The Orange Peel in current Rolling Stone Magazine

Locals have always known what a treasure we have here in Asheville when it comes to live music. The variety of live music available in intimate settings is enough to satiate any passionate music lover.

Be it bluegrass, blues, jazz, mountain music, reggae, traditional rock 'n' roll, Asheville's got it all. No Britney Spears here, y'all. Just good ol' fashioned good-time, genuine artists.

Now, the secret is coming out and the world is beginning to learn about the magnetic appeal of Asheville's music scene.

In its current issue, Rolling Stone magazine is naming The Orange Peel as one of the top music venues in the country.

Read More

Asheville's Vortex Music Festival Announces Lineup

Featuring an all-star lineup of Asheville- and regionally-based bands, the Vortex Music Festival begins its residence in Asheville on June 27 at the Asheville Civic Center. The inaugural two-day event features Perpetual Groove, Dubconscious, Toubab Krewe and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, along with 16 more bands and DJs that highlight the local music scene in Asheville, NC and the surrounding region. The full lineup is posted below.

Night Skye Entertainment, the organization responsible for the Vortex Music Festival, seeks to highlight local talent as well as provide a broad spectrum of musical genres to enlighten, inspire and celebrate individual creativity through sound. From the electronica of John Kelley and Telepath to the roots rock of Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, the festival offers something for every Asheville music lover and beyond.

In addition to the event's unique lineup of stellar regional bands, Vortex offers something for the common good as well; this year's inaugural event will sponsor three nonprofit organizations, including Child Abuse Prevention Services, NCAHA and Manna Food Bank. In addition, the event will be broadcast live by 105.9 The Mountain, so that everybody can enjoy the music if they can't make it to the show, and can feel free to donate to any of the above nonprofits as well.

Tickets for the Vortex Music festival go on sale on April 20th and will be available at the door for the same price ($30 ADV, $50 DOS). The Asheville civic center will play host to vendors and booths that are accessible from the venue floor, and food and drink will be readily available to all attendees. For a complete lineup of artists, see below:

Announced Lineup

Friday, June 27:

Toubab Krewe

Telepath

SeepeopleS

Stephanies Id

Strut

Josh Phillips Folk Festival

Black Eyed Susan

Moksa

Thunder Drums

=============================================

Saturday June 28:

Perpetual Groove

Dubconscious

Laura Reed and Deep Pocket

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band

Marsupial

Blues Forgotten

John Kelley

Hardcut

Psiklone

Olof

Ethermusic Festival

Weekend Theremin Festival!

The world's finest Theremin Players are gathering in Asheville to teach and showcase the music of the World's Oldest Electronic Musical Instrument (AND the only musical instrument you play without touching!) - the Theremin. Moog Music will again sponsor this International Theremin Festival – EtherMusic Festival 2008 - a celebration of the Theremin. This event will feature workshops and concerts and much, much more - all sponsored by internationally renowned Moog Music of Asheville, N.C.

Tickets at The Orange Peel website.

link | MySpace

x-posted to Easy Bake Coven

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

Flood Gallery proudly presents Insurgents, curated by its recently hired Assistant Director, Reneé M. Cagnina. This exhibition subversively addresses the internal battles that plague the psyches of its participating artists and exemplifies a unique ability to diplomatically address politics through vibrant illustrations.

Insurgents will run April 5th through May 11th, 2008 and the opening reception is slated for Saturday, April 5th at 7:00pm on the second floor of the Phil Mechanic Building in the River Arts District (109 Roberts Street, Asheville).

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, please call (828) 254-2166 or visit www.floodgallery.org .

link | via

Activist/Artist 'Zine and Blog Workshop

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Pack Memorial Library

Free

Grrly Show by filmmaker Kara Herold is an 18-minute film about the feminist 'zine explosion of the 1990s.

Lori Horvitz, Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Women's Studies at UNC-Asheville, will discuss what evolved out this richly independent feminist media and the way blogs have erupted.

The event will include hands-on workshops with local artists in 'zine-making, blogging, screen printing and knitting in the spirit of Do-It-Yourself culture.

This event is being held in conjunction with the smArt Speak: Distinguished Artist Series.

link

What's New @ Earthaven Ecovillage?

Earthaven is always bustling with new people and new building projects. And you can make reservations for the guided tours they have on Saturdays. This year they're planning to sponsor workshops in Qigong, The Power of Manifestation, Homeopathy, and Plant Wisdom.

News From The Ecovillage

Five Icelandic Sheep have arrived at Brian and Farmer's Gateway Farm. They are considered good breeds for milk, meat and wool. In April we expect a group lambing.

Michaeljon is rebounding wonderfully from bypass surgery, having only just come back from a trip to Machu Picchu, with Kiesa, when we were all surprised by his sudden illness.

Village Terraces neighborhood cleared another three-plus acres of land on the west side of the complex. And Martha and Finch moved into their downstairs flat next door at "Pokeberry Hill."

