Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘StephaniesId’

New Year’s Eve Celebration with stephaniesĭd & Jon Stickley Trio
at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Dec 31, 2015


Dinner and Show will be an 8pm seating and includes a four course dinner, champagne toast and an evening of entertainment

Jon Stickley Trio at 9pm | stephaniesĭd at 10:30pm
$55 Dinner Only :: 6pm seating (three course dinner)
$75 Dinner and Show :: 8pm seating; (four course dinner)
$15 Show Only with doors at 8:30pm (does not include dinner)

More info, full menu and ticketing info at → www.isisasheville.com/events/new-years-eve-celebration-with-stephaniesid-the-jon-stickley-trio/

ASHEVILLE —  Isis Music Restaurant and Music Hall is happy to announce a New Year’s Eve Celebration with stephaniesid and Jon Stickley Trio on Thursday, December 31, 2015. Isis is located at 743 Haywood Rd  Asheville NC 28806.

Join 7-time “Best Pop/Rock” (Mountain Xpress) band winners stephaniesĭd, and their cadre of stellar guest musicians, back for the third New Year’s Eve on the Isis Restaurant & Music Hall main stage! Their show is a celebration in the deepest sense… a journey… a battle with obstacles… a gut-wrenching soul plea… and ultimately, a groovy party for the world’s heart.

stephaniesĭd will be joined by the Jon Stickley Trio, who’s been making waves with their new album Lost at Last. The New York Times’ Nate Chinen writes “… there’s hardy cohesion among the players — no less on the Gypsy standard ‘Valse de Wasso’ than on ‘Darth Radar’ a turbocharged original with a ska upbeat and a shredding melody. And when Mr. Stickley and friends turn to bluegrass, as on ‘The High Road,’ by Tim O’Brien, they sound both respectful and free.”

This will be a standing show with limited number of seats in the music hall, RSVP needed. The dinner and show will be an 8pm seating and includes a four course dinner, champagne toast and an evening of entertainment. General tickets are also available with doors at 8:30pm (does not include dinner). For those that do reserve their seats for dinner, the Isis New Year’s Eve menu includes Baked Oysters, Pork Belly, or Seared Sushi Tuna Ceviche, along with Lobster Bisque or Pickled Beet and Citrus Salad, as well as Pork Roulade, Filet Medallion, Sunburst Farms Trout, or Root Vegetable Poutine. The fourth course includes Champagne Mousse Verrines or Chocolate Tres Leches. For Dinner only or Dinner / Show Tickets ~ You must call Isis (828-575-2737) for reservations. “Show Only” Tickets may be purchased online. See link for menu for NYE Dinner.

stephaniesid-excavator-flight-054.jpgMore about stephaniesĭd:

The ĭd (pronounced like “kid”) is the real person, under the armor. It’s the inner wild being, the emotional mercury, the soft tissue, the genuine human. 

stephaniesĭd is a band working to excavate it.

The singer is Stephanie Morgan, a “female Jim Morrison at a ballet class” (The Asheville Disclaimer); her voice is equal parts child, smoke, cabaret coquette, and “Bjorklike panache” (Bonnaroo Beacon). The band’s “sharp writing” (World Cafe, NPR) ranges from belting soul to dream-pop to jazzish, making full use of band members’ varied musical backgrounds, “always with a childlike wink and skip” (The Big Takeover).

stephaniesĭd acknowledges the struggle within each human being to connect with other people, authentically and vulnerably, and attempts to make music that conjures the ability to do so. The songs unabashedly mine for light, ranging from deftly focused, emotionally-charged journeys to infectious dance tunes, braving the dark passages along with the audience, busting out improvisation to connect larger pieces of the story, and never missing the chance to revel in utter joy. “How far this music will go seems dependent on whether people are willing to expand their own horizons.” writes AW Music, Canada.

