May 10-13   LEAF - Lake Eden Art Festival     LEAF is one of the treasured traditions for families and friends across the southeast. Held annually at at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, a weekend at LEAF is the equivalent of going on a year-long multi-cultural music, arts, dance, and outdoor adventures journey to "recharges your batteries". A few aspects that make LEAF popular is the family friendly atmosphere, the diverse sampling of arts and music, the beautiful setting, and the intimate size.

Find local information on the Black Mountain NC Visitor Guide

Do Tell StoryFest in Hendersonville this Weekend

February 11-12   Do Tell StoryFest   3rd annual Festival Held at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown Theatre, listen to stories from rhymes to folk tales to history to modern personal stories from the region's best performers.

The Saturday festival concert features renown storyteller and singer Michael Reno Harrell.Harrell is an award winning songwriter, as well as a veteran storyteller and entertainer from the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Michael's  stories are familiar and razor sharp with a point. His brand of entertainment appeals to a diverse audience.

Other StoryFest participants include:

David Novak is a remarkable speaker with a background in theatre arts including Shakespeare, clowning, creative dramatics, playwriting, and directing.
Sherry Lovett has been a storyteller for twelve years starting when she was a middle school teacher.Karen-Eve is an international storyteller, Henderson County native,  former General Manager of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and is the creator and director of Do Tell festival.
Vixi Jil  known as Sister Silly Goose has been reading, writing, and telling ancient Celtic faerie tales, as well as old timey mountain Jack tales for over 27 years.Candler Willis is a multi-talented renaissance man who time shifts between the 19th and 21st century!Elena Miller a winner of the prestigious national Freeman Tilden Award, began performing at age 12 and continues on to today.
Ronnie Pepper has 22 years experience working as an educator of young children and is now Director of Henderson County Head Start Centers.
Gwenda LedBetter has taught and told stories for fifty years, beginning her work in Asheville’s  Pack Library and in "Tales from the Red Rocker "on WLOS-TV.

Get a link for StoryFest and other
Hendersonville NC events and Attractions HERE.

Asheville Hosts 20th Annual "All That Jazz Weekend"

January 27-29 20th Annual All That Jazz Weekend  -  Another spectacular weekend of "All Things Jazz" with special performances by The John Pizzarelli Quartet on Friday evening, Jessica Molaskey & Aaron Weinstein Trio on Saturday evening and a special Saturday afternoon concert with the Lenore Raphael Duo featuring Herman Burney.

This event has earned national recognition as one of the premiere jazz festivals of the Southeast. Evening and afternoon concerts in the Grand Ballroom along with fun activities and live music throughout the rest of the resort make this a weekend that will satisfy even the most discriminating jazz enthusiast.

The event is held at The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa with packages available, Package price: $124.75 (average per person, per night), based on 2 night stay* The spa and spa services are renowned, scenic golf course, sports complex with pool - tennis - racquetball - training. Onsite restaurants, lounge, bars. A large variety of rooms and suites, varying stages of updates with some original Inn antiques.

Get a link for All That Jazz and the Grove Park Inn HERE

Saluda Hometown Christmas Celebration this Weekend

December 9-10    Saluda Hometown Christmas   A Christmas celebration throughout this charming little town. Enjoy live music, holiday refreshments and merchants "open houses". The event ends with a services at the Saluda Presbyterian Church.
Friday evening festivities begin at 6 PM with the city-wide open house. The Christmas tree lighting is at 7 PM in Veterans Park and the Ecumenical Service Saluda Presbyterian Church begins at 8 :30 PM.

Saturday events begin with a Children’s Workshop at Saluda Fire Department from 9:30 AM - 1 PM. At 2 PM the FIRST Saluda Christmas Parade marches down Main Street.

