The Mountain Sports Festival returns to Asheville on May 24-26, 2013

The Mountain Sports Festival returns to Asheville on
May 24-26, 2013
Introduces Outdoor Gear Builders Village

Get your groove on at Mountain Sports Festival in the spectacular mountain town of Asheville, NC on May 24-26, 2013! Hiking, biking, paddling, running, cyclocross, races, local beer, lots of exhibitors, workshops & an amazing lineup of live music!

SPORTS – Triathlon, 5k, Rock2Rock, Disc Golf, Ultimate, YOGA, Cyclocross

MUSIC – With a great lineup of indie and local bands; Brushfire Stankgrass , Bonerama , Jeff Sipe Trio, The Fritz, The Packway Handle Band, Jason Daniello, Jon Stickley Trio, Bear Down Easy, The Whiskey Grins, Chalwa, Cedric Burnside & Eleanor Underhill Solo!

CAUSES – Asheville Greenworks, Western North Carolina Alliance & Riverkeeper, City of Asheville Parks & Recreation

BEER – In cooperation with Highland Brewing Company  & Oskar Blues

The MSF Festival Village is located at Carrier Park on Amboy Road along the scenic French Broad River in west Asheville offering wide open spaces and plenty of parking and room to spread out and enjoy all the great MSF activities. Directions: http://mountainsportsfestival.com/events/map

 ***   ***   ***

The Mountain Sports Festival returns to Asheville on May 24-26, 2013, with an impressive lineup to entice any pro or amateur athlete to test themselves in mountain sports. The 3 day festival brings in over 15,000 visitors and competitors in Asheville, NC, the center of the East Coast outdoor life.  Along with the competition, athletes and spectators alike will find plenty of action at the Festival Village at Carrier Park, located along the French Broad River in Asheville.

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountain region of the Appalachians, Asheville is the venue for a long list of competitive events coupled with entertainment, demos and exhibitors. Many sports festivals offer competition, but few add the mountainous terrain to take it up a notch for serious challenge and endurance.  When not out at the races, the Festival Village is the place to be along the scenic French Broad River in West Asheville.

This year Mountain Sports Festival introduces Outdoor Gear Builders Village. The Festival has worked to bring a focus on local manufacturing, bringing 15 of the mountains most innovative and unique Outdoor Gear manufacturers.  The Outdoor Gear Builders Village will be packed with outdoor adventure gear manufacturers and exhibitors showing off their wares, while demonstrating all the latest equipment with tips and techniques for enjoying the outdoors.

Races and competitions will take place throughout the weekend, beginning with Rock-2-Rock Trail Run in Black Mountain and the Disc Golf Challenge at Festival Village. These events will showcase some of the best disc golf tricks and shots, followed by the Asheville Cyclocross, Race beginning at Festival Village. Things will heat up early on Saturday with a full schedule of high-energy competition highlighted by the Girls on the Run Rise & Shine 5k, Mountain Disc Golf Challenge, French Broad Challenge Triathlon, Dodgeball Tournament and Complimentary Yoga.  By Sunday, the events are still in high gear with day two of the Mountain Disc Golf Experience, Sand Volleyball Tournament, and the Ultimate Frisbee Clinic.

The Festival Village Main Stage will be going solid, beginning Friday night and running through Sunday afternoon with a broad mix of live music featuring local and national acts. This Year’s headliners are locals Brushfire Stankgrass on Friday and Bonerama from New Orleans on Saturday Night. The full lineup includes Jeff Sipe Trio, The Fritz, Jeff Sipe Trio, The Packway Handle Band, Jason Daniello, Jon Stickley Trio, Bear Down Easy, The Whiskey Grins, Chalwa, Cedric Burnside & Eleanor Underhill Solo.

About Mountain Sports Festival

The Mountain Sports Festival is organized by a volunteer group of community oriented citizens dedicated to the presenting of a well balanced series of outdoor events that encourage participation on all levels.

www.MountainSportsFestival.com

Read Full Post »

H.E.A.L.E. Festival: Benefit for Debrissa McKinney ~ August 25th at Avery’s Spring Disc Golf Course

We Love Debrissa ❤

Debrissa McKinney. Photo By Lori Sky Twohy/ LST Images

The Heal Everyone & Love Everyone Festival is an event dedicated to Debrissa Mckinney. This is a free event and has been put together in order to raise money in order to help Debrissa pay for her medical expenses. Debrissa has recently fought a battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma and now is fighting another battle with her medical bills.

