Calendar of Events

This musical comedy cabaret will have you questioning your dining dos and don’ts for years to come. After waiting tables for nearly 20 years, one-of-a-kind comedian Darron Cardosa created a blog to release his frustrations about the industry: Writing stories on the Internet, he explained, seemed better than attacking annoying customers with a fork. Now a widely renowned, side-splitting live show, Darron offers a glimpse into the inner monologues of tired waitstaff everywhere — all with a musical twist. Contains adult content.

The Second Annual Block Party will be held on Saturday, April 29th from 2:00 – 7:00 PM on South Liberty Street at the crossroads of East Chestnut and Merrimon Place in Asheville, North Carolina.

The event is free to enter, but a recommended donation at the door is encouraged, with all donations going directly to benefit The Pisgah Conservancy, an organization that leads sustainable projects to improve and preserve Pisgah National Forest.

The event will feature live music from several performers, including Red Clay Revival, The Larry Keel Experience, DJ Logic, and an interactive drum performance by Billy Zanski.

There will also be over 15 local craft vendors and fun activities for the whole family, such as yard games, a board breaking station from Premier Martial Arts Studio and more.

Food sold on-site by Pulp & Sprout, Smashville Food Truck, and sweet treats by Sunshine Sammies.

Craft beverages will be sold by One World Brewing, The Whale and N/A beverages by Headspace Elixirs. Complementary water provided by Blue Moon Water.

Pisgah National Forest is one of the most visited National Forests in the nation, with millions of visitors each year. The Pisgah Conservancy has successfully led projects focused on improving the forest’s trail systems and access points in a sustainable way, developing a close relationship with the National Forest Service in the process. The Block Party aims to create awareness and financial support for The Pisgah Conservancy’s work, which is crucial in the face of unprecedented growth in the outdoor recreation economy and the region as a whole.

The Block Party committee consists of seven individuals from Looking Glass Realty’s Asheville office, who donate their time and talents to organize the event. This year, event coordinator Jessica Grion of Pisgah Brewing has joined the team, and the committee is excited to work with The Pisgah Conservancy once again to make the event a success.

Please click the link below to learn more about our Sponsorship Opportunities for this year’s event: Block Party Sponsorship Opportunities.

Want to volunteer? Contact Jessica at [email protected].

This is a rain or shine event! Donations at the door can be made by Cash, Venmo and Paypal.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional event information and updates.

Thank you kindly for your support! Happy trails and see you on the Block!

~ Looking Glass Realty

Ready for an evening of celebration and inspiration? Join us for the 1st Annual Black Maternal Health Fundraiser on April 29 in Asheville. Featuring Omari Maynard, Cooking with Comedy Catering, The Hypnotic Band, and more.

Sistas Caring 4 Sistas is a community-based doula program founded by women of color for women of color who could benefit from this evidence-based form of birth support. Our doulas work in partnerships dedicated towards healthy, equitable outcomes as part of a larger social justice movement that is committed to eliminating health disparities for birthing individuals, families and infants of color.

Keynote speaker, Omari Maynard, is an artist, activist, and educator. He has received his bachelor degree in Marketing from Hampton University, an MBA and a Masters in Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida, and a Masters degree in Special Education from Long Island University. Before becoming a full time creative he worked in the field of sports and education for twenty plus years.

In 2016 Omari and his life partner, Shamony Gibson, started their own business. Art-fulliving is a lifestyle and event planning business with an emphasis on artistic expression. Unfortunately, Shamony transitioned on October 6th, 2019, due to medical malpractice after giving birth to their second child.

After the tragic and preventable death of his beloved partner, Shamony Gibson, Omari and his mother-in-law, Shawnee Gibson founded the ARIAH Foundation. The foundation seeks to support individuals, families and communities who experience the devastating Aftershock associated with maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. ARIAH provides mental, physical, emotional and/or spiritual assistance to support the affected families as they navigate the impact of these traumatic experiences.

Since the passing of his life partner and creation of The ARIAH Foundation Omari has been featured in the award-winning documentary, Aftershock, streaming on Hulu now and other platforms such as Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, The Breakfast Club on Power 105, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, raising awareness on this tragic epidemic.

Get ready to enjoy an evening to remember! Food will be catered by Chef Clarence Robinson’s “Cooking with Comedy”, live music by “Hypnotic Band”, a silent auction, and a story that will show you why SistasCaring4Sistas exists!