Music Venues from 6 PM - 8 PM:

• Cathy Jackson Realty & Top of the Mornin’
  (across bridge)- Suzuki Players - Strings
• Saluda Community Library - Blue Ridge Flute Ensemble -
  Suzanne Haskell & Friends
• Saluda Police Department - Cass Haskell and Larry Keith - Guitar and Base
• Purple Onion - Robert Seiler - Keyboard
• Heartwood - Montreat Duo - Ben Smith and Karen Entzie - Cello and Violin
• Evening Shade Pottery - Kyle and Cassidy Sorenson - Guitar
• Historic Thompson’s Store & Ward’s Grill - Sonya Monts - Dancer’s Extension
• Saluda Grade - Skeezik - Celtic Ensemble - Alan Dillman and Friends
• M. A. Pace - Joah and Daphne Bickley - Strings
• Somewhere in Time - James Metcalf and the Green River Boys
• Macon Bank - Todd Neel and Friends - Old Time Music
• Joni’s Artisanal Wine & Beer - Frank Beeson - Guitar
• Wildflour Bakery and Café - Cat and Friends - Vocal
• Saluda Inn & Wine Cellar (Greenville St.) - Naughty Pillows - Harmonic Trio
• Christmas Tree Lighting at Veteran’s Park -7:00pm
• Saluda Presbyterian Church - 8:00 - Sophie Young, Grace Lauer, and
  Zoe Parsons - Violin Trio - 8:30 - Ecumenical Service 

Get a link for the Saluda Hometown Christmas and other
Saluda events, lodging and visitor information HERE

15 th Annual Old Time Music Competition in Brevard

October 29    Old Time Music Competition   Transylvania County offers some of the best in mountain music when the downtown Brevard hosts the 15th Annual Old Time Music Competition. The competition begins at 10:30 am at the Courthouse Gazebo and ends with the Old Time String Band Competition from 8:00pm-10:00pm.

Musicians can compete in several categories: Junior Fiddle, Folk Song, Lap Dulcimer, Old Time Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, and Old Time String Band. Come and support! Come listen. Come play. Come stay all day and honor the music that is so much a part of  mountain heritage.

Get a link for the Old Time Music Competition and other 

Brevard NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE

Banjos of the Blue Ridge

October 9 - The Blue Ridge Music Center October Heritage Series begins with a performance-talk that will showcase different banjos styles in the Blue Ridge from clawhammer, to two and three finger picking styles. Four banjo players from the region: Trish Fore, Bobby Patterson, Jeff Michaels and Brien Fain will perform and talk about their music and style. Folklorist, Gregg Kimball will moderate. This event will take place indoors in the Blue Ridge Music Center small theater, an intimate setting with superb acoustics. Seating is limited so advance reservations are recommended.

Brien Fain is a seventh generation mountain musician from Patrick County who grew up steeped in music from both his mother's and father's sides of the family. Brien has likely won more blue ribbons for his banjo playing at old-time contests across the country than any other player.

Trish Kilby Fore, born and raised in Ashe County, North Carolina, plays a hard-driving mountain style influenced by Emily Spencer, Harold B. Hausenfluck, Enoch Rutherford, Larry Pennington, and Ola Belle Reed. She has played in many bands including the Fox Creek Ramblers, the Blue Ridge Mountain Ramblers, and the Mount Rogers Ramblers. A regular at area fiddlers' conventions, Trish won first place in the old-time banjo contest at the 2008 Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention

Jeff Michaels hails from Wilkes county and doesn't consider himself an old-time or bluegrass banjo picker. He just likes to play the melody. Jeff is often heard playing or singing with Big Country Bluegrass and the Elkville Stringband. He plays drop-thumb, clawhammer, two and three finger banjo styles.

Bobby Patterson has played banjo for over fifty years. He learned to play from his uncle Tyra Cook, Charles Hawks and other musicians who lived in the Coal Creek area. Presently, Bobby plays banjo, guitar and sings with Willard Gayheart and Sugar Creek band. In 2009, Bobby received the Virginia Heritage Award for his lifetime playing, recording and preserving music from the Blue Ridge.

The Banjos of the Blue Ridge performance-talk begins at 2 PM. Seating opens at 1:45pm And admission is free. Phone (276) 236-5309 x112 to reserve seating.

All of the October Heritage Events are free thanks to support from Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the National Council for the Traditional Arts.  The Blue Ridge Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and is open 9-5 seven days a week through October 30. Come see the new Roots of American Music exhibition and sit awhile in our covered breezeway and listen to Mid-Day Mountain Music from 12-4pm daily. There is no fee for Visitor Center activities.

44th Anbual Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival this Weekend

October 1  Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival An all-day festival celebrating music and dance traditions of the southern Appalachian mountains. The event is the second oldest folk festival in western North Carolina and was named in honor of cofounder Bascom Lamar Lunsford, a musician and folklorist who dedicated his life to collecting and promoting the music of the region.