H.E.A.L.E. Festival

Saturday, August 25th

11am- 7pm

 Avery’s Spring Disc Golf Course

2010 Brevard Road in Arden, NC.

Silent auction, Kids Area, Food, Beer & lots more!

FREE! Donations are welcome ❤

Donation checks for Debrissa can be made out to “HEALE FEST”
The address to send checks to is:
HEALE FEST
PO BOX 8051
Asheville, NC 28814

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Duende Mountain Duo
Secret B-Sides
Kung Fu Dymamite
and more!

Read Full Post »

Smilefest New Artists Announcement! Jeb and Tara Duo added!

The Reunion: 2011

Mountain Roots Management is proud to bring another Smilefest Reunion to the musical family of Smilefest supporters past and present. The 2011 event promises to be something special!  Smilefest Reunion 2011 is scheduled to take place June 3-5, 2011 at Jomeokee Campground in Pinnacle, NC.

This private, invitation only event offers 2 stages, acoustic late night jams, VIP packages, RV and Vehicle Camping passes, and capped ticket sales at 1499 patrons. Smilefest Reunion 2011 promises to be a treat to all the Smile Folk that attend, guaranteeing an intimate experience between patrons, artists and festival.  Nestled below Pilot Mountain, the 100 acre plot has plenty of covered and open camping, rolling hills, scenic mountains and a near perfect amphitheatre which hosts the side-by-side stages.

Photo by John D Kurc

Smilefest is very excited to announce their 2nd and final round of Artist Additions to the Smilefest Reunion 2011. With so much amazing music rooted in the history of this event, a lot of hard work has gone into bringing the utmost in talent old and new.

.

Smilefest is very excited to have added to our Sunday closing a special duo set from Jeb and Tara (of Donna and the Buffalo). Others performing over the weekend include: Railroad Earth, JJ Grey and Mofro, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Danny Barnes and more!

.

Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear, of Donna the Buffalo, have crafted a feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that has evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. As a band, Donna the Buffalo is known for touring the country while remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands and Encore states they have “earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today.”

.

The dynamic songwriting tandem of Americana Roots vocalists Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins have penned over 150 songs in their collaboration with DTB and have many more in the making. Their set at Smilefest is a special duo set which is always enjoyable for their fans to hear their favorite DtB songs in stripped down arrangements.

.

This May, Nevins is also releasing a 2nd solo album Wood and Stone which showcases her ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. The album was produced by Larry Campbell with guests including Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams and more and will be put out through Sugar Hill Records. In 2008, Puryear released a solo album, Hopes and Dreams, through GrassRoots Festival Records. Donna the Buffalo’s 2008 release Silverlined, on Sugar Hill Records, rose to #8 on the Americana Music Chart and the full band is in studio this spring working on their next album with John Keane in Athens, GA.

.

Other Smilefest Artist Additions include:

BIG DADDY BLUEGRASS BAND, RALPH RODDENBERRY (Late Night Pickin’ Set), BIG SOMETHING, BOBBY MILLER and the VIRGINIA DAREDEVILS (Late Night Pickin’ Set), DUK TAN, FROM A SEED, and MATT NICHOLS

.

For the full Smilefest Reunion 2011 Artist Lineup, go to http://www.smilefest.com/all-artists

Read Full Post »

Aaron “Woody” Wood to release NEW Album at Highland Brewing on Saturday, April 2nd

The skinny white boy from the mountains of Western North Carolina carries around more soul in his restless bones and battered guitar than most of use could ever dream of. With a background as diverse as his music, Aaron “Woody” Wood converges elements from all walks of life to create music that we all can connect with. Aaron Wood is thrilled to announce the release of his new self-titled album at Highland Brewing on Saturday, April 2nd. The album is result of the first successful kickstarter campaign in Asheville and has been a year and a half in the making.

The album is being released by J-Woo Records and was produced at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC by Roger Alan Nichols and engineered by Nichols and Jon Ashley; the run-time is 41 minutes. Along with Aaron Wood on guitar and vocals the album features Mike Rhodes on drums, Tony Black and Matt Gentling on bass, Ryan Burns on organ and piano, Debrissa McKinney on backing vocals, The Asheville Horns (Ben Hovey, Derrick Johnson, and Greg Hollowell), Jon Ashley on piano and rhodes, Artimus Pyle on percussion, and a song with cellist Paul Leech.