2008 Calendar Listing of Events

Courses
Permaculture Design Course: 7 Weekends at Earthaven Ecovillage
with Patricia Allison, Chuck Marsh, and Rudy Ballentine M.D.
April 18–20, May 17–18, June 21–22, July 19–20, August 16–17, September 13–14, October 11–12,

Email: Permaculture@earthaven.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.patriciaallison.net/.

Internships
Sustainable Life Skills Permaculture Internship at Earthaven Ecovillage
with Patricia Allison, Chuck Marsh, and Rudy Ballentine M.D.
April 12th thru June 15th, September 1st thru November 8

Email: Permaculture@earthaven.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.patriciaallison.net/.

Camps
Camp Katuah – Residential Permaculture Summer Camp for boys and girls, 7-15 years old near Raleigh, NC at William B. Umstead State Park.

Session One - June 30 - July 6 for campers 7-11 years old
Cost for Session One is $450

Session Two - July 21 - August 3 for campers 11-15 years old, or entering 6th - 10th grades
Cost for Session Two is $900
Email: info@campkatuah.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.campkatuah.org

Click here for more class information!

link | Intentional Communities | Cohousing

Polis is This: Charles Olson and the Persistence of Place

Next Thursday (April 17th)

A film by Henry Ferrini & Ken Riaf
7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 17, 2008
Fine Arts Theatre, 38 Biltmore Ave., Downtown Asheville
Admission: $7 BMCM+AC members + students with ID / $9 non-members
Filmmaker Henry Ferrini will be in town for the screening and will answer questions afterward.

"A beautifully composed homage to one of the few truly monumental American poets of our times." Jack Hirschman, Poet Laureate of San Francisco

"The best film about an American poet ever made." Bill Corbett, The Boston Phoenix

"...an impressionistic, yet informative and moving document about the act of creation that neither shies away nor oversimplifies." Michael Kelleher, ArtVoice

Just in time for National Poetry Month in April, the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, The Captain’s Bookshelf and Western Carolina University present a striking new film about Charles Olson, poet and charismatic leader of Black Mountain College during its final years, at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th. Polis is This: Charles Olson and the Persistence of Place wrestles with the six foot eight inch 275lb colossus of poetry through an extraordinary mix of word and image. Filmmaker Henry Ferrini will be present at the April 17th screening at the Fine Arts Theatre to answer questions following the film.

Polis Is This combines interviews, archival footage, commentary and animation into a single voice full of insight and visual beauty. The film allows the audience access to the subject even as it captures the zeitgeist of a formative era in literary history. The 60-minute documentary features John Malkovich, as well as interviews with poets and scholars Robert Creeley, Ed Sanders, Diane di Prima, Gerrit Lansing, John Sinclair, Pete Seeger, Chuck Stein, Anne Waldman, Charles Boer, Susan Thackrey, Amiri Baraka, Robin Blaser, Michael Rumaker, Jonathan Williams, Ammiel Alcalay, John Stilgoe, Vincent Ferrini and the poet’s son, Charles Peter Olson.

Polis Is This illuminates Olson’s life and work by exploring such connections and imaginative journeys. The film traces Olson’s process of self- discovery and makes it clear why Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and many other literary figures traveled to Gloucester to sit with the father of post-modernism — the man they called the "big fire source."

An eclectic soundtrack puts together Boston’s grandfather of punk rock Willie "Loco" Alexander with Black Mountain College avant-garde composer Stephan Wolpe along with a little banjo picking from Pete Seeger. The film has screened to enthusiastic audiences in New York, Cambridge and San Francisco.

via BM

Axis of Justice Tour 2008 in Asheville

The Justice Tour stops by The Grey Eagle at 8pm Tuesday, April 22, led by renowned rock guitarist & political activist Tom Morello performing as The Nightwatchman. Fans who like a dose of relevance with their folk won't want to miss this one. As always, all ages are welcome. Tickets are only $10, and are available now online, at the club, and at Orbit DVD and Harvest Records in West Asheville.

Musicians who have signed on to participate in the Justice Tour include Slash, Perry Farrell, Maynard James Keenan of Tool and Puscifer, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, Davey Havok of AFI, Boots Riley of the Coup, Shooter Jennings, State Radio, Mike Einzinger of Incubus and Wayne Kramer.

I think since the Smashing Pumpkins did their residency show in Asheville, we are getting tons more respect as a music city and others are adding Asheville to their itinerary.

Asheville Events

Here is the latest batch of events on Around Asheville, especially for those of you who read the website through a feed or email and may have missed it. We keep a running list on the right side of the page. If you want to add anything to the list, just leave a comment or send an email and I'll add it.

* April 22, 2008
Earth Day Asheville 2008

* May 2-4, 2008
French Broad River Festival

* May 3, 2008
Global Marijuana March
contact: ahillsie at hotmail.com

* May 9-11
Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)

* May 16-18, 2008
Goa Gill at Deerfield's

*May 23-25, 2008
Asheville Music Jamboree

* May 24-25
White Squirrel Festival

* July 10-13
Grandfather Mtn Highland Games

* July 25-29
Bele Chere

* August 22-24
Goombay

* September 18-21, 2008
Triboriginal

"A Crude Awakening"

Friday, April 4, 2008 7:00 PM, free
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
********************

PANEL DISCUSSION:
WNC Peak Oil Perspectives
Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:00 PM, free
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806

Panelists:
John Sticpewich, retired petroleum geologist
Jim Barton, Smith Mill Creek Permaculture School,
"Transition Town Movement"
**************************
About the film
"A Crude Awakening":
Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining,
this film visits top experts and comes to a startling but logical
conclusion - our industrial society, built on cheap and readily
available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled.

