late 2023, Suns Of Stars blends contemporary and traditional bluegrass with a high energy jam style. Suns Of Stars members are all hometown heroes in various musical projects around town which has led to great turnout at their shows. That, along with a massive song repertoire and growing list of original music make for a unique performance each time.
Billy Strings Pregame with Fee Fi PHaux fISH
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY Billy Strings Pregame with Fee Fi PHaux fISH After four years in the musical nursery of their weekly residency in Downtown Asheville, these phish are swimming out, and you can catch them at The Grey Eagle before Billy Strings! Alex Bazemore on Guitar, Hannah Ramsey on Keyboards, Ryan Crabtree on bass, and Benjamin Falcon on drums. Playing the music of Phish and other artist’s material they have covered, the band focuses on performing in their style. Fee Fi PHaux fISH recreates an experience like a live Phish show. Come share in the groove!
Billy Strings Pregame with Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY Billy Strings Pregame with Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band Josh Blake is a Grammy nominated musician, producer, and engineer with over 30 years of experience. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Josh now calls Asheville, North Carolina his home since setting roots there in 1997. As a musician and producer, Josh uses whatever toys are available, but on stage a guitar is his instrument of choice. He has recorded with and performed in a wide variety of bands over the past 30 years, whose styles include hip-hop, funk, reggae, bluegrass, acoustic and rock. In late 90’s and early aughts Josh toured the country from coast to coast playing 120+ shows a year with live hip-hop collective GFE. As a guitarist he has become a hired gun, playing with numerous projects both on the stage and in the studio when not playing with his passion project JBOT. Josh is also the guitar player in the house band for Asheville’s most notable and longest running weekly, The Tuesday Night Funk Jam. Having earned the respect of the city of Asheville for his musical efforts, He was selected by the city’s Downtown Association to organize and orchestrate an “Asheville All Stars” band for it’s annual summer concert series Downtown After Five. As a performer, Josh has has played clubs, theaters and festivals coast to coast, sharing the stage and playing with artists such as George Clinton and The P-Funk All Stars, Warren Haynes, STS9, Kevin Kinney, Marcus King, Lettuce, George Porter Jr., and Mike Gordon to name a few. His discography includes contributions from many notable musicians, such as Sharon Jones, Marcus King, Eric Krasno, Billy Cardine, and Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to name a few. In addition to performing, producing, and recording music, Josh is currently working to expand his business, Independent Arts and Music of Asheville. Based out of Echo Mountain Studios, IamAVL is a community web based channel focused on music and video production and live concert streaming, with an emphasis on promoting the vibrant music and arts community in Asheville as well as it’s musicians. Through that project, he has produced and engineered the iamavl original in studio concert series Echo Sessions. The show is also syndicated for rebroadcast on PBS. Through iamavl Josh has also produced video production for may large events, for clients like Widespread Panic, NPR, and The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam. As the company’s CEO Josh is not only a music industry visionary, but also continues to refine his craft as a recording and production specialist in this cutting edge platform for independent artists, and the community that supports them.
