Lean into the blue: Town Mountain celebrates 20 years
It’s safe to say that the whirlwind sounds and vibrant tones of Town Mountain (now referred to as “Americana”) were ahead of their time when the band first came to fruition in 2005 in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Folkmoot welcomes Zoe & Cloyd
Popular Asheville-based Americana/folk act Zoe & Cloyd will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
Americana, blues at Cataloochee Ranch
Musical duo Brian Ashley Jones and Melanie Jean will perform from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
Cup of compassion: Concert to aid Zuma Coffee following Helene
When Hurricane Helene roared through Western North Carolina last fall, the storm ravaged and decimated several small mountain towns. One of the most devastated communities was Marshall (population 777) in the rural landscape of Madison County.
Coming home: Following his departure from Balsam Range, Buddy Melton looks ahead
At age 55, Buddy Melton decided to make a major change in his life, which resulted in his recent departure from Haywood County bluegrass juggernaut Balsam Range.
From low to high: Georgia musicians promote hurricane relief in WNC
Sunny sea-level Savannah, Georgia, is known for a lot of things — historic colonial beauty, low country cuisine and a wide-open bar culture that benefits from/endures one of the nation’s few open container laws — but it also has a rich musical legacy that locals are now using to help victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
Till the wheels fall off: A conversation with Charlie Starr
Amid this modern era of rock music, Blackberry Smoke is the absolute epitome of what it means to plug in your guitar, crank the amplifier and tap into that sacred two-way interaction of sound and scope, energy and enthusiasm residing at the heart of live performance.
Orchestra rolls into Highlands
A renowned jazz/soul ensemble, the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands.
All across America and around the world, audiences have fallen in love with these two sophisticated Southern gentlemen (Davis & Johnson) and the high-energy show featuring the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra.
Heart of the arts
You sure as heck can pack a lot into 365 days, especially when it comes to the immensely vibrant arts and culture scenes right here in our backyard of Western North Carolina.
A year in review: The best albums of 2024
Editor’s Note: Since August 2012, Garret K. Woodward has held the position of arts and entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News. In December 2018, he also became a contributing writer for Rolling Stone.
Below are a handful of excerpts from my Rolling Stone travels this year covering some of the best albums of 2024, excursions that took me from Maine to Montana, Florida to New York, Utah to Kentucky and then some — always in search of all things beautiful and true, especially when it comes to the sacred act of live performance.