Stephanie Morgan is a former gymnast and dancer born in Iowa and raised in Colorado and West Texas. Chuck Lichtenberger (keyboards) is a seasoned jazzer, masterful and improvisational on the keys, toggling equal nods to faves Ahmad Jamal and Van Halen. Tim Haney (drums) is a rocker. He’s Irish, loud, and proud, he cusses like a sailor and he knows how to leave space to frame a melody. He’s everyone’s favorite brother.

stephaniesĭd songs have appeared on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, The Weather Channel, in an award-winning short film called “The Red Helmet”, filmed in Switzerland and traveling the world with the Banff Film Festival; in a Cesare Paciotti Italian jewelry commercial with supermodels, and in a Sony PlayStation’s horror game Until Dawn.  The band has been covered in Paste, Bust, Blurt, Shuffle, Billboard, Southeast Performer, The Bonnaroo Beacon, and other magazines. and was also chosen by Shirley Manson in a contest for Bust magazine. “Cinematic” won an award in the International Songwriting Competition. Stephanie has received numerous Regional Artists Grants from the arts council Songs have spun on Philadelphia’s WXPN, NYC’s WFUV, NPR’s World Cafe, and many other college and AAA radio stations.

What does it feel like to be at a stephaniesid show? Watch this video and find out → www.youtube.com/watch?v=URi6YGqhJkM

For more information, please visit www.stephaniesid.com.

JonStickleyTrio_CreditHeatherHambor_2015_6662More about Jon Stickley Trio:

Jon Stickley Trio independently released Lost at Last, their 2nd album, on October 6, 2015. The originality and sheer energy of this genre-bending ensemble serves as a welcome wake up call for those who experience it. With roots in gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop, Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett (Futureman) on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage (Atmosphere) on drums. The three have fused their collective styles into a repertoire of exciting and innovative original music along with some captivating covers.

Lost at Last was recorded in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC at the iconic Echo Mountain Studios under the watchful eye of producer Dave King (The Bad Plus). While recording the album, King referred to the band’s imaginative sound as “this whole other thing.” King’s creative energy and inspired musical approach led the band deeper and deeper into the heart of their musical consciousness, which led to the solidification of their musical identity.

“Working with our producer Dave King was a life changing experience for us all,” says Stickley. “He is an intense, master musician, but also a hilarious, life-loving, positive, HEAVY, ‘unimpeachable’, inspiring dude! He helped us find ourselves, and his mark on the album is undeniable.” Jon goes on to say, “We succeeded in capturing a lot of spontaneous energy.

Jon Stickley is a guitarist based in Asheville, N.C., and rooted in the flatpicking bluegrass tradition, the quicksilver dialect of Tony Rice and Norman Blake. But in the Jon Stickley Trio, with the fiddler Lyndsay Pruett and the drummer Patrick Armitage, he also bounces around in Gypsy jazz, folk-punk and jam-band territory, tracing a fidgety continuity of style.” –The New York Times, Nate Chinen

“With Lost at Last, the Jon Stickley Trio combine the ethos of a newgrass power trio with the energy and dynamics of a runaway train. Stickley’s powerful flatpicking gathers influences from the greats such as Tony Rice, but also allows for other, more modern, sounds to creep in. ‘Darth Radar’ is a rapid-fire take that moves from a serious ska beat to burning surf-style runs that would make Dick Dale proud.” Stream Darth Radar at Premier Guitar, Jason Shadrick

“Asheville has a force to be reckoned with in the tight three-piece perfection of the Jon Stickley Trio. It’s pretty incredible how closely the three play with their unique blend of Appalachian, jazz, maybe even prog-rock styles.” –Martin Anderson, Music Director & Host at WNCW

This is very very cool music. Jon’s ideas on the acoustic guitar are the freshest of the fresh. Lost at Last is rated BA: Bad. Ass.” –Larry Keel, Guitar Legend & Master Fisherman

“Blending elements of traditional, fast paced bluegrass with sultry backings in jazz and raging hip hop beats, Lost at Last is an album not to be missed.” –Performer Mag, Kate Dennis-Skillings

For more information, please visit www.jonstickley.com.