Murder By Death: Farewell Tour 2025 w/ BJ Barham
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY MURDER BY DEATH Farewell Tour Messaging:This band has always been a jumble of contradictions. On the one hand, we’ve had a long-running career where we got to make art for a living. But on the other hand, we have always eluded any kind of traditional success. We weren’t covered much in the press, we never had a song that had a lot of radio play, nothing ever went viral, we didn’t have a big social media presence, we never played a good festival spot where there was a sea of people in the audience, not once opened an arena or even a big shell auditorium show or tour. We constantly lost opportunities because of the band name and were somehow always treated like nobodies or yesterday’s news by most of the industry. But you, you gosh dang wonderful audience, managed to keep us growing, and we never had a career slump. When we were our busiest — playing over 200 shows a year — we were chronically underpaid and always barely scraping by. But people kept writing to us or telling us how much we mattered and kept showing up, and we started to believe it a little. And then over the years, we grew to a more manageable place and it seemed possible to carve out a niche in this massive, mean world of entertainment. When I reflect on how good our career was and how lucky we were, I’m left with just gratitude for the small team of folks who have worked with the band and this grassroots fan following that has lifted us up the entire time. I feel like we owe any and all our success to you. I never called us DIY — despite taking on much of the work ourselves — because there are always people behind the scenes helping: it takes a village. Thank you to the promoters, clubs, bands, managers, agents, artists, publishers, lawyers, publicists, crews, etc. etc. etc. who believed in us and everyone who made this work for so long. An enormous thank you to those of you who helped us through the many difficult periods. Thank you for your relentless support, your passionate listening, and your generosity. It’s been the honor of my life to write, record, sing and perform for you. We are currently in the studio pouring ourselves into a new album — stay tuned for it. After this tour, we plan to continue to do our cave shows so we can have a way to meet up once a year, but that’s it. Excited to see you all on this last trip out. —Adam Turla & Murder By Death BJ BARHAM (of AMERICAN AQUARIUM) For nearly two decades, American Aquarium have pushed toward that rare form of rock-and-roll that’s revelatory in every sense. “For us the sweet spot is when you’ve got a rock band that makes you scream along to every word, and it’s not until you’re coming down at three a.m. that you realize those words are saying something real about your life,” says frontman BJ Barham. “That’s what made us fall in love with music in the first place, and that’s the goal in everything we do.”
Sam Holt Band presents Remembering Mikey & Todd
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY SAM HOLT BAND PRESENTS REMEMBERING MIKEY & TODD Michael Houser was the founding guitarist and Nance the founding drummer for Widespread Panic. Houser succumbed to pancreatic cancer in August, 2002. Todd Nance passed away in August of 2020 at age 57. Sam Holt was Houser’s guitar tech and friend. Holt performed with Widespread Panic many times after Michael’s departure and went on to form the band Outformation. Holt also played with Todd Nance in several bands from 2014 – 2018. The show will feature tunes from Houser’s posthumous album Sandbox, as well as classic songs he and Nance wrote for Widespread Panic. Sam Holt Band will perform original material that was inspired by and written for the late Michael Houser. Sharing the stage with Holt is Adam Grace, keyboardist for Truth & Salvage Co., Ross Parker on bass, and Jeremy Ward on drums. “These shows will be a unique experience for Panic fans. I am a huge fan of Widespread Panic and Michael Houser’s music. It is an honor to be a part of this Celebration. He had one of the greatest musical minds of our time.” – Adam Grace “I think about Mike & Todd all the time. Playing these shows is my way to feel close to them.” – Sam Holt ——- Sweet, lowdown, and introspective, Sam Holt writes rock songs that are heartfelt and poignant expressions of life experiences that reflect his southern roots. Holt is well known for his guitar tech skills for the late Michael Houser of Widespread Panic, and for his own national touring band Outformation. Sam Holt put his own name front and center with the newly assembled Sam Holt Band, which is anchored by Holt’s distinguished guitar technique – no pick, all thumb! Sam Holt Band brings a hypnotic amalgam of outlaw twang, southern power pop, and face-melting hard rock riff-age. “I really just write from my heart. The music is out there, if I can get out of my own way it’s easier for a song to form,” says Sam. Born in Nashville, TN, Holt spent his youth surrounded by southern rock. The first bands Sam remembers liking were The Charlie Daniels Band and Elvis Presley. Once his mom brought home KISS Alive II, he knew music would be a major part of his life. Graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in recording engineering Sam went to work at Soundcheck in Nashville. In 2000, Holt became the guitar tech for Michael Houser of the wildly popular Athens, GA band Widespread Panic. Houser was impressed with Sam’s skills and told him should be playing his own music. Sadly, Houser passed away in August of 2002 after a courageous struggle with pancreatic cancer. Sam continued to tech for Widespread Panic, and made frequent onstage appearances playing lead guitar on the Summer 2006 tour. These shows were highly valued by Panic’s die-hard fan base. Armed with that experience and Mike’s encouraging words, Sam started the Atlanta, GA based band Outformation with Lee Schwartz on drums and Grady Upchurch on bass. Outformation toured for five years and recorded three albums: Tennessee Before Daylight (2005), Traveler’s Rest (2007) and Fastburn (2009).
