Join us in the library community room to hear Jazz Pianist and composer, Michael Jefry Stevens and his musician friends, perform original compositions and songs from a songbook. This program is free and no ticket is required.

The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Pritchard Park Arts and Culture Series, made possible through a generous partnership with the Trina Mullen Foundation, City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, ArtsAVL, and Explore Asheville. This summer series will run from May 28 through August 30, featuring exciting activations every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Tuesdays: Hoop Jam

Join the fun with hula hoops and a live DJ. Whether you’re a seasoned hooper or a beginner, this vibrant event invites everyone to dance, spin, and groove to the music in a welcoming and energetic atmosphere.

Join us for a night of classical music in the Museum! A collaboration between the Asheville Chamber Music Series and the Asheville Art Museum featuring North Carolina musicians embarking on a major concert career.

Legendary Artists Series

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis—an ensemble of 15 virtuoso instrumentalists—delivers unforgettable performances with a characteristic flair and authority developed over 35 years of unrivaled excellence. The group’s compositions and arrangements embody an unprecedented variety of styles and genres including works by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Goodman, among so many, spanning jazz’s entire documented history.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.

Sing songs that celebrate Peace & Community, with Resident Teaching Artist Melissa McKinney. Sing, play, drum, and dance while learning songs from the Justice Choir Songbook.

Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
$15 drop-in class
All ages welcome.

Wednesday, June 26 at 7PM in the Williams Recital Hall features Decoda faculty artists Brad Balliett
(bassoon and composition), Claire Bryant (cello), Catherine Gregory (flute), David Kaplan (piano),
and Clara Lyon (violin) in a performance of music by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Igor Stravinsky, Felix
Mendelssohn, Chick Corea, Valerie Coleman, and a new work by incarcerated composer, Xiabao He.

Karaoke Night at Hickory Tavern

Legendary Artists Series

Keith Lockhart hosts an intimate evening with Wynton Marsalis celebrating the music and career of the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, performer, and educator. Violinist Tai Murray and members of BMC’s Artist Faculty perform A Fiddler’s Tale, Wynton’s modern take on the old story about the artist who sells her soul to the devil, updated with some wonderful musical and narrative twists.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.

For this year’s Pritchard Park Songwriter Series, the Asheville Association is teaming up with Paloma Madre who are best known for bringing Asheville the wildly successful, international concept, Open Folk. Each week will feature two world class songwriters from our community playing introspective and honest tunes about life in the 21st century. Pritchard Park will once again be filled with the sweet sounding songs of heartbreak, true love, heavy loss, and lots and lots of goofin. It’s a guaranteed good time that won’t cost you a dime!!

JAZZ Jam is a special part of the LEAF Community. Meet us every Thursday at LEAF Global Arts from 7-10 P.M. for a night of smooth jazz that you can participate in or simply enjoy.

Music by Jonathan Dove
Libretto by April De Angelis

Brevard Festival Orchestra
Joseph Mechavich, conductor
Dean Anthony, stage director

Sung in English

Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.

Plan to collaborate with other musicians at Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah. Bring your instruments and voices and enjoy making music and networking with other artists, while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Food truck is on site and beverages available for purchase from Sideways (small
batch craft beers, hard jun, ciders, wine, and non alcoholic drinks). Family, fans, friends, and leashed dogs are all welcome!
During winter months enjoy playing under the covered, sheltered, heated porch! And during the summer months enjoy
collaborating in the fields, on the stage, or under the patio

The beats of the Friday Night Drum Circle have been rocking Pritchard Park for decades and the circle has become so popular that it is featured in magazines and TV commercials.

The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Pritchard Park Arts and Culture Series, made possible through a generous partnership with the Trina Mullen Foundation, City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, ArtsAVL, and Explore Asheville. This summer series will run from May 28 through August 30, featuring exciting activations every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Drum Circle

The Asheville Downtown Association is proud to facilitate the return of Asheville’s iconic Drum Circle. Feel the rhythm and join the beat as the community comes together for an evening of drumming, dancing, and camaraderie.

Get ready to groove to the rhythm of the Caribbean at LEAF Global’s monthly DJ Dance Party! Taking place on the final Friday of every month, this exciting event invites music lovers of all ages and backgrounds to come together for a night of pure entertainment and cultural celebration. Step into the vibrant atmosphere of LEAF Global, where every floor comes alive with infectious beats and irresistible energy. DJ Haviken Hayes’ dynamic mixes of Caribbean, dancehall, and global sounds will keep the dance floor buzzing all night long. For those looking to perfect their moves, professional salsa instructor Monika Guerra will be offering free salsa lessons starting at 8 p.m. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, Monika’s expert guidance will have you salsa-ing with confidence in no time. Embrace the spirit of the Caribbean with a themed ambiance that transports you to tropical shores. All are welcome to join in the festivities, so grab your friends and come dressed in your best Caribbean-inspired attire for a night to remember. Admission to the DJ Dance Party is $15 at the door, with drinks and snacks available to keep you fueled throughout the evening. Indulge in a selection of refreshing beverages including margaritas, mojitos, and more, provided by Flybird & Uno Mas.

Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, activist and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. Spearhead’s Follow Your Heart was released in June 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart behind Harry Styles. Praised by American Songwriter as “an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us,” Franti & Spearhead’s 13th studio album Big Big Love is available everywhere now, featuring 17 tracks cowritten by Franti, reflecting his tenacity, inclusiveness, and optimism.

Franti & Spearhead will embark on the Togetherness Tour in 2024, bringing their dynamic and invigorating shows to Soulrockers across North America, including a return to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. With 60+ dates through the summer, the Togetherness Tour will kick off on April 6th in Fort Lauderdale at Tortuga Festival.