Attire: Red and Black

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please email: [email protected] if you are interested in sponsoring this event.

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

BUCK CURRAN

No Love Is Sorrow is the latest album by guitarist-singer-songwriter Buck Curran. Since 2005, Buck has recorded and performed as one half of the psych-folk duo Arborea. To date, Arborea has released five albums, including 2013’s ESP-Disk’ release Fortress of the Sun (All Music Favorite Folk & Favorite Singer-Songwriter Albums 2013). Buck has also produced several various artists compilations: We Are All One, In the Sun: a tribute to Robbie Basho (2010), Basket Full of Dragons – a Tribute to Robbie Basho Vol II (2016), Ten Years Gone: A Tribute to Jack Rose (Tompkins Square 2019), along with the archival live recording; Robbie Basho Live in Forlì, Italy 1982 (2018).

Buck has developed his intense, intimate and mesmerising approach to live concerts through two decades of playing and touring extensively throughout the US, UK, and Europe with Arborea, performing key shows and festivals (Green Man Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, etc). He also draws inspiration from the deep well of Folk and Rock of the 1960s  (Robbie Basho, Bert Jansch, Peter Green, Tim Buckley, etc.)

In 2016 Buck released his first solo album Immortal Light, followed in 2018 by Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas, listed among the ‘Best Albums of 2018’ according to Folk Radio UK and Aquarium Drunkard.

In April of 2020 Curran released his third solo album ‘No Love Is Sorrow’. Later that month he was interviewed by Jason Woodbury for Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions. In May 2020, Premier Guitar Magazine published a feature article and NPR published a Tiny Desk Concert recorded at Buck’s apartment in Bergamo, Italy. No Love is Sorrow was also listed among the ‘Best Albums of 2020’ by Folk Radio UK and Aquarium Drunkard.

Growing up, a young princess, always felt like she was missing something. Or was it someone? She loved her parents, but once the princess turned 18, she knew it was time to find out what was missing. With her best friend by her side, she sets out on a journey to find the missing piece in her life. They face many challenges and obstacles, but with the help of a mystical creature, she discovers her long-lost sister and brings her home. Now she finally has everything and everyone she needs to live happily ever after.

The Asheville Rock Academy’s talented students have played some high profile gigs, including the Main stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Academy bands have also played with Cliff Williams of AC/DC, Victor Wooten and Roy Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones fame, guitar shredder Joe Stump and American Idol’s Caleb Johnson. The future of rock is in good hands with these committed teen musicians and their dedicated teachers.

The Rock Academy is an Asheville Music School that teaches Year-Round Rock Band Performance Classes to students 7-17. Students learn to perform a wide variety of musical styles and songs of various genres including blues, classic rock, hard rock, punk, surf, and more.

Our music students grow into real musicians and take their skills “on the road” to play in front of live audiences at some of the top venues in the area (The Orange Peel, Gray Eagle, White Horse, Aloft Hotel, Biltmore Park, Folkmoot, Bacon-fest, and many more!). Our bands have even played on stage at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio!

Visit The Rock Academy Website

For Family Members of the Rock Academy, CLICK HERE for a special discounted rate.

Get Hypnotized as the “Most Asheville” Thing to Do in Downtown Asheville This Weekend. SATURDAY NIGHTS Hypnotist Jon Dee Show all the LAUGHS behind the Subconscious Mind. GUARANTEED to have a Fantastic Time but also to leave with more Hope, Smiles and Belief that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast, Ring of Fire paints a musical portrait of ‘The Man in Black’ that promises to be a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend!

Music, Book, & Story by Steve Martin; Music, Lyrics, & Story by Edie Brickell

Set in our very own Blue Ridge Mountains, Bright Star tells the story of Alice at two different points in her life: as a young girl in the mountains, and 22 years later as the well-to-do editor of a successful Asheville magazine. A serendipitous encounter inspires Alice to face her past, and a stunning realization changes her life forever. Bright Star is based on the Grammy Award-winning bluegrass album, Love Has Come for You, and centers particularly on the song “Iron Mountain Baby.” Be sure to listen also for the song with our namesake – “Asheville”!

Content Warning: Bright Star contains swearing, language that some may find blasphemous, incidental drinking and smoking, and kidnapping.

