Brock McGuire Band
By Gina Malone
Roots Americana wears its traveling clothes this month as the sounds of the South roam around the world and come right back home again.
Kelley Hunt, roots R&B/Americana singer and musician, gets things started on Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. Influenced by blues, R&B, jazz and gospel, this Kansas City native reaps praise for the “earthy poetry of her lyrics,” her “rich, soulful voice” and her “hardboogieing” piano playing.
“I love Carolina audiences,” she says. “They’re there for the song, not just the performance. It’s such a pleasure for an artist and songwriter to play for crowds like that; it’s easy to really exchange energy with them and make each show a unique moment in time.” Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
Kelley Hunt
Onstage Friday, November 11, at 8:30 p.m., are the Matt Flinner Trio, Joe K. Walsh Band and special guest Peter Rowan. Made up of mandolinist Flinner, guitarist Ross Martin and bassist Eric Thorin, the trio’s music has shades of bluegrass, jazz and Celtic. The evening will also be a CD release for the Joe K. Walsh Band. Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Rowan’s career has spanned five decades, including early years when he played with the legendary Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. Tickets are $20.
On Sunday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m., Mountain Spirit and Isis present Celtic Music with the Brock McGuire Band. While the group is “steeped in the Irish musical tradition,” says band member Paul Brock, it also “seamlessly incorporates elements from American old-time, bluegrass, French-Canadian and other Celtic traditions” into its music.
“We know of the reputation of Asheville as a strong center of music,” Brock says, adding that they “will be listening for the influence of the Irish music, which journeyed into the Appalachians hundreds of years ago and can be heard to this day.” Tickets are $20.
It’s off to Italy on Wednesday, November 16, at 8 p.m., when Steep Canyon Ranger’s Mike Guggino and Barrett Smith of the Shannon Whitworth Band team up on the Main Stage for Italian-themed string music. Kitchen 743 dinner options will be inspired by Tuscan food and wine. Tickets are $10.
On Wednesday, November 23, at 7 p.m., Mountain Spirit and Isis take listeners back to the rural south with Frank Lee and Allie Burbrink who will perform as a duo and with Lee’s band, The Freight Hoppers.
“Frank and I keep our show interesting,” says Burbrink, “by singing a lot of harmony and playing a lot of different instruments.” She has played the Asheville scene before, she adds, and loved the appreciative crowd. “They danced too!” Tickets are $10.
Sarah Potenza
Nashville-by-way-of-Rhode-Island singer and songwriter Sarah Potenza performs Saturday, November 26, at 7 p.m. She was a top 20 finalist on NBC’s The Voice last year after making it to the show from a pool of 50,000 candidates. With her “monster vocals,” she has appeared frequently at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café and on the globally broadcast Music City Roots. She calls Asheville “the Austin of North Carolina. It’s a beautiful place, full of open-minded music lovers,” she says. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
The Krüger Brothers, transplanted North Carolinians who hail from Switzerland, play Friday and Saturday, November 25–26, at 8:30 p.m. Uwe and Jens Krüger, along with Joel Landsberg, bring their own brand of music influenced by American folk and bluegrass and tinged with classical elements. Tickets are $25.
Isis Restaurant and Music Hall is located at 743 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For ticket information and reservations, call 828.575.2737 or visit isisasheville.com. Dinner reservations by phone are recommended.