The festival, which is now in its 44th year, features music and dance performances, jam circles, and a ballad and story swap. The daytime concert takes place on the Upper Quad of the Mars Hill College campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an 11 a.m. performance by the Bailey Mountain Cloggers and a 1-3 p.m. Ballad and Story Swap. Admission to the daytime performances is free. The evening concert in Moore Auditorium begins at 7 p.m. Join us in celebrating the rich cultural traditions of the Southern Appalachians!

Labor Day Weekend Events: Smoky Mountain Folk Festival

September 2-3   40th Annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival -    Two evenings filled with hundreds of talented artists providing the best in Smoky Mountain Music and Dance. The "Open tent" begins at 5 PM on Friday and Saturday, and the Main Stage Show follows at 5:30 PM until…

The Festival features a huge variety of mountain music and dance including fiddlers, banjo players, string bands, ballad singers, buck dancers, square dance teams as well as the wondrous sounds of dulcimer, harmonica, jew's harp, bagpipes, spoons, saws, and folk ensembles of all sorts. Get a schedule here.

Tickets available at the Junaluska Administrative Office, Haywood County Arts Council & at the door. Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. The Smoky Mountain Folk Festival is held annually Labor Weekend in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska, NC.

Shinefest 2011 at Fontana Village Resort

August 19 - 21 at Fontana Village Resort, 300 Woods Road, Fontana Dam NC - Shinefest 2011.  This year's festival includes artists  Matt Stillwell • Blackberry Smoke • Black Lillies • Dean Dillon • Jim Lauderdale • Tammi Kidd • Lynn Hutton • Mickey Jack Cones • David Borne • Larry Patton• Underhill Rose.

Gates open at 10 AM on Friday with events continuing until 2 PM on Sunday. Purchase tickets in advance and save. If the event sells out, no tickets will be available at the gate.   Get ticket details here.

Accomodations and camp sites are available for the weekend.  Fontana Village Resort, a year round destination resort, is set amidst the pristine beauty of the Nantahala Forest of western North Carolina, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The area’s breathtaking mountain vistas and panoramic views from Fontana & Cheoah lakes provide memories to last a lifetime.

The Village has a wide range of accommodations, including rooms in the intimate settings of The Lodge, suites, cabins, as well as RV & tent camping on the beautiful Cheoah Lake. Add conference space, complimentary wi-fi service, restaurants, General Store, gift shops, outfitters, pools, marina, massage and fitness center, bike shop, horseback riding, miles of on-site trails suitable for biking and hiking, and it’s easy to see why Fontana is the Great Smoky Mountain Destination.

Asheville's Bele Chere Festival is Bigger and Better than ever - and still FREE!

July 29-31   Bele Chere Festival  is the largest FREE street festival in the Southeast. Held in downtown Asheville each July., the Festival includes arts & crafts, food, entertainment, interactive events, and a children’s activity area. The event draws about 300,000 visitors each year.

This year the event includes more music with bands performing at Bele Chere playing extended 90 minute sets. Festival-goers will be able to catch multiple acts performing at the same time on different stages.  Friday night's performance is headlined by the up and coming Mark Broussard. Touted as the next "big thing" in the music biz, you can see him for free at Bele Chere! Be sure to check out some of the great local bands including, Balsam Range, Skinny Legs & All, Vertigo Jazz Project, Paper Tiger and the Secret B-Sides.

The Festival food offerings will be more diverse this year combining the Pritchard Park food court for traditional festival fair such as gyro's, funnel cakes, hot dogs and snowballs,  with local flavor from the Taste of Asheville section located at Pack Square Park. A number of renowned restaurants will be on hand including Mela, Corner Kitchen and Vincenzo's.

The Festival always provides fun for the youngsters and this year there will be a kid zone in the Asheville Civic Center for crafts, ticketed rides and exhibits, all in a secure (and air-conditioned) arena. Catch the hula hoop demonstration, sing-a-longs and cool wildlife demonstrations courtesy of the WNC Nature Center. Another fun activity for the family is Airdogs! Watch a variety of pooches try to capture the title of top dog in this dock jumping competition. This popular Bele Chere event offers audience members a chance to win prizes as well (no jumping required).

The Bele Chere mural returns this year encouraging creativity by all ages. Leave your mark on the multi-panel display. New for 2011 - a mobile art lab will be on hand complete with a photo booth. The photos will be projected onto the BB&T building throughout the festival.