Accessibility:

All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.

Saturday, May 6, 2023: ASL-Interpreted Performance

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast.

Director Ben Hope adds “Having spent many years working on various productions of Ring of Fire (this production will be my personal 10th!), The most extraordinary thing I keep finding about Mr. Cash is how unanimously loved he is, even now, 20 years since his death. No other project seems to attract such a varied and enthusiastic crowd as the music of Johnny Cash. I think it’s because he wrote for the ordinary. His words and music are authentic and simple, and he speaks plainly about things we all connect with. He was fallible, with personal demons and shortcomings. He makes us feel like our own imperfections are normal and mundane, and he teaches us that there’s beauty and hope, even in despair. I love Johnny Cash, and I know Flat Rock audiences are going to love Ring of Fire’.”

Don’t miss this inspiring story, all the great music, and an evening of iconic Johnny Cash!

Ring of Fire is presented by WHKP and Carolina Ace Hardware. Flat Rock Playhouse’s 2023 Season is supported by Charlotte & Bob Otto, Optimum, WHKP, and WTZQ as well as the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org

For a complete lineup with show descriptions and to purchase tickets, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

FISH
By Cyndi Williams
Directed by Ashleigh Goff

When two characters connect unexpectedly in a lonely bar, they wind up playing a dangerous game. Who will survive, and how can they forgive themselves in the process?  Shifting timelines and unearthing skeletons, Fish is a fever dream twisting through memory, fantasy and the present.

This musical comedy cabaret will have you questioning your dining dos and don’ts for years to come. After waiting tables for nearly 20 years, one-of-a-kind comedian Darron Cardosa created a blog to release his frustrations about the industry: Writing stories on the Internet, he explained, seemed better than attacking annoying customers with a fork. Now a widely renowned, side-splitting live show, Darron offers a glimpse into the inner monologues of tired waitstaff everywhere — all with a musical twist. Contains adult content.

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY

THE CRITICALS
The Criticals are a Nashville based rock band formed by Parker Forbes and Cole Shugart. In November 2019, they released their first EP, “Mimosa Hygienem” starting their journey. When covid hit in early 2020, the band focused on writing, recording and releasing music and music videos. Their first music video for Treat Ya Better became popular online, leading many diehard fans to their music. Their sophomore EP, “Sour Grapes” was released in October 2020, along with several singles in ’21 and ’22. In addition to the organic traction on Spotify, along with their music videos, the band has built a loyal and growing audience eager to see them live.

SWEET SPINE

“SWEET SPINE” is a band consisting of Fox Haynes, Evelyns Atkins, and Ryan Sutton. The trio was formed in 2021 and since then they have been bringing an original and fresh sound into the local music scene. It’s no secret that sweet spine grew quickly within the local music scene. And for good reason, their infectious live performances and high energy sound brings in new fans with every live performance

To this day sweet spine continues to grow at a rapid pace, and thanks to overwhelming support from the local music scene they are pushing to surpass the boundaries of the typical “three piece rock band” sound. With contagious rhythms, fast paced breakdowns, and an energy you can’t help but feel moved by, they hope to bring a new musical experience to everyone who happens to come across them.

CONNOR KELLY & THE TIME WARP
Connor Kelly & The Time Warp is dedicated to pushing sonic boundaries while persevering the anthropomorphic elements of Rock & Roll. Drawing inspiration from icons like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the group cultivates a sound that pays tasteful homage to legends of the genre but not without their own unusual twist. Since their latest album release “Distant Forest” the band has accumulated over 5 million streams and joined acts like The Backseat Lovers, Vista Kicks, and Moon Taxi on the road. Connor Kelly, Ben Kelly, Aiden Lamb, and Daniel Ryan are liable to disrupt the space-time continuum.

An Asheville cultural festival favorite returns! To celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday and our beloved festival founder, Hanan Weizman, we’re serving up live Israeli music by Ovadya and traditional hand-prepared Israeli delicacies including falafel, schwarma, Israeli desserts and beers galore.

Don’t miss the children’s inflatables and art-studded silent auction featuring prized offerings from local artists and businesses. Registrants of the Jewish Community Center’s Falafel 5K, our sister event, receive a free falafel sandwich at Cafe Israel following the athletic event’s conclusion. See you there!