2nd Annual Fat Tuesday Fiesta Featuring Sal Landers’ Party Rx – Weirdly Woodstock
ALL AGES TIX INCLUDE TACO BAR DINNER (DINNER FROM 6:40PM to 7:30PM) NET TICKET PROCEEDS BENEFIT ROTARY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE BREAKFAST FOUNDATION, INC. 2ND ANNUAL FAT TUESDAY FIESTA Ft. SAL LANDERS’ PARTY RX – WEIRDLY WOODSTOCK The Rotary Club of Asheville Breakfast Foundation is holding their second annual fundraiser at The Grey Eagle. Taco Bar Dinner, No Host Bar, Auction, Live Music and Dancing. Proceeds support scholarships and community grants. Bring a shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, dish soap or laundry detergent for a chance on special gift baskets. Wear your best Mardi Gras or Fiesta dress. Come to dance, have fun and support a good cause!
La Luz
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY LA LUZ “I was in a dream, but now I can see that change is the only law.” With a credo adapted from science fiction author Octavia E. Butler, an album title from a collection of metaphysical poetry, and an expansion in consciousness brought on by personal crisis, guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland learns to embrace a changing world with unconditional love on News of the Universe, the new full-length from California rock band La Luz. News of the Universe is a record born of calamity, a work of dark, beautiful psychedelia reflecting Cleveland’s experience of having her world blown apart by a breast cancer diagnosis just two years after the birth of her son. It’s also a portrait of a band in flux, marking the first appearance for drummer Audrey Johnson and the final ones from longtime members bassist Lena Simon and keyboardist Alice Sandahl, whose contributions add a bittersweet edge to a record that is both elegy for an old world and cosmic road map to a strange new one. But is there any band in the world more suited to capturing the chaos of change in all its messy beauty than La Luz? Formed by Cleveland in 2012, La Luz is beloved for their ability to balance bedlam and bliss, each new record another fine-tuning of the band’s mix of swaggering riffs with angelic vocals borrowed from doo-wop and folk; a band so reliably great that it makes the huge step forward in confidence and sheer musicality that is News of the Universe all the more formidable. Cleveland, also a writer and painter, has developed into a truly original songwriter with her own canon of haunted psychedelia that, in recent years, has drawn upon the changing landscape around her rural California home for inspiration, notably on last year’s critically acclaimed solo release, Manzanita, a magical realist documentation of her pregnancy and early motherhood that appeared on many year-end lists. Sonically, the record is all urgency. Songs trip over themselves as if trying to outrun the apocalypse: the breathless pitter-pattering of toms on “Strange World,” the title track’s finger-tangling opening riff drenched in murky distortion. An atmosphere of doom hovers hazily over the Sgt. Pepper-esque baroque pop song “Poppies,” on which Cleveland sings of a wavering orange idyll about to be set ablaze by the late summer sun. On the similarly kaleidoscopic “Dandelions,” she figures the yellow flowers for unsuspecting “little suns” soon to be “turning into moons” as the season marches on. COLOR GREEN For the California-based quartet Color Green, playing music together is all about stepping into the unknown. “When we play live, I don’t really know what’s going to happen,” says Noah Kohll, one of the band’s two guitarists and four vocalists.
