What should still be playing Now, the truth is that I have an almost perfect record of not attending Bele Chere. OK, so I got cajoled, bamboozled and frankly tricked into filling helium balloons at the Xpress booth one year, but I'd prefer not to think about that. So I find it fairly easy to … Read more
The mountains and rivers surrounding Asheville offer ample opportunities to escape the sweltering crowds and chaos of Bele Chere. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides easy access to numerous hikes among lofty peaks. Only about a 25-minute drive north of Asheville on the scenic roadway, the Craggy Gardens area near milepost 364 is a convenient starting … Read more
"Come prepared for raucous humor, bad girls, noteworthy indecency, empowered, naked wit and naked ladies." No, this is not a report on late-night downtown debauchery following Bele Chere. It's in the press release for No She Didn't! Good Girls Gone Bad and the Dances That Happen. The show, which runs at The Magnetic Field, uses … Read more
Here's the scenario: You're downtown and you're craving a bite of something good, but want to avoid the chaos of Bele Chere proper. May we suggest heading to the The Lot, Asheville’s food truck court at 51 Coxe Ave. Nate Kelly, owner and operator of the Lowdown food truck, says the Lot will remain open … Read more
Head east (OK, only as far as Black Mountain) for "a night of shared songs" — which, by its name alone, is pretty much the antithesis of a street festival. This show, held at the airy and relaxing White Horse Black Mountain, includes Annie Lalley, Joe Ebel, Ray Chesna and Jimmy Landry. Asheville native Annie … Read more
Kudos to Michael Ivey for standing up for conspiracy theorists everywhere [”The Term ‘Conspiracy Theory’ is a Conspiracy,” July 18 Xpress]. Until reading his contribution, I was not aware that the concept of “conspiracy theorist” was itself the result of a conspiracy theory by secret agents, designed to undermine the credibility of those who detect … Read more
What do you do when you’re scheduled for a 36-hour plane ride and your luggage includes a 150-pound carved wooden drum? (Don't even try to close the overhead compartment on that one.) Most of Folkmoot's performers make the most of their demanding trips. Take Batimbo, a drumming group from Burundi in East Africa. You may … Read more
Friday, July 27 Coxe Avenue Stage 5 – 6 Spicy Moustache & the Flavor Saviors Funk 6:30 – 7:45 The Buchanan Boys Country 8:15 – 9:45 Blackberry Smoke Southern Rock Biltmore Stage 5 – 6:15 Whitney Moore Latin/World 6:45 – 8 David Mayfield Parade Americana 8:30 – 10 Lucero Rock Battery Park Stage 4:30 – … Read more