Event photography by Camilla Calnan Photography.

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast, Ring of Fire paints a musical portrait of ‘The Man in Black’ that promises to be a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend!

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast.

Director Ben Hope adds “Having spent many years working on various productions of Ring of Fire (this production will be my personal 10th!), The most extraordinary thing I keep finding about Mr. Cash is how unanimously loved he is, even now, 20 years since his death. No other project seems to attract such a varied and enthusiastic crowd as the music of Johnny Cash. I think it’s because he wrote for the ordinary. His words and music are authentic and simple, and he speaks plainly about things we all connect with. He was fallible, with personal demons and shortcomings. He makes us feel like our own imperfections are normal and mundane, and he teaches us that there’s beauty and hope, even in despair. I love Johnny Cash, and I know Flat Rock audiences are going to love Ring of Fire’.”

Don’t miss this inspiring story, all the great music, and an evening of iconic Johnny Cash!

Ring of Fire is presented by WHKP and Carolina Ace Hardware. Flat Rock Playhouse’s 2023 Season is supported by Charlotte & Bob Otto, Optimum, WHKP, and WTZQ as well as the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org

For a complete lineup with show descriptions and to purchase tickets, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Music, Book, & Story by Steve Martin; Music, Lyrics, & Story by Edie Brickell

Set in our very own Blue Ridge Mountains, Bright Star tells the story of Alice at two different points in her life: as a young girl in the mountains, and 22 years later as the well-to-do editor of a successful Asheville magazine. A serendipitous encounter inspires Alice to face her past, and a stunning realization changes her life forever. Bright Star is based on the Grammy Award-winning bluegrass album, Love Has Come for You, and centers particularly on the song “Iron Mountain Baby.” Be sure to listen also for the song with our namesake – “Asheville”!

Content Warning: Bright Star contains swearing, language that some may find blasphemous, incidental drinking and smoking, and kidnapping.

Accessibility:

All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.

Saturday, May 6, 2023: ASL-Interpreted Performance

Charles Davidson, minister and author of Foster’s Pie Pan: Stories of Grace Abounding in a Fallen World, will read from his new book and sign copies for purchase at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Profits from the event benefit Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina. Jim Lowder will speak briefly about the work of Homeward Bound.

Figure Drawing Salon-
Live nude model, art instructor host, bring your own art supplies. We have a limited supply available. Some community supplies available for use. We ask for a $15 donation at the door to support the instructor and model.

Format may vary but usually consists of- 5-1 min
2- 5 min
1- 10 min
2- 20 min each pose different 10 min break in between
2- 20 minute poses same pose

Come learn and mingle with a fun and friendly community of artists! Normally hosted the last Sunday of every month.

– ALL AGES
– FULLY SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

DEB TALAN

Deb Talan has been writing songs since she was 14 years old. Granted, her style has changed a bit since writing the forever-unknown smash-hit “Through the Window” about feeling numb, like life was going on somewhere out there but not accessible to her (at 14. so jaded.) She played clarinet, wrote songs on piano, later taught herself to play guitar in college, got obsessed with Shawn Colvin, was a vegetarian for 4 years, ended that with a hotdog and a swim in lake Michigan, started a band in Portland, OR with her friend Mark, named it Hummingfish, wrote a lot of fun songs that people danced to ‘til they were all sweaty in that hipster/grungy/geeky Northwest kind of way, moved back to the east coast 6 years and a divorce later and began playing solo in Boston coffee houses (read: 4 different Starbucks that she also poured espresso at) opened shows for Catie Curtis (a songwriter hero of hers) met up with Steve Tannen and formed The Weepies, played shows all over the country and the world, toured in a real tourbus! moved to LA, got married to Steve, made 5 records and 3 amazing boy-children together with him, had songs placed in loads of movies and tv shows, moved to Iowa, got breast cancer, got chemotherapy and relied heavily on marijuana for pain and nausea relief(Legalize, for gods’ sakes, can we grow up as a country, please?) recovered from breast cancer, made a solo album, struggled with mental health issues (Childhood Incest Survivor, lucky to be alive, music has helped, and so have many blessed healers) and relationship issues for 6 years, got divorced from Steve. She has a lot she could say these days. She prefers to listen. But playing songs for people is a close second. Music heals. Songs can be prayers.

Deb Talan is some lovely damn proof of that.