If you've always wanted to learn a special dance step there will be interactive performances on Lexington Avenue: enjoy a zumba lesson, learn a new dance routine and perform it live at the festival or participate in the community drum circle. Ball room, Two step, and clogging are also planned.

Beat the heat with two mist tents located at Pritchard Park on College St. and outside of Blue Spiral Gallery on Broadway Ave. For more than mist head over to Pack Square Park and Splasheville, a "come-on-in" water feature that provides instant relief from July temps.

Late Night: Bele Chere winds down around 10 PM on both Friday and Saturday nights, but that doesn't mean the party has to end. Many restaurants surrounding the downtown area will be running Bele Chere specials. Enjoy a great late-night dinner or snack at popular eateries including Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro, Rosetta's Kitchen and MoDaddy's.

Folkmoot USA Festival begins this week

July 21-31  Folkmoot USA Festival - The State International Festival of North Carolina, Folkmoot USA, is a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance. The Festival is held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, featuring performances, a parade and workshops by up to 350 performers from ten to twelve countries. Performers demonstrate cultural heritage through colorful, authentic and original reproduction costumes, lively dance and traditional music. During its 27-year history, over 200 folk groups from more than 100 countries have shared their heritage and culture at the Folkmoot Festival.

Alleghany Fiddlers Convention in the Blue Ridge Mountains

July 15-16   Alleghany Fiddlers Convention  Enjoy traditional mountain music that is sure to get your toes tappin’ at the annual Alleghany Fiddler’s Convention. Competitions include Blue Grass and old time mountain music for Bands and individuals, youth and adult catagories with $2850 in cash prizes.

The annual event draws 40 to 60 bands and over 200 individual competitors. Fans of mountain music won’t be disappointed. Featuring the Lonesome River Band on Saturday. The convention is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds in Sparta, with lots available for camping.

NC Summer Festivals: Carolina Mountain Ribfest

 July 8- 10   Carolina Mountain Ribfest  The Ribfest  features World Class professional barbecue rib vendors from all over the country, live entertainment, amusement rides, arts & crafts and more.

The Asheville area event offers mouth watering, award winning BBQ Ribs, Brisket, Pulled Pork and Chicken, with all the traditional side dishes. Music at the Fest includes a full schedule of Top Name Live Entertainment daily featuring national, regional and local acts. Visit the Carnival and Midway filled with spectacular rides for adults, childrens rides, games and more.
Admission: Adults - $6.00Children under 12 - FREE . Fletcher NC (suburb of Asheville)

4th of July Weekend Event: Celebrate with Music in the Mountains

June 29 - July 3   Betwen  LITTLE SWITZERLAND and SPRUCE PINE -  Live Music and More - the Historic  Orchard at Altapass  Live music and dancing, hayrides, storytelling, nature walks and lots of fun every Wed - Sun in season.

July 1   HENDERSONVILLE -  Music on Main Street Concert Series  Every Friday evening from June - August . The event feature " oldies rock, beach music, variety and top 40 music. Bring a chair and enjoy the FREE  music.

July 1    NEWLAND   The Newland River Walk Concert Series   6 PM - 9 PM   A variety of music and entertainment in a family atmosphere. Bring your blanket, pop-up tent, table, chairs, cooler or whatever, for a family picnic while enjoying the summer long series.  Located at the Newland River Walk Band shell (adjacent to Lowes parking lot).
July 1 - 4   BRYSON CITY   Inspirations "Singing in the Smokies"   Southern Gospel singing with The Inspirations and more at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

July 2   BRYSON CITY  - Music in the Mountains - Free Concerts   The Grove Band   Every Saturday night from June through Oct, enjoy a FREE concert in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Depot from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Sit in one of the old church pews on the covered depot deck or bring a lawn chair to enjoy the show.

July 2   ASHEVILLE   Shindig on the Green   A joyously spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, ballad singers, storytellers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers.  Stage show and informal jam sessions.
July 2 - 3   CASHIERS   3rd Annual "Cashiers Mountain Music Festival"   Hear Doc Watson & David Holt, Balsam Range, Rye Holler Boys and some of the most talented bluegrass musicians around! This is an event for the entire family with arts & crafts and a fun zone for the kids, concluding with a spectacular display of fireworks. Tickets must be purchased.