Read Full Post »

ASHEVILLE RED CARPET EVENT ALERT:

5th Annual MUSIC VIDEO ASHEVILLE
Wednesday, May 9th at Cinebarre

Tickets on Sale Now!

Dress the part and get decked out in your Grammy finest attire* (of with your Asheville flare) and hit the Red Carpet at the 5th annual Music Video Asheville Viewing and Awards show THIS Wednesday, May 9th at Cinebarre, at The Biltmore Square Mall. Gather with your friends, pose for photos, and vote on the crowd favorite. Prizes for winners will include a free day of studio time at Echo Mountain Recording Studios and a $500 cash prize!

Classic cars with chauffeurs will be at the theater parking lot to drop you off for your Red Carpet moment; paparazzi, photo shoot and all! Come in style on the New Belgium VIP Party Bus: it will pick you up at the One Stop downtown and  bring you back after the awards for an After-Parti with DJ’s Molly Parti and Par.

There are 30+ videos in this year’s event shows a broad range of styles from hip-hop to indie rock to americana. Come early, at 6pm, to get in on the great photo opportunities, hang with your friends, and mingle with the filmmakers and musicians. Seating starts at 7:15 with the show promptly beginning at 7:30pm with a brief intermission. At 9:30 the audience ballots (your ticket stub) will be collected. While the votes are tallied, Guest Speaker Tom Taddeo will talk about his experience in working on music videos with Snoop Dog, Tupac, Dr Dre, Ice Cube and answer questions. An awards ceremony will follow.

Tickets are available at Harvest Records,  The Honeypot and Cinebarre. For more information visit http://www.musicvideoasheville.com.

*NOTE: Fancy dress is not required, just a lot of fun!

Who’s who of MVA:

Musicians

Kovacs and the Polar Bear, Agent 23, Stephaniesid, Underhill Rose, Chachillie, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Will Newman, Mad Tea: Krekel and Ami, Arizona, Mr. 1NE 5IVE feat. Chachillie, Cheeksters, The Critters, Ivan the Terribles, Caleb Johnson, The Night Lights, Chachillie, Kipper Schauer, The Campaign 1984, Sallie Ford, The Broadcast, Foul Mouth Jerk, Rock Eblen, Two People Playing Music, Rollie Thomas, Total War, Scott Duncan, Weekend Cult

Filmmakers:

Paul Chelmis Films, Hobey Ford and Shane Peters, Twin Gravity, Caitlin Krisko, Bob Peck, Edward Bakinowski and Andrew Anderson, Shane Peters, Jesse Romine, Chase Hudson, Troy Scott Burnett, Katie Damien, Jesse Hamm, Dane Smith, Daniel Judson, Paul Schattel, Bioflyer Productions, Scott Duncan, Ami Worthen, Trevor Traynor, Leopold Firesauce and David Clegg, Harvey Robinson and Carolyn deBerry

MVA has selected five music business professionals from various aspects of the music industry to select the MVA Judges Choice Award. They work within film, radio, music publications/media, promotion, and a music venue. Tom Taddeo is filmmaker who has worked on 100’s of music videos including working with Snoop Dog, Tupac, Dr Dre, Ice Cube and more; he is based in Charlotte, NC. Tom will also be a guest speaker at the event while we are counting ballots for the crowd vote. Sean O’Connell is President and Founder of Music Allies and Creative Allies; he is based in Asheville. Rex Thomson is a writer, photographer and videographer with Honest Tune Magazine as well as creator of festival-based reality TV series Rex-A-Vision; he is based in Louisville, KY. Sadie is a radio host on 98.1 the RIVER and Mountain Mornings with Carson & Sadie on 105.9 the Mountain in Asheville. Sam Katz is Partner/Talent Buyer for the Asheville Music Hall and the One Stop.