The release party is an early show that starts at 9pm and features the music from the album. Aaron performs along with Tony Black (Bass), Mike Rhodes (Drums), Josh Blake (Guitar), Kellin Watson (Vocals), Debrissa McKinney (Vocals), Ryan Burns (Keys), and The Asheville Horns. Aaron will be performing with a custom built amp and pedals at the show which are provided by event sponsor Suspect Device Audio.

LaZoom Bus is offering free shuttle service from downtown in front of the Emerald Lounge (the location of the after dance party) to the newly opened Highland Brewing tasting room which is located in East Asheville off of Old Charlotte Highway. In order to make reservations, just text “LaZoom” to 411669, then wait for your confirmation within 5 days. Make your reservations early to ensure that you get your seat!

The shuttle service is free for patrons thanks to event sponsors Suspect Device Audio and Text Ripple. Along with the shuttle reservations, Text Ripple also is offering a way for fans to get a free poster, koozie or free button. Just be one of the first 150 people to text “Woody” to 411699 and your free merch can be claimed at the CD Release show.

The band will be making it around town late-night for an after-dance-party at the Emerald Lounge from 12-2am to play Motown and Soul covers. This after party is free for people who attended the CD release party at Highlands; otherwise it’s $5.

Hopping around town for his album release and showing off his many styles is fitting for Aaron Wood who leaves a great legacy in the Southern region. As a professional musician, Aaron was a pivotal member of The Blue Rags, with whom he had success with national media coverage (MTV) and international tours. He has also recorded and preformed with a slew of New Orleans and Western North Carolinas finest musicians in what was a blending of New Orleans Jazz and Bluegrass. The Blue Brass sessions featured members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Larry Keel, Trombone Shorty and many others.

One look at the long list of artists he has shared the stage with exemplifies his diversity, not to mention respect from his musical peers. From Jimmy Martin to Leon Russel, R.L. Burnside to Warren Haynes, Sara Evans to Carlos Santana, Aaron has played and learned from some of those who have helped shaped music into what it is today.

Aaron delivers his music with all the soul, power, and energy that have made him renowned as a musicians musician. Roots legend, Corey Harris calls him “a master”, and Donald Harrison, New Orleans Jazz great, calls him “his musical brother.”  We hope that you can join us for the the album release of Aaron Wood!

Show Details at a Glance:
Aaron Wood CD Release Party
Highland Brewing

Saturday April 2nd
21+, Doors at 8:30; Show at 9
Tickets $10 in advance; $12 at the door

828-299-7223
12 Old Charlotte Hwy
Asheville, NC 28803
www.highlandbrewing.com
Tickets available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166037
Facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130793460326088

www.aaronwoodmusic.com

Read Full Post »

Archive: Interview with Larry Keel in Durham

ATTENTION: THIS SHOW (Casbah Durham Dec 17th)HAS BEEN CANCELLED due to The Keels being snowed in in Virginia; however, we did want to post the article as an archive for you all to enjoy!

Bluegrass at the Casbah with Keel

THE HERALD-SUN, DURHAM, N.C. | DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN | Thu, Dec 16, 6:56 PM

READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

Dec. 16–Longtime flatpicking guitar playing bluegrassman Larry Keel thinks just about any song could be turned into a bluegrass song.

“I believe whether a Miles Davis song or a reggae song, the bluegrass sort of creeps in there. Though your hardcore purists might say no,” said Keel in a phone interview from his home in Lexington, Va., on the side of a mountain.

Tonight he’ll be at Casbah in Durham with his band Natural Bridge, which features his wife Jenny Keel on upright bass and Mark Schimick on mandolin. Larry Keel and Natural Bridge is named for the, well, the natural bridge that’s a wonder of nature and tourist stop in southwestern Virginia. Keel lived in the community of Natural Bridge for 15 years before moving to Lexington. The group’s last record was “Backwoods.”

Over the course of Keel’s career, he’s played with several groups — Magraw Gap, the Larry Keel Experience, the Keel Brothers and Keller & the Keels.