The Bay-Area native resides in Bali when he is not on tour and owns Soulshine Bali, a 32-room top-rated boutique hotel located in Ubud, Bali that focuses on joy through wellness and music, offering unique retreat opportunities and accommodations, along with special events and celebrations. Franti continues to foster community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, which brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,500 wishes and touching the lives of over 15,000 people to date.

MichaelFranti.com | Facebook.com/MichaelFranti | Instagram @MichaelFranti | TikTok @MichaelFranti | Twitter @MichaelFranti

Chart-topping country artist NIKO MOON is all about making people feel-good with his positive
vibes and tunes.

His first single “Good Time” went #1 on country radio and his other hits continue to climb the
charts as he releases more music. His upcoming album, Better Days, is set to release January
19th nationwide.

Beyond being a solo act, Moon, a SESAC country songwriter of the year, has written eight #1
songs and over 40 major record label cuts for artists such as Morgan Wallen, Avicii, Dierks
Bentley, Pitbull, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts and more.
He is also the founder of the “Happy Cowboy Foundation”, a 501c3 nonprofit.

Bombargo is a Canadian based international touring band that drops a vibrant splash of soul over their distinctive ‘vintage-pop’ sound. Well known for bringing unrivaled energy to the stage with sing-along anthems, double-brother harmonies, and a powerful message that combined make for one of the most captivating live shows ever! Frontman Nathan Thoen’s passionate conviction and ‘Jagger-like’ dance moves even impressed billionaire and music industry icon Sir Richard Branson, quoting “I haven’t seen this type of energy since The Rolling Stones!” – and he would know, having personally signed The Rolling Stones to Virgin Records.

The band began with lead singer Nathan Thoen and guitarist Spencer Chilliak after the two spontaneously met and drove 16 hours to attend Sasquatch Music Festival where they became inspired to start a band. The duo wrote their first song ‘Let It Grow’ during their very first writing session and as part of Bombargo’s debut EP ‘Back on Main’ which would go on to be included in ‘The Top 10 Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2015’ by SaskMusic. This further inspired them to continue writing, touring, and release their first full-length album titled ‘We Are Bombargo’. The group has since evolved into a 7-piece touring band adding Nathan’s brother Anthony Thoen on guitar, additional brothers Matt and Sammy Folkersen on keys and bass respectively, Connor Newton on saxophone, and Niall Cubbon on drums.

Bombargo went on to receive massive acclaim when pop star icon Taylor Swift added their 2018 single ‘Mr. No Good’ to her Spotify Playlist titled ‘Songs Taylor Loves’ alongside mega artists including Ed Sheeran, Camilla Cabello, and Kendrick Lamar. As the only unsigned band on this star-studded playlist, Bombargo was featured on CBC’s the Q, NME, Exclaim, Fashion, Noisey, People, and Billboard. This success was followed up by the release of their single ‘Oxygen’, which pushed Bombargo into the Canadian Hot AC Top 40 Charts for the first time in the fall of 2019. The band also made its US touring debut in late 2019 with their 33 date ‘North American Dream Tour’ which kicked off with Bombargo playing the sold-out Roughriders Labour Day Classic Half-Time Show to over 33,000 people. The band’s US debut at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA gained heavy press coverage including a raving article in Billboard Magazine.

Bombargo performed on the 2020 Okeechobee Festival Main Stage in Florida, with over 40,000 in attendance and joined the Okeechobee PoWow Super Jam to close the festival. In August of 2020 the band landed a ‘most excellent’ cameo in the hollywood blockbuster “Bill & Ted 3: Face The Music”. Bombargo’s most recent album ‘nebula.’ reached its Kickstarter fundraising goal in under 7 hours and released in June of 2022. The band returned to America in the Fall of 2022 to complete their 27 date “Goodtime Guarantee” headlining tour, including a main stage performance at ShredFest in Salt Lake City, and numerous sold out shows across the country. Bombargo has garnered over 10 Million DSP streams to date, and has received over 1 Million views on YouTube. There’s no doubt Bombargo will continue spreading “The Goodtime Guarantee™” for years to come and look forward to what the future brings!

On Friday, June 28 at 6:30PM, Decoda Faculty joins forces with the 2024 Festival Artists for a
unique side-by-side, outdoor performance of Arboretum, a recent work by Decoda’s own Brad
Balliett. Comprised of instrumental solos layered intricately by the composer, each solo in Arboretum
is inspired by a different kind of tree. Balliett says about the work:
“I’ve always been really into nature since I was a little kid, and my professional path has diverged
away from it,” composer Brad Balliett says. “And recently, I’ve been trying to get back to it and find all
the ways that I can combine these two passions—can I bring some of my love of nature into my life
as a bassoonist and as a composer?”

Join the Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians (PacJAM) for an evening of Live Music, Dance, Food, and Fun! Invited musicians will kick of the celebration with live performances in downtown Tryon, and we will take the party back to the Tryon Fine Arts Center for Open JAM and Sing, and we’ll light up the Amphitheater with square dancing and our famous Cake Walk.

Open JAM & Sing

Bring your voice or instrument for an easy jam with Gaye Johnson, Phil Jenkins, & Will Trakas

-TFAC Amphitheater

FREE

Events at the TFAC run from 6:30 – 8:00

Square Dance & Cake Walk

Pete LaBerge to call dances for the whole family. Live music from Bob & Amy Buckingham -TFAC Pavilion

Drinks & Name-Your-Price Hot Dogs Fresh Off the Grill

Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 1. To receive early access to tickets for this event, become a donor today! Donor presale begins March 25.

Visit LEAF Global Arts every Saturday for an in-house cultural exchange with Adama Dembele. Experience the Ivory Coast with our Culture Keeper from the House of Djembe.