The Mystery Lights + Levitation Room
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY THE MYSTERY LIGHTS The Mystery Lights story begins in 2004 in the small town of Salinas, California when friends Michael Brandon and Luis Alfonso — whose shared fondness for groups like The Mc5, Velvet Underground, Dead Moon, and The Fall (to name a few) — joined forces to craft their own brand of unhinged rock and roll. From there they spent the better part of 10 years touring relentlessly before migrating to Queens, New York in 2014.With a live show known for its visceral energy and relentless assault — leaving little to no stoppage between songs — they barreled through countless NYC haunts and DIY venues, quickly amassing a fervent local following. The buzz soon caught the attention of Daptone Records execs who were in the beginning stages of launching a new rock-centric imprint, Wick Records. Impressed by the groups’ groove, endless supply of energy, and understanding of musical history, The Mystery Lights were quickly signed to Wick. Though a rock band at heart, the parallels to what Daptone Records had traditionally looked for in their soul artists was undeniable. LEVITATION ROOM In Los Angeles, where the weight and pressure of the city’s fast paced culture can make your legs feel like pillars, emerges psychedelic quartet, Levitation Room, to break the bonds of gravity with their cosmic wall of sound and thought provoking lyrics. “Just as their name suggests, Levitation Room’s music instills the listeners ears with a light feeling of floating. The dreamy guitar and Lo-Fi projections of psychedelic rock and garage are reminiscent of a deep 1960’s era, but still grounded in an alternative dreamgaze flavor that permeates modern indie music today.” – OC Weekly. Their decidedly hallucinogenic songs whisper and hum the same gentle refrain of their summer of love influences, conjuring up the cognitive imagery of sunny days at the park, spent with friends in a euphoric haze along with lyrical and sonic meditations on life, love, society and self-awareness. In tradition, and much like the bands and musical troubadours that inspired them, Levitation Room started out with late night jam sessions in a dimly lit garage between fellow musicians and long time friends, Julian Porte and Gabriel Fernandez. Julian, a dedicated street musician who felt he needed a broader platform, found chemistry with Gabriel, who he knew as a guitar player in various teenage punk and garage bands around town. Coming together in 2012, they bonded over a shared love of British Invasion groups (The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones) and 1960’s psychedelic outfits like The Grateful Dead, Electric Prunes, The Pretty Things and began drafting their earliest tunes. DESIGNER With their own distinct spice that is ever so potent, Designer successfully summons the holy Grail of punk rawk. On the surface, Designer is a perfect equation — with sexy guitar riffs, pounding drums, driving bass, and witchy goddess female vocals — Designer is a frickin baked rockin’ cake! – Devyn Marzuola, Asheville FM
Scott H. Biram
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY SCOTT H BIRAM Scott H. Biram unleashes a fervent display of conviction through, not only the genuine blues, classic country, bluegrass, and rock n roll, but he seals the deal with punk, heavy metal, and frankly, anything else he wants to. He’s The Dirty Old One Man Band. He will still the room with haunting South Texas blues, then turn it upside down, into a truck driver’s mosh pit. Like he says, it might be baptism, or it might be murder, either way…you gonna see the light. This legally ordained preacher’s singing, yodeling, growling, leering and brash preachin’ and hollerin’ is accompanied by sloppy riffs, and licks literally yanked, one at a time, out of his collection of crusty, worn out, Gibson hollowbody guitars, and battle axes. All this held down with a pounding backbeat brought forth by his amplified left foot, and self customed stomp board. The remainder of this brutally charming one-man band consists of an unwieldy combination of beat-up amplifiers and old microphones strung together by a tangled mess of guitar cables. Don’t get too close! You gonna get some grease on ya! Years of compulsive touring, along with a steady diet of down and dirty blues, rock, punk, country, and hillbilly have developed Scott H. Biram’s signature concoction, attracting a hefty array of fans who dig the bizarre and twisted sides of the rock and roll spectrum. His live shows, performed all over the world, deliver a take no prisoners attitude, a stomping, pulsing John Lee Hooker-channeling, and cockeyed tales of black water baptisms and murder, all while romanticizing the on-the-road lifestyle. SCOTT H. BIRAM IS THE DIRTY OLD ONE MAN BAND. ©1974 THE JD PINKUS TRIPTYCH The JD Pinkus Triptych is the natural progression for Pinkus. After years of playing with the likes of Butthole Surfers, Melvins, Helios Creed, Honky, Pure Luck, and more, he settled into a solo career of psychedelic banjo or as he calls it ‘Space Grass’. After purchasing an old church in West Asheville, known now as the Frijoleness Church of West Asheville with his wife, they began curating monthly Sunday shows and the Taco Tuesday Jam Sessions (no guitars allowed). Out of those jams came a band made of Banjo, Piano, and an experimental Cocktail Drum Kit all playing JD Pinkus songs from his past and some new ones to add since the inception. On Piano is Billy Sheeran a solo artist/session player/soundtrack composer who performed on Pinkus’ last album Grow A Pear and on Drums is Richard Kirby, multi instrumental/skateboarding/tattooist with roots in the Desert music scene and the Appalachian mountains. The catalog is as diverse as the members of the band and have been in the studio recording as well as booking up shows starting the Springtime of 2025.