Keller & the Keels is composed of Larry and Jenny Keel with Keller Williams . Their latest, out this year, is “Thief.” It’s filled with covers of songs that seem a natural segue to their Americana sound — like the Grateful Dead’s “Mountains of the Moon” — to songs you didn’t know could be bluegrass, like “Pepper” by the Butthole Surfers, “Bath of Fire” by Presidents of the USA and “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse.

Larry Keel said that the song choices were Williams’.

“I’m just glad to be a part of it, to put it out there to kids who might not normally hear it,” Keel said. In recent years new bluegrass bands have veered from playing only traditional tunes.

“I sort of look at it as bluegrass has to change to keep it growing. I see younger groups trying to turn their age groups on to bluegrass by playing songs they know in a bluegrass fashion, and therefore preserving bluegrass,” he said.

Keel plays a little bit of all of it — traditional, originals and covers.

“With my style of traditional bluegrass, I do a lot of writing and always try to write something new from something that inspires me — people I meet, all the places I go to,” he said. Fishing, too, is part of the experience.

“It’s a very Zen-like activity, very magical. You’re concentrating on one focused-type thing, and music is like that,” Keel said.

Keel said that as he grows older, he definitely takes his music very seriously, but not too serious.

“I try to keep an audience happy,” he said. “It’s nice to uplift them when they come out to a show, and I get back that good energy.”

Keel has his own youtube channel,http://www.youtube.com/user/Larrykeelmusic. Keel will be back in North Carolina again for a New Year’s Eve show in Charlotte with Keller & the Keels.

READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

Read Full Post »

Announcing Aerial Space’s Winter Student Showcase ~ Aerial Circus Arts ~ 1 Year Anniversary Party!

Announcing Aerial Space’s Winter Student Showcase and 1 Year Anniversary Party!

Saturday, January 8th, 2010

Aerial Space

Student Showcases 1-5pm

5pm Raffle

5-7pm Anniversary Party

828-333-4664

46 New Leicester Hwy. Suite 103 Asheville, NC 28806

Suggested donation is $5 – $10: available online & at the door the day of the event

Asheville, NC ~ Aerial Space is excited to announce their Winter Student Showcase and One Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, January 8, 2011. Aerial Space extends a warm invitation to everyone in the community to come and see some amazing aerial circus arts throughout the day and enjoy the anniversary celebration in the evening… please spread the word!

Aerial Space is a studio dedicated to the promotion and education of aerial movement and art ~ Trapeze, Lyra, Silks, Aerial Dance, Aerial Yoga and … just good clean fun up in the air. Their goal is to contribute to the Asheville community by offering both adults and children an outlet for play, self-expression and exercise. They offer a variety of classes for all ages and skill levels from Aerial Kids starting at age 6 to Aerial Yoga. Aerial Space thinks everyone should be able to run away and join the circus, if only for an hour. 

The Winter Student Showcase will be from 1-5pm and features techniques that the students have learned in classes at the Aerial Space over the past year. It’s their chance to show off their talents to their friends, family, and others in the community to see what they have been doing in these crazy aerial classes. Some will be short demos, others will be more polished and choreographed to music. Some of the students performing are Craig Lewis, Waverly Jones, 6 year old Eli on Silks and Sling, Alex Berkow on Silks, Jessica Hill on Silks, Hali and Bryn on Sling, Rowan and Jessica on Sling, Jennifer Cribbs on Trapeze, Hazel on Silks, and lots more will be announced.There will be a raffle including Patagonia luggage, local gift cards and lots more at 5pm; which also marks the beginning of the Anniversary Celebration which will go until 7pm!  Drinks and snacks will provided by local businesses. 

_________________________________________________

Directions:
Aerial Space is located at 46 New Leicester Hwy. (Moose Heart Drive.) Suite 103 Asheville NC 28801

.

From Patton Ave. Turn onto New Leicester Hwy. Go 1/8th mile. Turn left onto Moose Heart Drive.

.
Go 200 feet to the first big building on the left.

Map: http://www.aerialspace.org/location.html

______________________________________________________

Aerial Space is a wonderful place to celebrate birthdays, private group events, and workshops. They can quote an hourly space rental with a variety of exciting options including private aerial lessons, demonstrations and performances. Impress your date, your boss or your family by letting Aerial Space host your next gathering. Call 828-333-4664 or email Owner/Artistic Director, Blue de Leeuw, at blue@aerialspace.org or visit www.aerialspace.org for more info.

