Downtown Asheville Blog

As always, this will be a great weekend to see some live music in Downtown Asheville. Here are my picks:

Friday

Erin Bode Group - Erin Bode’s beautiful voice puts many American Idol aspirants to shame. To top it off, her jazz/folk band consists of some truly talented musicians. For sheer artistry, this is the show to see this weekend. Diana Wortham Theatre.

The New Familiars - This band epitomizes the term “genre-bending,” with a sound that has something for everyone. If you have to pigeon-hole it, call it alt-rock. They’re from Charlotte and they’ve been making waves on the East Coast. Stella Blue.

Saturday

Who’s Bad - Despite all his creepy shenanigans, Michael Jackson remains a pop icon. This tribute band to the Man with the Glove dons all the trademark clothes and takes listeners through an anthology from The Jackson Five and beyond. A guaranteed party. The Orange Peel.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

February 1, 2008. For many years, folks headed downtown if they wanted to see a bluegrass show. With the opening of two new venues in 2007, however, fans are finding new places to enjoy some good ol’ pickin’.

One of those new venues, the Fletcher Feed and Seed, kicks off its February bluegrass series this weekend. Located at 3715 Hendersonville Road, the community center that occupies the former Fletcher Supply Store. Local pickers the Red Eye Ramblers will play Saturday. Future shows, in order, include Preacher and Pole Cats, Dehlia Low, and Lo-Fi Breakdown. Admission is free, but tips are encouraged.

The Fiddlin’ Pig, a barbecue restaurant, opened on Tunnel Road, just south of the tunnel near Chunns Cove Road. This is no ordinary barbecue joint, however. It also serves up bluegrass music Monday through Sunday night, and occasionally has Sunday bluegrass gospel. Bluegrass fans will find every type of style, from traditionalists to newgrass players. The barbecue and corn bread are pretty good, too.

By Mark Vanderhoff, who is an Asheville Realtor. He may be contacted at Mark.Vanderhoff@ColdwellBanker.com.