Special Thanks to the MVA 2012 Sponsors: Red Carpet Sponsor: 98.1 The River,  Grammy Sponsor: Echo Mountain Recording, VIP Party Bus Sponsor: The New Belgium Brewery, and After-Parti Sponsor: The One Stop. We’d also like to thank The ONcorps, and Lush Life Productions, Dreamspider Publicity, and Sound Mind Creative for their work to make MVA 2012 a success!

MUSIC VIDEO ASHEVILLE DETAILS AT A GLANCE:

MVA: A Showcase to Highlight Asheville Musicians & Filmmakers

Screening: Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
6:00pm Networking Party
7:15pm Seating
7:30pm sharp – Show Starts
9:30pm Speaker, Crowd Vote & Awards
$8 adv/ $10 dos general admission

*Cinebbare serves beer and food*

Tickets are now available at:
Harvest Records, The Honeypot and Cinebarre

VIP Tickets $30- includes transportation
(Limited availability online, The One Stop or Harvest Records)

VIP Ticket link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/241264

*NOTE: MVA has rating this viewing “R” because of adult content and themes.

Cinebarre, at Biltmore Square Mall
828.665.8661
800 Brevard Road
Asheville, NC
www.cinebarre.com

Find Us On Facebook
www.musicvideoasheville.com

Click to see last year’s winners!

******************

Read Full Post »

Lingua Musica interviews with stephaniesid!

Kelly Denson with Lush Life Today talks with Stephanie Morgan, Chuck Lichtenberger and Tim Haney of Stephaniesid at Tony Preston’s studio in Asheville in November 2011. The band talks about their “pop noir” sound and new record, Starfruit, their upcoming trip to Europe, being influenced by Holly Palmer when she played at Be Here Now, the dynamics of their music and more. Tony Preston filmed and edited this video which is copyright Luminescence 2011.

http://www.stephaniesid.com/
http://amrmediaproductions.com/
http://www.lushlifetoday.com/
http://linguamusicalive.com/

Read Full Post »


Stephaniesid Fall Tour Dates


www.stephaniesid.com

Fri 11/11/11 – Preservation Pub- Knoxville, TN
Sat 11/12/11 – Uncle Slayton’s – Louisville, KY
Sun 11/13/11 – MOTR Pub – Cincinnati, OH
Mon 11/14/11 – Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe – Frankfort, KY
Thu 11/17/11 – The Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
Fri 11/18/11 – The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC
Tue 11/22/11 – New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC
Sat 12/3/11 – Eighty-Five – Columbus, GA

If you are near on of these cities, call your local radio station and request to hear a song from “‘Starfruit”!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is what the press is saying about the album!

“lush pop, layered vocals, rich horn parts and a certain velvety darkness” — Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress

“Starfruit… brims with lush, sophisticated pop” — San Antonio News (TX)

“”The lyrics on the new recording derive from cinema, art and literature…intricate musical arrangements with witty and literate lyrics.” — Staunton News Leader (VA)

“This is our favorite album we’ve heard all year, hands down.” –Asheville Disclaimer‎

“[stephaniesid’s] cover of “Life in a Northern Town” brings a joyful bounce to the proceedings, adding in xylophones, horns, and whimsy aplenty.” — CoverMeSongs.com

“Their recent appearance in WNCW’s Studio-B debuted some of the danceable delights from ‘Starfruit’ and shows Stephaniesid is a forward moving force in music today.” — Dennis Jones, WNCW

“’Starfruit’ is a heck of a lot of fun and finds Stephaniesid covering both the Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town” and the theme song to “Laverne & Shirley.” Seriously. Along the way are standout originals “Closer,” “I Like It,” “Starf***er,” “I Like It Too” and “So Low/A Hope.” The aforementioned Dream Academy cover is every bit as powerful as the original.” —  Jeffrey Sisk, Daily News (PA)

Read Full Post »

Sweet! The Annual Best of poll in Asheville Mountain Xpress has tallied the votes for this years winners!