******

Special thanks to Aerial Space’s local affiliates: Asheville Aerial Arts www.ashevilleaerialarts.com and NC Aerial Yoga Teachers: Aerial Fit www.aerialfit.com

Read Full Post »

Some Holiday Magic: B-boy Santa Sneak Attack in Asheville, NC

This video rocks! A dancing Santa b-boy is on the loose in Asheville, North Carolina and he’s looking to start a hip hop, break dance holiday flash mob. Did he succeed? Watch him sneak up and surprise visitors with head spins, flares and seriously fresh break dancing moves at the Pritchard Park Drum Circle, Pack Square, Asheville Visitors Center, Lexington Avenue Brewery, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, National Gingerbread House Competition, The Orange Peel and America’s Largest Home, Biltmore.

Read Full Post »

The Blind Tiger Celebrates Grand Opening of New Location this New Years’ Eve with Instrumental Powerhouse Toubab Krewe

The Blind Tiger announces the grand opening of its NEW 1819 Spring Garden Street location with a special New Years’ Eve performance headlined by instrumental powerhouse Toubab Krewe who is touring in support of their new album TK2. The event is presented by Greenefields Productions.  Doors for the Friday, December 31st celebration will open at 8pm with the new venue boasting of a higher capacity of 480, free parking, larger bathrooms and 5000 sq feet . The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra opens the show with music at 9pm. Ticket packages are $20 and include one ticket to the show, champagne toast, & complimentary hor d’oeuvres. They are available at www.theblindtiger.com

Click for more on TK2

The Blind Tiger’s grand opening celebration will be headlined by Asheville-based Toubab Krewe. Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own. The fruits of this hard work can be heard on their scintillating new long-player, TK2, out now on Nat Geo Music.

Some music cannot be found on a map or within iTunes categories. Some music is so original it seems snatched from the great, invisible substrata that runs below all human activity, a sound aching to be born without a flag or fixed allegiance– free, questing, overflowing with immediate, tangible life. This is the music of Toubab Krewe, the vibrant Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse that creates a sonic Pangaea that lustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strains and more. While nearly impossible to put into any box, it takes only a few moments to realize in a very palpable way that one is face-to-face with a true original who recognizes no borders in a march towards a muscular, original, globally switched-on sound.

What Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Teal Brown (drums, congas), Drew Heller (guitar, piano, fiddle), David Pransky (bass, guitar), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, percussion) have wrought on TK2 reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpired since their studio debut.

The NYE pairing of Toubab Krewe with Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is sure to be an unforgettable occasion.  Jonathan Scales is a Steel Pan player who brings a whole new sense of vitality to this traditionally Caribbean instrument.  Here you have a classically trained composer turned steel pan maestro, heavily influenced by sounds from banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck to rapper Jay-Z . . . It’s a whole new concoction with a jazz edge classical sensibility, that has been described as “joyously inventive” by the Jazz Times. Check them out in the video below:

Purchase tickets for this New Year’s Eve Celebration online here.

Toubab Krewe NYE 2010-2011
Grand Opening of The Blind Tiger
Jonathan Scale Fourchestra opens
Friday, December 31st

$20, doors 8pm, show 9pm
336-272-9888
1819 Spring Garden St
Greensboro, NC 27403
www.theblindtiger.com

Read Full Post »

Have you Herd? Donna the Buffalo Rings in 2011 with the Countdown to Midnight at First Night Raleigh!

Have you Herd? Countdown to Midnight with Donna The Buffalo 2010-2011

First Night Raleigh

Friday, December 31st, 2010

set time: 10:30 – Midnight

Main Stage – Site 26

The $9 First Night Raleigh Admission Button grants you access to every venue and every activity.

All Ages

City Plaza – Downtown

Raleigh, NC

http://www.firstnightraleigh.com

The countdown is underway to First Night Raleigh 2011 — marking 20 YEARS as central North Carolina’s best and biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. Festivities will begin at 2:00 on December 31, 2010 with the Children’s Celebration, followed by the People’s Procession down Fayetteville Street, an Early Countdown at 7:00 and Evening Performances of music, dance, comedy, interactive activities and more in two dozen venues throughout downtown Raleigh.