July 3 - 5   FLAT ROCK   Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock  The Music of Motown.   Summer Music on the Rock Concerts offer audiences a variety of music of well-known artists performed by exceptional singers and musicians.

 

4th of July Weekend Event: Cashiers Mountain Music Festival

July  2 - 3   3rd Annual "Cashiers Mountain Music Festival"  This special event has quickly become one of the most popular music festivals in the Southeast.  This year nationally known and regionally loved Balsam Range will be the headlining act for day one  while NC bluegrass legend Doc Watson will close out the festival on day two, accompanied by David Holt.
In addition to the top-notch performances everyone will enjoy, there will be delicious food and beverages available, a kids zone, a car show, a vendor area for local area merchants to display and sell their wares, and an arts and crafts show.As always, a fireworks display will mark the end of the festival after Watson’s Sunday night performance with the spectacular display.

Purchase tickets online by July 1 and save $5.00 over the regular gate admission. Click here for a complete schedule.

Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival 2011

June 1-12 from 10 AM - 11 PM at at Harmon Field in Tryon, NC:  Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival.  Admission is $7, with children 12 and under admitted free.

Music and performances:
The big Main Stage hosts the feature acts and headliners. Dance or just listen to two days and nights of great music.  Located in an idyllic spot along the laughing Pacolet River near the head of the Foothills Crafts Fair, the Riverside Stage boasts more of a softer songwriters’ venue in an intimate setting. Get more information on the Festival's entertainment schedule and lineup:  Festival Music section.

Foothills Craft Fair
Bring your canvas shopping bag and prepare to be delighted by the fine items in the Foothills Crafts Fair. Dotted along the Pacolet River, many of our artisans demonstrate their skills and enjoy chatting with you about their craft.

The Food
The heart and the soul of the Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is the competition cook teams with their rigs set up to vie for prestige, cash prizes and awards in this, the North Carolina State Barbecue Championship. The top ranking team from North Carolina also wins the coveted Governor’s Trophy. Teams must compete in all four sanctioned categories; Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork and Beef Brisket to be considered for Grand Champion.

The 2011 Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is predicted to be the best ever, according to Steering Committee members who are already hard at work to produce the event, "We've got an enthusiastic group of people working hard on some very good new ideas," said Festival Chairman Chuck Britton. "We don't want to change anything that people have grown to love about the Festival. We just want to add to the whole experience for each person who participates - and that includes guests, cook teams, sponsors, volunteers, everyone!"  Watch the new TV commercial 

Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival on Memorial Day

May 30   On Memorial Day head for Flat Rock NC and the annual   Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival. The grounds of the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site come alive with the folk music which was an important part of Carl Sandburg's life. Sandburg was known best for his writing but also valued  guitar playing and singing. Live entertainment will include instrumentals, folk ballads and spiritual songs.

Memorial Day Events: White Squirrel Festival in Brevard

May 28 - 29 Go NUTS in Brevard at this Memorial Day Weekend's The White Squirrel Festival. The events has been voted "Best Spring Music Festival in Western North Carolina" by the reader's of the Asheville Citizen Times.

The Festival begins Saturday Mourning with the Memorial Day Parade at 9:00 AM followed by the “Presentation of the Wreath” at 10:00 AM. Events  also include the popular Squirrel Box Derby and Brevard Rotary's Annual 5K/10K White Squirrel Race. Enjoy more than a dozen FREE musical acts on both Saturday and Sunday. Get details and a complete schedule here.

8th Annual Monford Arts and Music Festival in Asheville

May 21  the 8th Annual Monford Arts and Music Festival  in Asheville offers two stages filled with continuous live music and entertainment from featured local and national artists, all with a tie to Asheville's historic Monford District.  Over 100 vendors with Art, food, crafts and native garden plants will be packed into two streets with something for everyone from a special children's area, a traveling Art Van, to strolling Shakespearian actors and even a Chinese Dancing Lion. Handicap accessible.

Asheville's Downtown After Five Begins 2011 Season

May 20  Downtown after Five  resumes for 2011.  Enjoy FREE live music entertainment in downtown Asheville NC every third Friday, May through September. Locals and visitors alike head for downtown Asheville to support local businesses and entertainers. You;ll also find food and drink vendors with delicious local fares to savor with the music.