Congratulations to Stephaniesid (#1 Best Pop Band), Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (#3 Jazz, #2 Best Video), Secret Secret 23 Skidoo (#1 Local Hip Hop), The Mad Tea: Krekel and Ami (#2 Fragglepop), Papertiger (#3 Electronic) , Steep Canyon Rangers (#1 Local Bluegrass/ Old- Time), Josh Phillips Folk Festival (#1 Best Local Jam/ Progressive band and #3 Acoustic/ Folk)), Toubab Krewe (#1 World/ Reggae and also #2 Local Jam/ Progressive band) , the Honeycutters (#1 Americana/ Country), Pierce Edens (#2 Americana/ Country), Dave Desmelik (#3 Americana/ Country), The Secret B-Side (#1 R & B/ Blues and also #1 in Soul) Vertigo Jazz Project, LaZoom Tour (#1 Comedy Group), Kovac and the Polar Bear (#1 Best Music Video), Dustin Spagnola (#1 Visual Artist) and all of the other winners in the variety of categories!

See all the entertainment winners and categories here: http://www.mountainx.com/bestof/2011/8/Arts-Entertainment#.TpWGTXK3OCh

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra won #2 Best Video and #3 Best Jazz Band:

Read Full Post »

Official video for “Cinematic” from the 2011 Stephaniesid album entitled “Starfruit” which  releases on October 18th.

This video was shot in an undisclosed location in Asheville, NC by Paul Chelmis, Jesse Hamm, Lisa Jourdan, and Cody Wright. It was edited by Stephanie Morgan.

“Cinematic” Official Video (Stephaniesid) from Stephanie Morgan on Vimeo.

Asheville, NC band Stephaniesid return with their sparkling, new pop gem Starfruit, cementing their status as one of the region’s most ambitious, innovative, and influential bands.

In the downtime since their last record, lead singer Stephanie Morgan formed a local songwriter’s group to help spur her creativity.

She began recording the songs that emerged from these sessions, and posting them online for fans. This collection of singles formed the nucleus for Starfruit, and the rest of the band joined her over the course of many months to record more material in the home she shares with husband/co-bandleader Chuck Lichtenberg.

As a result, Starfruit has a much looser, more organic feel than the band’s first three full-lengths, while retaining the band’s penchant for intricate arrangements, unusual textures, and virtuosic playing. The sprawling 14-track effort touches on all of the band’s many influences, even including a faithful cover of Dream Academy’s hit “Life In A Northern Town,” and a cheeky reworking of the Laverne & Shirley theme song.

BACKGROUND:
Stephaniesid quickly became a local powerhouse with their debut Spiral In (2005). The band was signed by Nine Mile Records in 2007 and released Grus Americanus, a record that NPR’s Robin Hilton described as “A mesmerizing mix of songs that can be hushed and calm one moment, and then suddenly dark and explosive the next.” Grus also spawned singles which appeared on HBO’s “Nurse Jackie,” the award-winning short film “The Red Helmet,” and numerous compilations.

In 2008, the band performed at Bonnaroo, and was reviewed in The Bonnaroo Beacon: “…a rather transcendent set …the band was different, melodic, quirky, and just plain good…. A sleeper act which hit the mark with an almost Bjork-like panache.”

2009’s Warm People garnered more national attention for the band, with plays on NPR’s “World Cafe” (“Sharp writing!” exclaims David Dye), and glowing reviews in Blurt, Billboard, and Big Takeover. By 2010, Stephaniesid had been named “Best Rock Band” in Asheville in the (weekly paper) Mountain Xpress poll 4 years in a row.

Touring in support of “Starfruit” are Steph (vox, guitar, synth), Chuck (keyboards, vox), Maine-born Tim Haney (drums), and former NYC horn players Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez, with Matthew Richmond (vibraphone) and Jonathan Pearlman (guitar) also appearing on shows in the Southeast.