Donna the Buffalo is happy to be ringing in the New Year with the countdown to midnight at First Night Raleigh this year! The day’s events look to be fantastic and others on the lineup include Tropic Culture, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, Comedy Worx, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Chuck Davis and the African American Dance Ensemble, Mandolin Orange, Lenny Marcus Trio, Transactors Improv Company, the First Night Light Circus and many more!

Fireworks at Midnight and appearance by Ira David Wood III, actor and Executive Director of Raleigh’s Theatre in the Park, sponsored by goLiveWorkPlay.com

For complete festival details, performer schedules and admission buttons go to firstnightraleigh.com. Ring in 2011 with 40,000 of your closest friends at FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH!

Read Full Post »

Archive: LAAFF co-founder Kitty Love works to support Asheville’s artists

This is a great article about LAAFF co-Founder and Arts 2 People’s executive director, Kitty Love. I have worked with Kitty for 8+ years now on Arts 2 People and LAAFF as well as other projects and so appreciate the telling of the inception of LAAFF and news on the creation of an artist resource center in Asheville. Great article Jason! There are some long excerpts below, please follow the link to read the full article.

Margaret Lauzon, Kitty Love, and Erin Scholze (Dreamspider) at LAAFF 2009

For Love of Lexington: LAAFF co-founder Kitty Love works to support Asheville’s artists

by Jason Sandford • September 5, 2010 in the Asheville Citizen Times.

Kitty Love enjoys a good freak.

It’s a descriptor she’s adopted for a unique fundraising project and a noun a neutral observer might use for some of the clients who come into the Liquid Dragon tattoo shop she works out of on Lexington Avenue.

… …

“Anybody can be a freak,” Love said. “It’s just a way to describe who’s being their authentic selves.”

And it’s those emerging artists and creative types who help make Asheville the tourism destination it is, she added.

That’s why she’s spent the better part of the past decade supporting and promoting artists as executive director of the nonprofit Arts 2 People, as a staunch advocate for the creation of an artists resource center and as the promoter of sideline projects such as the “Freaks of Asheville” calendar and the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival .

…   …   …

Having a LAAFF

Love knew Lexington Avenue had something in its eclectic collection of independently owned clothing stores, record shops and restaurants. Love says she saw “a loose conglomeration of individuals coming together to share their unique perspectives in a way that is culture-changing.”

Love and her partner at the time, Michael Mooney, opened Sky People Gallery and Studio on the street. The gallery opened about a month before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The economy sputtered, so Love says she and Mooney dreamed up the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival the following year to give the area a boost.

“We really wanted to see that Lexington Avenue culture grow without getting gentrified,” Love says.

More an anything-goes block party than an official festival, the event took root with street games like Bowling for Karma — knock over the right Hindu god and erase that awful sin — and Baby-head Putt Putt.

Now in its ninth year, LAAFF is a full-blown, daylong event known for embracing Asheville’s freaky side.

“LAAFF is meant to show that individual self-expression is actually a more attractive product” than other festivals with a more corporate flavor, Love said.

Resources for artists

The Lexington Avenue festival is perhaps the most visible manifestation of Love’s passion, but she’s been working to support young artists through the nonprofit Arts 2 People she leads, and through the ongoing effort to create an artists resource center.

…   …

Arts 2 People, which survives on a shoestring budget, includes outreach and education projects. Love readily admits she doesn’t have the best skills when it comes to raising money and jokes that she needs a “development angel” to swoop in and help.

Love’s dream of creating an artists resource center may strike at her heart the deepest.

She said her mantra is “the wisdom is in the circle,” a guidepost for creating an umbrella organization that can offer young artist-entrepreneurs a wide range of support they need.

It will be “a professional development resource center” that can offer tips on where to find rental space, equipment or specific training, she said.

“When you’re someone who makes pots, that’s what you want to do. But you need to take pictures of your pots to market them, and you need to make business cards with pots on them to network,” Love said.

A resource center could also help identify the exact number of artists in Asheville — she guesses the number at between 6,000 and 8,000 — and the true economic impact they have.

Such a study would go a long way toward cementing the importance of artists to the local economy in the minds of decision-makers, she said.

For Love, it’s all about putting a face on Asheville’s artist-entrepreneurs — Asheville’s freaks, as it were.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100905/NEWS/309050022

Read Full Post »