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StickleyHoneyWC

The Grey Eagle Hosts NPR World Cafe’s ‘Sense of Place’
with Jon Stickley Trio & The Honeycutters on Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Tickets are on sale now at → http://bit.ly/WorldCafeAtTheGreyEagle

ASHEVILLE, NC — NPR’s World Cafe, produced by XPN in Philadelphia, is bringing the show to Asheville’s The Grey Eagle on Tuesday, February 23rd for an evening of entertainment with Jon Stickley Trio and The Honeycutters, two Asheville-based bands who have both been making headlines across the country. World Cafe host David Dye will be in the house to interview with them before each band performs. This is a special show with limited seats available, so get tickets early before it sells out. Doors are at 7pm and the shows starts recording at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheGreyEagle.com. $15/$18. Come see it LIVE! It will air at a later date, tba!

The New York Times calls Jon Stickley Trio’s sound “respectful and free” and NPR Music featured a track off their new album Lost at Last on their program Heavy Rotation with Folk Alley’s Linda Fahey writing, “Jon Stickley has been playing in bluegrass bands for years, and is known as a progressive and adventurous flatpicker, but his musical roots and influences range widely to include rap, grunge, punk and more… [It’s] a wonderfully unique sound that defies easy categorization.”

Nashville’s Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says of The Honeycutters, “Vocalist Amanda Platt has a voice that’s complex, sweet and aching. Even more potently, she writes songs that folks are citing as up there with the best of the field, such as Mary Gauthier and Lucinda Williams.” Saving Country Music goes on to write, “…Platt’s songwriting could be placed in the exceptional category, at least from the evidence Me Oh My [2015 Organic Records] presents in her favor. It’s not just the sorrow and sincerity, it’s the insight and the resonance.”

Since launching World Cafe in 1991, David Dye has served as the host of this nationally acclaimed show, now syndicated on more than 250 public radio stations across the United States. Every week, Dye brings out the best in interviews with internationally known artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Joni Mitchell. He has conducted nearly 4,500 interviews during his years with the program. He introduces a half-million listeners each week to groundbreaking artists like Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, PJ Harvey, Sheryl Crow, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, and Amos Lee.

World Cafe’s Sense of Place is a quarterly series which brings the whole crew, including host David Dye, to various cities around the world. Previous shows have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Iceland, Havana, Stockholm (Sweden), Dublin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Austin, Pittsburg, Nashville, Memphis, Portland, and more. Sense of Place is made possible by a grant from The Wyncote Foundation in hopes to give you an idea of the past and present of various local music scenes and some pointers for musicians or music-lovers planning a visit.

Asheville-area NPR affiliate, WNCW, consistently sings praise for each band; The Honeycutters placed #3 with Music Director and Morning Host Martin Anderson saying, “Amanda Platt writes songs on par with Lucinda, Isbell, Lauderdale, Hank Sr.” Anderson says of Jon Stickley Trio, who placed #13 in the poll, “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.” You can tune in to World Cafe on WNCW weekdays between 4am to 6am and 6pm to 8pm.

For more information, please visit www.xpn.org/world-cafe/sense-of-place, www.TheGreyEagle.com, www.jonstickley.com, and www.thehoneycutters.com.
Get Tickets at http://bit.ly/WorldCafeAtTheGreyEagle.
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honeycuttCov3DThe Honeycutters, an Asheville, NC-based original country roots band, released their third studio album, Me Oh My, on April 21, 2015 with Organic Records®. Fueled by the powerful songwriting and vocals of founder Amanda Platt, Me Oh My moves her into the spotlight as producer, band leader, and principal creative force behind the band. With songs that are honest and relatable, part chagrin and part hope, Platt’s voice carries a timeless appeal. Led by songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, The Honeycutters include Tal Taylor on mandolin, Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums, and Matt Smith rounds out the band on pedal steel, electric guitar, and dobro.

“Amanda Anne Platt is easily one of the best songwriters coming out of Western NC these days, and she really needs to be discovered by the national Americana world.” Martin Anderson, the Music Director at WNCW goes on to say, “You can’t get much more Asheville than … Appalachian honkytonk band The Honeycutters … they recorded at Echo Mountain and Mixtown Studios there, and mixed and mastered Me Oh My at Crossroads Studios in Arden, where their label Organic Records is based.