Find out more about the band at stephaniesid.com

Read Full Post »

Asheville, NC band Stephaniesid return with their sparkling, new pop gem Starfruit, cementing their status as one of the region’s most ambitious, innovative, and influential bands.In the downtime since their last record, lead singer Stephanie Morgan formed a local songwriter’s group to help spur her creativity.

She began recording the songs that emerged from these sessions, and posting them online for fans. This collection of singles formed the nucleus for Starfruit, and the rest of the band joined her over the course of many months to record more material in the home she shares with husband/co-bandleader Chuck Lichtenberg.

As a result, Starfruit has a much looser, more organic feel than the band’s first three full-lengths, while retaining the band’s penchant for intricate arrangements, unusual textures, and virtuosic playing. The sprawling 14-track effort touches on all of the band’s many influences, even including a faithful cover of Dream Academy’s hit “Life In A Northern Town,” and a cheeky reworking of the Laverne & Shirley theme song.

BACKGROUND:
Stephaniesid quickly became a local powerhouse with their debut Spiral In (2005). The band was signed by Nine Mile Records in 2007 and released Grus Americanus, a record that NPR’s Robin Hilton described as “A mesmerizing mix of songs that can be hushed and calm one moment, and then suddenly dark and explosive the next.” Grus also spawned singles which appeared on HBO’s “Nurse Jackie,” the award-winning short film “The Red Helmet,” and numerous compilations.

In 2008, the band performed at Bonnaroo, and was reviewed in The Bonnaroo Beacon: “…a rather transcendent set …the band was different, melodic, quirky, and just plain good…. A sleeper act which hit the mark with an almost Bjork-like panache.”

2009’s Warm People garnered more national attention for the band, with plays on NPR’s “World Cafe” (“Sharp writing!” exclaims David Dye), and glowing reviews in Blurt, Billboard, and Big Takeover. By 2010, Stephaniesid had been named “Best Rock Band” in Asheville in the (weekly paper) Mountain Xpress poll 4 years in a row.

Touring in support of “Starfruit” are Steph (vox, guitar, synth), Chuck (keyboards, vox), Maine-born Tim Haney (drums), and former NYC horn players Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez, with Matthew Richmond (vibraphone) and Jonathan Pearlman (guitar) also appearing on shows in the Southeast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“This looks happy, but the music hits much deeper. Stephanie Morgan’s vocals [move] delicately between The Sugarcubes and The Sundays, but always with a childlike wink and skip…. Sometimes the band evinces a sadness that lives in the world, but there is always an answer of music and joy to bring light out of every possible shadow.” –Marcel Feldmar, The Big Takeover Magazine

“The songs move from intimate to anthemic… effortlessly poetic letters…acute insights … shimmering synth hooks and smoothly shifting melodic textures… difficult to classify but easy to love.” –Wayne Robins, Billboard Magazine

“This is world-class music, period. No labels necessary.” –Fred Mills, Blurt Magazine

ARTIST: Stephaniesid
TITLE: Starfruit
CATALOG NUMBER: NMR 0123
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011
FOCUS TRACKS: #1 Closer, #4 I Like It,
#5 Cinematic, #7 Life In A Northern Town
BEST MARKETS: Asheville, NC, Charlotte, NC,
Atlanta, GA, Cincinnati, OH, Greenville, SC

Read Full Post »


The 10th annual LAAFF is right around the corner in Downtown Asheville on Labor Day Weekend Sept 3-4th on Lexington Ave. 