Shot on
location in Azerbaijan, Venezuela, the Middle East, and Texas, the
film provides not only questions but possible solutions to the most
perplexing and important economic, environmental and public policy
issues of our time.

In a report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, Robert L.
Hirsch, Senior Energy Program Advisor, Science Applications
International Corporation) challenged the notion that the free market
can solve the peak oil emergency:

"The world has never faced a problem
like Peak Oil. Without massive mitigation more than a decade before
the fact, the problem will be pervasive and will not be temporary.
Previous energy transitions (wood to coal and coal to oil) were
gradual and evolutionary; oil peaking will be abrupt and revolutionary."

PANEL DISCUSSION:
WNC Peak Oil Perspectives
Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:00 PM,
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806

Panelists:
John Sticpewich, retired petroleum geologist
Jim Barton, Smith Mill Creek Permaculture School, "Transition Town
Movement"

2 Affordable Rooms To Rent

Asheville Hostels

"The immediate feeling of comfort and security. We were welcomed in like family, and enjoyed the conversations as well as the accommodations."

Looking for a place to stay in Asheville on the thrifty side? Asheville Hostels is extremely affordable and may just be what you're looking for when visiting Asheville with not a lot of cash to spare. It's located in downtown Asheville.

16 Ravenscroft Drive
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 582-1938



Bon Paul and Sharkey's

"Here you will find a place to call home for a few days while relaxing, having fun, and interacting with other like- minded travelers – a break from your adventure, and yet still adventure in itself."

Read about how they got their name for their home. They also have photos of the home and inside with the guest quarters. They're located in West Asheville.

816 Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 350-9929

Wisdomology

Reveal Your Inner Wisdom

Three Amigos With One Vision

Nowadays James, Bruce, and Lauren (whose diverse paths have led them out of the Ivy League, down the Appalachian Trail, and through the joys and challenges of stay-at-home-parenting) come together each day and try to imagine ways that Wisdomology can enlighten, inspire, inform, and connect people whose backgrounds are as diverse as their own.

There's a lot of beautiful spirits swirling around WISDOMOLOGY. Go see for yourself!

Drum Circle at Pritchard Park

With Spring weather on our side now, drumming and dancing has started up again in Pritchard Park each Friday night at 5:00. I believe they have to stop at 11:00 pm. (Someone will tell us if that's the wrong time.)

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI)

An Urban Sustainability Center

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI) is an emerging urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions in action. AVI is located in a cluster of houses in a neighborhood a few blocks from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

Living at the Asheville Institute in 2008
We want enthusiastic, super responsible, skilled people who are great at living collectively, have a skill-set and passion to help develop AVI, and support the season's programs (while participating in them for free). Read More...

See Upcoming Events
Sustainability Workshops Series
At The Ashevillage Institute (AVI)
Participate in the whole series, or just one!
Discounts are available if you register for all.
Introduction to Permaculture Workshop -- March 27 & 28
Residential Rainwater & Greywater Harvesting Workshop -- April 24 & 25
Bee-Keeping Workshop -- May 29 & 30
Natural Building Workshop -- June 26 & 27
Wild Food & Fermentation Workshop -- July 24 & 25
TBA -- August 28 & 29
TBA -- September 25 & 26
Natural Finishes Workshop - Earthen Plasters & Paints -- October 23 & 24

Support AVI:
AVI is administered by Kleiwerks International. 100% tax-deductible donations can be made by credit card through paypal at http://www.kleiwerks.org/support_us.php, or checks can be sent to: Kleiwerks International c/o 82 Buchanan Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Write AVI in the memo line.

For more information contact:
Email: AVI@kleiwerks.org
Call: 828.225.8820

Guerrilla Girls in Asheville

Guerrilla Girls Talk / Performance
Monday, March 31, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Asheville Community Theatre
$18 general admission, $16 Museum Members, $14 students

During this event, the famous feminist masked avengers will talk about their work, philosophy of activism while campaigning against an appalling lack of ethics in the art world.

Go to http://www.ashevilletheater.org and click on the 'buy tickets now' button to reserve your seat.

Monkey Bizness with the Guerrilla Girls
Hands-On Workshop
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Asheville Art Museum
Cost: $20 general admission, $15 students

Space is limited for this event and advance registration is required.

To register please contact Nancy Sokolove at the Asheville Art Museum, 828.253.3227, ext. 120.

A founding member of the Guerrilla Girls will lead visitors through the chaotic process of brainstorming, collective give-and-take and larger group input that has helped these anonymous art activists perfect their in-your-face work during the past 20 years. As participants ‘aestheticize their anger,’ they may get some career advice about ethics and the art world along the way.