The Honeycutters were recently in Studio B for a radio session around the new album, and WNCW got it all on video. Check them out below.

WNCW – Jukebox

WNCW – Interview following Jukebox:

WNCW – Texas 81:

WNCW – Interview following Texas 81

WNCW – All You Ever:

WNCW – Interview following All You Ever:

WNCW – Lucky:

For more information about The Honeycutters and tour dates, please visit: www.thehoneycutters.com. For news from the road, please visit www.facebook.com/Honeycutters and twitter.com/thehoneycutters.

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Acoustic Syndicate. Photo by Lynne Harty.

Acoustic Syndicate. Photo by Lynne Harty.

Acoustic Syndicate Performs in the Southeast This Fall, Announces Thanksgiving Show

Celebrating the Anniversaries of WNCW & Isothermal Community College in Sept
Shows in Georgia and Florida in Early November
Annual Thanksgiving Homecoming Show Set for Nov 29th at The Grey Eagle in Asheville

With a touring and recording history of more than 20 years, a strong following regionally and beyond, and a history of playing festivals like Bonnaroo and Farm Aid, North Carolina favorites Acoustic Syndicate returned in 2013 with their first record since 2004, Rooftop Garden.

The band is set to perform a select number of shows in the southeast this Fall including two shows on September 27th; a daytime performance at the Isothermal Community College (the home of WNCW radio) in Spindale, NC for the college’s 50 Year Anniversary, and another set later that evening at Pisgah Brewing Company’s outdoor stage in Black Mountain, NC to celebrate WNCW’s 25 Year Anniversary on the airwaves. In early November they return to Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta before heading on to Lucky’s in Valdosta, GA and the Riverhawk Music Festival in Brooksville, FL. Acoustic Syndicate is also happy to announce their annual Asheville Thanksgiving show at the Grey Eagle in Asheville on November 29th.

Having claimed the #6 spot in WNCW’s 2013 year-end Top-100 listener poll with Rooftop Garden, the band is as beloved to the Western North Carolina audience as they’ve ever been. “Acoustic Syndicate has remained one of WNCW listeners’ favorite regional and overall acts ever since they began in the ‘90’s,” says WNCW’s Martin Anderson. “In fact they were one of the Top 10 favorite WNCW artists during our big 20th Anniversary vote in 2009, ranking alongside such A-list acts as the Avett Brothers, the Allman Brothers, and Alison Krauss. When I think of bands that best represent the overall sound of what we do at WNCW – roots music, rock, jamming, harmonizing, songs that tell a good story – it’s hard to think of a better one than Acoustic Syndicate.”

Produced by Grammy Award winner Stewart Lerman (Boardwalk Empire, Patti Smith, The Roches, Antony and the Johnsons, Crash Test Dummies), Rooftop Garden features the band’s distinctive blend of rock and acoustic music, all influenced by the players’ love of a wide range of music, from reggae to American roots. “Their modern take on traditional bluegrass and rock values culminates in a glimmering, driving sound rich with acoustic textures and glowing vocals,” writes Paul Kerr on JamBase.

They have also branched out into new territory with the album as Glide’s Bryan Rodgers notes, “… in 2010, new songs began creeping into set-lists and the band began a new era. The culmination is Rooftop Garden…The passage of time, dedication to other interests (family, farming, and software engineering for instance) and newfound musical freedom helped the band create their most personal album yet, which is remarkable. All of the music… has a distinctly human touch, with topics like sustainability, the frailty of existence, love, and community. Rooftop Garden is somehow more immediate because of where the band now finds themselves musically: with no one to please but themselves and an even broader range of life experiences from which to cull material.”

“The tunes on this album were written with an essentially positive message, one about humanity, earth, responsibility and peace,” said singer/guitarist Steve McMurry. He and his cousin Bryon McMurry (banjo, electric guitar) split the songwriting and lead vocal duties 50/50 on this new album, and are joined by Bryon’s brother Fitz McMurry (drums) for the kind of three part harmony that only close relatives who grew up singing together can conjure up. The band is rounded out by always in-demand bassist Jay Sanders and dobro wizard Billy Cardine; both of whom make use of Moog synthesizers and pedals to craft a unique ensemble sound.

The McMurry family has been in family farming in the same region of Cleveland County, NC since the 1700s. Their love of the land and their serious approach to its stewardship is echoed by the love of the music they make and the care with which they make it. Rooftop Garden conveys important things about the environment we all share, grounded in the life experiences of people who truly love what they do. “Through our music, we have tried to maintain a consistent message, a reminder,” says Steve McMurry, “that this Earth is the only one we will ever have. And though we speak of some lofty ideals in our music, my most fervent hope is that when people listen to us or come to our show, they leave with a laugh and a smile and the satisfaction of having been a part of something positive.”

Acoustic Syndicate Fall Shows 2014
9/27 Sat – Isothermal CC 50th Anniv. on the Campus Green- Spindale, NC
9/27 Sat – WNCW’s 25th Anniv. Party at Pisgah Brewing Co – Black Mountain, NC*
11/6 Thu – Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA
11/7 Fri – Lucky’s – Valdosta, GA
11/8 Sat – Riverhawk Music Festival – Brooksville, FL
11/29 Sat- The Grey Eagle – Annual Thanksgiving show – Asheville, NC
* w/ Shane Pruitt Band & Phuncle Sam

For more information and other news, please visit www.acousticsyndicate.com, facebook.com/AcousticSyndicate and twitter.com/asyndicate.

 

 

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The Honeycutters Debut New Song on WNCW!
Kickstarter Campaign Update, Tour Dates

IMG_4139 credit-Eliza Belle Rosbach

CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters just debuted a new song on WNCW, are about to embark on an extensive tour throughout the northwest, and are in the last ten days of their Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a Spring 2014 album release! The band is fronted by vocalist and songwriter, Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James and includes Tal Taylor on mandolin, bassist Rick Cooper, and Josh Milligan on drums. For a FREE download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade: http://bit.ly/honeycuttersntm.

Last weekend was great week for The Honeycutters! They had a pair of hometown shows at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville with a more formal sit down dinner crowd on Friday night and a sold-out standing room only show on Saturday night. Check out this great review of the show in the Mountain Xpress by Alli Marshall. They’ll be LIVE on WGWG in Boiling Springs, NC at 2 PM Eastern on Thursday, May 30th. You can listen here!!

They just introduced a brand new song “Wedding Song” and have been thinking of putting it on the new record but haven’t made up their minds yet! Please let us know what you think of it by posted a comment below or leave a note on their facebook wall! Watch the performance of the song below.

The Honeycutters – Wedding Song (Live at WNCW on 5/15/13)

The Honeycutters are currently being featured on CMT Concrete Country!! CMT got a few videos of the band playing at their headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee with performances of “Oh Me, Oh My,” “Waiting in the Morning” and “90 Miles.”

There is still time to jump on The Honeycutters honey train to raise funds for their 4th album through Kickstarter. They’ve had over 180 fans pledge over $19,000 but they need to make it to $28,000 in 10 days or they don’t get any of it :(. You can pledge by going to the Honeycutters Kickstarter page and pledging whatever you can give in support of their next record. There are many great incentives at every level including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.

Upcoming Honeycutters Shows:
May 29, 2013 – Raleigh, NC @ The Berkeley Cafe
May 30, 2013 – Charlotte, NC @ US National Whitewater Center
Jun 1, 2013 – Nelsonville, OH @ Hocking College – Nelsonville Music Festival
Jun 5, 2013 – Bend, OR @ Old Saint Francis/Father Luke’s
Jun 6, 2013 – Portland, OR @ Kennedy School
Jun 7, 2013 – McMinnville, OR @ Hotel Oregon
Jun 8, 2013 – Bainbridge Island, WA @ Treehouse Cafe
Jun 9, 2013 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Jun 11, 2013 – Centralia, WA @ Oly Club
Jun 12, 2013 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Little Red Shed
Jun 13, 2013 – Gearhart, OR @ Sand Trap Pub
Jun 14, 2013 – Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge
Jun 15, 2013 – Seattle, WA @ Conor Byrne Pub
Jun 16, 2013 – Bellingham, WA @ The Green Frog Cafe and Acoustic Tavern
Jun 27, 2013 – Cullowhee, NC @ Univ Ctr. Central Plaza – WCU’s Summer Concert Series
Jun 28, 2013 – Lexington, NC @ High Rock Outfitters
Jun 29, 2013 – Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s (Amanda Anne Platt solo)
Jul 4, 2013 – Athens, GA @ The Melting Point – Classic City American Music Festival
Jul 5, 2013 – Isle Of Palms, SC @ Windjammer
Jul 11, 2013 – Opelika, AL @ The Overall Company
Jul 12, 2013 – Birmingham, AL @ Moonlight on The Mountain Concert Series
Jul 19, 2013 – Juliette, GA @ Juliette Opry
Jul 20, 2013 –  Eastman, GA @ The Magnolia Theater
Aug 10, 2013 – Willits, CA @ Dead on the Creek – Dead on the Creek Music Weekend
Aug 23, 2013 – Tryon, NC @ Rogers Park Summer Tracks Concert Series
Aug 25, 2013 – Flat Rock, NC @ Music by the Lake Concert Series at Blue Ridge Community College
Sep 6, 2013 – Nelsonville, OH @ Stuart’s Opera House
Sep 7, 2013 –   Harmony, PA @ Harmony Music Festival
Mar 30, 2014 – Fripp Island, SC @ Fripp Island Community Center

WHEN BITTER MET SWEET

Print

If you haven’t already, pick up a copy at a show or on Amazon!

You can also stream the album on Spotify!

For more updates visit: www.thehoneycutters.com

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The Honeycutters Launch Kickstarter Campaign
CMT’s Concrete Country Features The Honeycutters

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters are thrilled to announce the launch of their Kickstarter campaign on Thursday, April 25, 2013 for a Spring 2014 album release! The band is fronted by vocalist and songwriter, Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James and includes Tal Taylor on mandolin, bassist Rick Cooper, and Josh Milligan on drums.

THeHoneyCuttersThe Kickstarter campaign launches during this weekend’s MerleFest, where The Honeycutters are set to perform, and will run for forty days. The goal is set to raise $28,000, which will be earmarked for recording; the mixing & mastering of the album at the prestigious Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville; album packaging design; album pressing; distribution; publicity and radio promotion. Supporters will receive an assortment of special gifts for pledging to the campaign including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.

“We love playing music, being on the road, and meeting the people that make our lives as musicians possible,” Platt says. “We’re hoping that the release of this next record will afford us a greater opportunity for doing what we love–we want to bring more Honeycutters music into the world!”

PrintLast year marked a successful year for The Honeycutters, with the release of their second album, When Bitter Met Sweet, which was also fan funded. The album released at MerleFest and was one of the top ten selling albums at MerleFest 2012. The band went on to sell out the Grey Eagle in Asheville for their official CD release party, and they performed at Strawberry Music Fest in California. Highlights for the band in 2012 included opening for Guy Clark in Nashville, TN and for Jim Lauderdale in New York City.

When Bitter Met Sweet remained on the Americana Radio Chart for 11 weeks after its June release where it reached #23. It  landed at #94 in the top 100 Americana releases for 2012 and placed #4 in WNCW’s Top 100 Albums of the same year. Regionally, it was the #2 record, right behind The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter. Asheville’s Mountain Xpress reader’s poll selected The Honeycutters as “Best Local Americana Country Band” for the second year running. The group’s first release, Irene (2009) also received positive accolades like placing #32 on WNCW’s Top 100 Chart and a listing on Iaan Hughes’ No Depression Podcast’s Top Twenty of 2009.

The Honeycutters are currently featured in CMT’s Concrete Country series where they perform three original songs live in the heart of Downtown Nashville. Watch it here: http://www.cmtedge.com/2013/04/22/concrete-country-the-honeycutters/

For a free download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade: http://bit.ly/honeycuttersntm.

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters on Tour:
Fri & Sat 4/26-27/13 MerleFest – Wilkesboro, NC
Fri & Sat 5/17-18/13 Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC
Wed 5/29 The Berkeley Cafe – Raleigh, NC *w/ Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
Thu 5/30 US National Whitewater Center – Charlotte, NC
Sat 6/1 Nelsonville Music Fest – Nelsonville, OH
Wed 6/5 Old St Francis Theater, Bend OR *
Thu 6/6 Kennedy School – Portland, OR *
Fri 6/7 Hotel Oregon – McMinnville, OR *
Sat 6/8 Treehouse Cafe – Bainbridge Island, WA
Sun 6/9 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR *
Tue 6/11 Oly Club Centralia – WA *
Wed 6/12 Edgefield – Troutdale, OR *
Thu 6/13 Sand Trap – Gearhart, OR *
Fri 6/14 Grand Lodge – Forest Grove, OR *
Sat 6/15 Conor Byrne Pub – Seattle, WA
Sun 6/16 Green Frog Acoustic Cafe – Bellingham, WA
Thu 6/27 Western Carolina U’s Summer Concert Series – Cullowhee, NC
Fri 6/28 High Rock Outfitters – Lexington, NC
Sat 6/29 Amanda Anne Platt solo opening for Jill Andrews (Barley’s Knoxville, ticketed show)
Wed 7/10 Eddies’ Attic – Decatur, GA w/ Rebecca Pronsky
Sat 7/20 Magnolia Music and Medicine Show – Eastman GA
Sat 8/10 Dead On The Creek Music Festival – Willits CA
Fri 8/23 Summer Tracks Series – Tryon NC
Sun 8/25 Music On The Lake, Blue Ridge Community College – Flat Rock, NC (  (duo show)
Sat 9/7 Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival –  – Harmony PA
*as part of McMenamins Great American Northwest Music Tour

More information can be found at www.thehoneycutters.com

ABOUT THE HONEYCUTTERS
HoneycuttersThe Honeycutters are, at the heart, the musical collaboration of singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James. While their sound has drawn comparisons to such artists as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Platt and James produce a refreshingly unique blend of Americana music that is comfortingly familiar while being entirely original. Whether performing as an acoustic duo or a full fledged Honky-Tonk five piece band, The Honeycutters leave smiles on the faces of the ears that they catch.

Like so many of country music’s great duos, Platt and James have a musical chemistry that can be felt throughout the songs they play, from the sounds of their guitars to their vocal harmonies. Perhaps this is why they are frequently mentioned along with the movement to “take country music back to its roots.” The Honeycutters are just doing what they know how to do: make music that feels as good to hear as it is to play.

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

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Red June at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall Saturday, Jan 12, 2013
New Video for “Cloud of Dust”

Red June kicked off 2013 with a brand new music video (their first ever!) of John’s song, Cloud of Dust. They write, “We thought it was fitting for this time of year as we reflect on the past and look with hope toward the future.”

Their album Beauty Will Come was voted #4 Regional Release and #59 in the Top 100 on WNCW’s top releases of 2012

They also made an appearance on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend last month, here is a link to the segment.

Red June will be performing at the Isis Music Hall and Restaurant on Saturday, January 12th in Asheville, NC. 9pm. More information can be found at: http://isisasheville.com/calendar/

IsisPoster8.5x11

redjunemusic.com
twitter.com/redjunemusic
facebook.com/redjuneasheville
youtube.com/user/redjunemusic

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Great News!! Asheville musician Aaron Burdett won first place in the Carolina Songs Competition with Our State Magazine for his song “Going Home to Carolina”!

Our State writes:

From more than two hundred entries submitted in Our State magazine’s first-ever singer/songwriter competition, Aaron Burdett’s song “Going Home to Carolina”, has emerged as the winner. The competition called for original, North Carolina inspired songs that celebrate the place we call home. It was judged by a panel of local industry professionals.

“As judges, we had a great opportunity to hear some passionate songs about North Carolina,” said Rhiannon Giddens, lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, “Aaron did a wonderful job capturing the strong connection that I think all of us feel about the state.”

There is more information and a video of the song here: http://www.ourstate.com/songwriting/

“Aaron Burdett has become one of our favorite regional singer/songwriters these last few years.” —Martin Anderson, WNCW

Breathing Underwater, the new record by Aaron Burdett, is a well-crafted album of original songwriting. He reflects upon and questions life’s experiences in an honest tone, making you feel as if the songs are written on your behalf. A bit acoustic, a bit electric, and a bit early New Grass Revival, the music will get you moving to the beat in your most natural way. Take it on a road trip – I think you’ll enjoy the drive a bit more, and you may even find yourself singing along.” – Casey Driessen

“I’m exposed to all types of singers, songwriters, and frontmen, and rarely do I hear anyone that compares to Aaron Burdett.  His sense of melody and depth of lyrics is the perfect combination.  All he lacks is exposure to a national audience.  His trajectory will be comparable to Ray LaMontagne and Amos Lee when people start to take notice.  It will be exciting to watch.”  – Brian Swenk, Big Daddy Love

Storyteller and musician Aaron Burdett shares an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life through his music. Burdett released his 4th album, Breathing Underwater September 11th, 2012. Building on the traditions of the finest performing songwriters such as John Hiatt, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and John Prine, Aaron’s music blends folk-rock, bluegrass, and blues with pop sensibilities. His honest songwriting pours in between hammer-on chord changes and rolling crosspicking rhythms, all the while keeping at the forefront his own unique sound and authentic voice.

You can find out more about him and the new album at http://www.AaronBurdett.com.

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Moses Atwood performing live on WNCW’s Local Color at Landslide Studio in Asheville, NC.

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The Honeycutters Release NEW Album “When Bitter Met Sweet”

The Grey Eagle
Saturday, May 5th
Moses Atwood Opens
Doors 7pm, Show starts at 8pm
$8 adv/ $10 at door
185 Clingman Ave. 28801
828-232-5800

In a world that is becoming increasingly digitalized and impersonal, the Honeycutters are building a reputation based on live performance and songs that tend to stick with you. Fitting into Americana realm, Mountain Xpress’s Alli Marshall calls The Honeycutters’ sound, “Old school country in the truest sense… free of twang and ten-gallon hats but full of real emotion, family history, quick wit and strong liquor.”

In an interview with the Folk to Folk Blog, Amanda says that part of the Honeycutters appeal is that their sound harkens back to simpler, more honest times. “In times like these, people want something real,” she said. “They’re just really craving something that’s just going to connect them to that basic human pool of emotion.”

The Honeycutters are excited to introduce their second full length studio release, When Bitter Met Sweet on June 5th, 2012. They are hosting their Asheville CD release show at the Grey Eagle on Saturday, May 5th. Copies of the album will be available at the show. Moses Atwood opens the show, which starts at 8pm sharp. The Honeycutters will also be making an appearance on WNCW’s Studio B during the 11 o’clock AM hour on Thursday, May 3rd… tune in at http://wncw.org.

Like their first release, Irene, When Bitter Met Sweet features singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, who has been hailed as “one of the best songwriters coming out of WNC these days” by WNCW programming director Martin Anderson. Peter James accompanies her on lead and rhythm guitar as well as harmony vocals. They are backed up by Tal Taylor’s signature mandolin playing, Ian Harrod on bass, and Jon Ashley on drums creating an original brand of Americana that has proved equally appealing to both the musician and the music lover, the country and the city, and the old and the young.

Platt’s songs are shaped by a raw honesty that comes straight from the heart and emits a sort of melancholy happiness. The album features 11 tracks that touch upon childhood and loss of innocence, finding a sense of belonging and one’s voice, truth, love and patience, traveling and embarking on new life-journeys (and the fears that go along with these), and the understanding that comes about when life’s circumstances come full circle.

The title track, “When Bitter Met Sweet” is a song about the end of love looking back at the beginning.  Platt says, “I think it’s important not to lose sight of what was good about something even if it is ending.” “For Eleanora,” was inspired after reading a biography of Billie Holiday and reflects on a similar thought of polarities that, “It seems like so often the partners of extreme talent and specialness are self-destruction and doubt.”

The song “90 Miles (The Tennessee Song)” is featured on Blue Ridge Outdoors Trailmix for 2012 Merlefest Artists. It was written after her first trip to International Folk Alliance in 2010, an event that can be quite overwhelming at first. An admitted introvert, Amanda was faced with the challenges of how to be heard amongst all of the activity of events such as these. And make herself heard is exactly what she went on to do; becoming a finalist at 2011 Merlefest’s Chris Austin songwriting contest for her song song “Little Bird” (unrecorded). She was asked to return as a guest judge for the contest, along with Jim Lauderdale, for the 2012 Merlefest (Where The Honeycutters will also be performing a few sets this year). The same song won first place in the Great Lakes Song Contest in February 2012.

“All I Got, ” is a song Amanda calls, “a love song I wrote a long, long time ago, before I had actually ever been in love” and was selected for WNCW’s 2010 Crowd Around the Mic Vol. 14.

“Fancy Car” features Platt’s father on harmonica. He also sits in on “Not Over Yet”  which she says that when she sings it she imagines a child leaving home for the first time, wanting freedom but scared of what it might cost.

When Bitter Met Sweet was co-produced by Amanda and Peter with the assistance of Aaron Price, and was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC after securing funding through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Along with the full band, many special guests make appearances on the album including Matt Smith (pedal steel and dobro), Nicky Sanders (fiddle), Mark Platt (harmonica), Je Widenhouse (coronet), and on drums Mike Rhodes and Richard Foulk and for various songs. The album was engineered (and partially mixed) by Jon Ashley with the assistance of Julian Dreyer, mixed by John Keane and mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte, NC.

Their first full length studio release Irene, released in May 2009, has landed them in Ian Hughes’ NoDepression Podcast’s Top 20 of 2009, Fret Knot Radio Hour’s “Nine you need to know from ’09”, and #32 in WNCW’s listener voted Top 100 of 2009.

Since putting out Irene the Honeycutters have shared the stage with such Americana favorites as Tony Rice, The Greencards, Jill Andrews, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, and The Seldom Scene.  They have been voted Western North Carolina’s favorite local Americana act (2011 Mountain Xpress reader’s poll) and delighted audiences from upstate New York to Seattle, Washington. They are currently touring around the release of When Bitter Met Sweet.

Stay tuned to thehoneycutters.com for more news about the album and their tour.

What the Press is saying about The Honeycutters:

“I can see a day when her name is mentioned alongside Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier and Gillian Welch.  She’s just that good.” —The Real Southern

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“They’ve got a sound as classic as grits… I thought of those country songs that play on those diner jukeboxes you see in movies.” –Charlotte’s Creative Loafing

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“Amanda Platt’s striking, timeless vocals form the cornerstone of her often heart-wrenching songs, while producer Pete James’ understated guitar and gentle harmonies round out the duo’s saccharine-sweet mix.” –Dane Smith, Mountain Xpress

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“Amanda’s lyrics are both sardonic and sweet, which adds a contemporary element to their country twanged Americana sound [which] is more influenced by the harmonic tendencies of country singers like Johnny Cash and June Carter” —Folk to Folk Blog.

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“I recommend the Honeycutters not only because they’re some of the best my hometown of Asheville, NC, has to offer. Their music embodies a very catchy, accessible, optimistic sort of spirit so frequently lacking in folk circles (where brooding, hyper-analytical music reigns supreme). What’s more, like Carolina Story, they’re a great band replete with tasty harmonies.” –Kim Ruehl, Folk Music About.com

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“If anyone can make this old metalhead want to whip out the cowboy boots and hat, order a couple of Budweisers and spin my woman around the dance floor, the Honeycutters can.” –Brent Fleury, Bold Life Magazine

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“Amanda’s voice sings like Carolina farmlands after a rainstorm” –Harvey Robinson, Monkeywhale productions

www.thehoneycutters.com

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All Go West Music festival to take on its Second installment, located in the streets west Asheville NC. On April 23rd, 2011, The Festival will uniquely offer an array of musical talent, fashion, BBQ, and local Brew. Festival Remains Free To Patrons.

Asheville,  NC – In the second annual running of All Go West, anticipation builds for the integrating a great deal of local artistic talent to create a superior festival based upon community. The street party takes place on April 23rd, 2011 from 12 PM until 10 PM in west Asheville, in front of Harvest Records. All Go West is a festival embracing ideals of Asheville’s naturally creative progression, offering local art, fashion, food, beer vendors, and musicians. The festival’s admission remains free, hoping to enrich the cities ethos as an outstanding venue, gifted in a strong imaginative talent.

This year, All Go West is excited to introduce the newest installment, Beer and BBQ Tasting, featuring Luella’s Barbecue. The city of west Asheville has opened up the streets of Waynesville Road and Westwood Place to local vendors, fashion boutiques, and artists for the public to contribute their own artistic venture.

The most significant feature to the festival is the broad range of musical talent to take over the Pisgah Stage located on Waynesville Road. Spanning a vast range of different genres, All Goes West incorporates everything from hip-hop, blue-grass, electronic, and even rock.

This year’s installment includes the musical likes of:
Josh Phillips Folk Festival
Floating Action

Do It To Julia
Uncle Mountain

RBTS WIN

Wages

Sirius B

Secret B Sides

The Critters

Moses Atwood

Doc Aquatic

Common Foundation
10 Cent Poetry
For The Birds
Lyric
The 2011 All Go West Festival is Sponsored by Pisgah Brewing,The Mountain Xpress, WNCW, The River,The Mountain & Sunny Point

www.allgowest.com www.yellowdogent.com

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