A handful of Dreamspider bands and friends are performing at the Fest:

  • Stephaniesid is doing their CD release at their show on Saturday Sept 3d at 7:30 on the main stage.
  • Galen Kipar Project plays on Sunday 2:45-3:30 pm on the main stage
  • Jonathan Scales Fourchestra on Sunday 5:45-6:30pm on the Mai Stage
  • Spork! on Sunday 1:15-2pm on the Main stage

Also, be sure to check out 23 Skidoo & The Family Band (Sat 11am Main Stage), Santos (Sat. 1pm bobo stage) , Paper Tiger (Sat 3:15 Main Stage), Vertigo Jazz Project (Sat 4:15 Main Stage), The Secret B-Sides (Sun 6pm bobo stage), Lotion (Sun 2:30-3:10 Mountain Xpress Walnut Stage), GFE (Sun 8:15 MX WaLnut Stage), Ten Cent Poetry (Sun 11:45- 12:30 Main Stage), Jeff Santiago y Los Gatos Negros (Sun 1:45- 2:30 main stage), Zansa (Sun 6:30-7:15 Main Stage), Moses Atwood Band (Sun 4:45-5:30 main Stage) and lots of oither great stuff.

For the full schedule and lots more fantastic Asheville bands check out the Mountain Xpress: http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2011/083111laaff-bandsschedule#.Tl-jfWoglIE

The Xpress also did this wonderful interview with Stephaniesid about their album release:

The new Stephaniesid album, Starfruit — despite its name-association with things tropical and celestial — was conceived in a dark basement. “A universe leapt out of the grayness,” says front woman Stephanie Morgan.

An advance listen of the album reveals lush pop, layered vocals, rich horn parts and a certain velvety darkness (perhaps it’s the snarl of baritone sax or echoes of reverb ). But even through an edge of bitterness (despite dance beats and bells, the track “Starf—ker” is not without teeth), the record is backlit by undeniable sparkle.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2011/083111ripe-for-the-picking#.Tl-m_WoglIE

LAAFF is not only a music festival, it is also a arts and fun festival.. So be sure to wander around and stumble into many other fabulously freaky things that will happen both day! Here are some fantactic pics of last years LAAFF by local Photographer Lissy Whelan with Bright Life Photography:


Read Full Post »

So excited about All Go West tomorrow 4-24 in West Asheville!

We got a great mention on CNN news today in an article about Asheville surrounding Obama’s vacation:

Asheville offers Obamas food, folk, fun

By Jim Kavanagh, CNN
April 22, 2010 9:18 a.m. EDT

Read it here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/04/22/asheville.attractions/index.html

The Asheville Citizen Times  did a nice writeup of the festival:

Go West … Asheville, that is: Haywood Road district gets its own festival on Saturday

Carol MotsingerCMotsinger@CITIZEN-TIMES.com • published April 23, 2010 12:15 am

WEST ASHEVILLE – Long gone are the days when West Asheville was written off by residents as “Worst Asheville.” That frontier off Haywood Road has been settled by artists and entrepreneurs, hipsters and hippies.

This transformation into a bustling creative neighborhood is what the All Go West festival is celebrating from noon-10 p.m. Saturday.

…“It’s a benefit for the area,” said Jimmy Hunt, All Go West festival co-director and West Asheville resident. “West Asheville is very cool, it needs attention economically and some people aren’t really as familiar as they should be with the area.”

Performers include Stephaniesid, Do It To Julia, Brushfire Stankgrass, The If You Wannas and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band.

Derrick Johnson, a trombone player with Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, views West Asheville as an area that projects “more the true spirit of Asheville.”

“West Asheville definitely keeps it weird,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of like the hipster area. There are neat little bars; everybody is really chill.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100423/ENT/304230007/1005/ENT

I posted previously about the Mountain Xpress Article about All Go West, but if you missed it you can find it here:

http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2007/042110lets_all_go_west/

Michael Muller (@michaelfmuller on twitter) posted this blog about the festival as well:

http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2010/all_go_west_festival_this_weekend/

Thanks Michael for the compliment on the website, “very cool and well-designed website”; we appreciate it!

Jay Sanders built the site:  http://mindtonic.net (@mindtonic )

Jenny Greer did all the graphic design:  http://soundssmindmedia.net (@Jenandthejuice )

Also a big Thank You to Ashvegas Jason Sandford for his posts abut ALL Go West: here, here, and here.

If you have not seen the great video by AskAsheville Check it out:

HUGE thanks to all of the radio stations that sponsored,interviewed, and/ or reported info:

98.1 the River, 880 the Revolution, Main. Fm, Asheville.Fm

Also thanks to all the tweeters, facebookers, bands, sponsors and other people that are helping to make this event a success!


Read Full Post »

Check out this great writeup of the inagural All Go West Festival in Asheville by the Mountain Xpress:

Let’s All Go West

The most fun part of town gets a new festival

by Alli Marshall in Vol. 16 / Iss. 39 on 04/21/2010 Mountain Xpress

When Jimmy Hunt relocated from Boone to West Asheville, he noticed a void. “That’s the part of town I live in. That’s where all my buddies live. That’s where I go out and have dinner and beer and walk my dog.” he says. “But there was no big festival.”

It’s a vacuum that comes and goes. West Asheville has been home to a number of music and arts street parties, such as the now-defunct West Fest, a short-lived turn with Fiesta Latina, and holidays-related gallery and boutique crawls. But Hunt — who started Music on the Mountaintop, an ecologically minded large-scale music festival in Boone three years ago — felt like what his new neighborhood needed was a local festival to call its own.

It was at Music on the Mountaintop that Hunt, who manages indie-rock band Do It To Julia, met Arieh Samson, who manages Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. Samson had been considering producing a funk festival in downtown Asheville; when he and Hunt brainstormed, All Go West Festival (to be held in West Asheville behind the Rocket Club and in front of Harvest Records) was born.

The event, which Hunt describes as “having multi-facets: music, art and beer” brings together some of the best of what the area has to offer. West Asheville, according to Hunt “is so friendly and has that hip scene. We’re going around to every business and saying, ‘This is what we have to offer. How can we pair up?'”

The result, for the inaugural year, is a collection of interactive nonprofit booths (plus, a portion of the proceeds from All Go West benefits the Dogwood Alliance), a Kidz Zone, food and a group of about 15 local artists, as well as music happening on two stages.

The bands, for this first festival, were hand-picked by Hunt and Samson. “We selected the bands based on what we’ve been digging the past couple of months,” says Samson. “I’ve been in the scene for five years now, and have fantasized about a festival. I knew what bands I’d start with.”

The culmination of playlists and fantasy rosters resulted in the Booty Band and Do It To Julia, of course, but also pop group stephaniesid, steel-pan fusion act Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, eclectic newgrass/rock outfit Brushfire Stankgrass, live-electronica bands RBTS WIN and Marley Carroll & The Melanaster Band, folk duo Underhill Rose, jazz/rock project The Archrivals, indie-folk groups Kovacs & The Polar Bear and Uncle Mountain, jazz-jam act Vertigo Jazz Project, indie-rockers If You Wannas, Voodoo Wedding and Open Windows, and Americana group Tennessee Jed Band.

“We really like this town so much that we just wanted to embrace it,” Samson says. “Instead of booking national acts, we’re giving back to the bands here that have been paying their dues.”

“We wanted to touch on every type of music that’s represented in Asheville,” Hunt says. Some genres (say, classical and world beat) aren’t on the list, but indie rock — often neglected at festivals in favor of crowd-pleasing funk and jam — makes its presence known. “One of our goals with this festival was to touch on the emerging music. There’s a new indie folk-rock scene coming out of Asheville right now,” Hunt points out.

And while festival-goers are sampling, there’s All Go West’s Asheville craft beer tasting from 12 to 3 p.m. While that particular aspect of the event is ticketed, it’s a great chance to pick favorites and check out new offerings. “The beer tasting was an idea I took from Blues & Brews,” Hunt says of the Telluride Festival. But — like the approach the All Go West organizers took with the bands — they decided to stay local in scope. “This event is all about staying local,” Hunt says

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2010/042110lets_all_go_west

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »