The O’Connor Band with Mark O’Connor
Warm Up With December Offerings at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall
There’s no place like Isis Music Hall for the holidays with a lineup this month that celebrates the sounds of the season.
The Immediate Theatre Project production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio sets the scene on Thursday, December 1, at 8 p.m. This classic Christmas tale gets retold in the manner of radio dramas of days long past—with sound effects, organ music and voice acting. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
On Saturday, December 3, at 9 p.m., Steve Baughman and Robin Bullock present Celtic Guitar Christmas. “My ‘guitar brother,’ Steve and I have been performing Christmas concerts throughout the South for about 14 years now,” says Bullock, “and we jumped at the chance to bring that tradition to Isis.”
A Black Mountain resident, Bullock says that his Washington, DC upbringing was more conducive to learning traditional music than one might think. “East Coast cities like Washington (and Baltimore where I lived for 11 years) have long been populated by Appalachian migrants and Irish immigrants who came in search of work and brought the music with them.” Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
It’s a family celebration on Thursday, December 8, and Friday, December 9, at 8:30 p.m. when the O’Connor Band with Mark O’Connor arrives with gifts from Coming Home, their album released in August.
The band is comprised of Grammy- and CMA-award winning fiddle player Mark O’Connor, wife Maggie (fiddle), son Forrest (mandolin, vocals) and Forrest’s fiancée, Kate (fiddle, vocals). Although Joe Smart (flat-pick guitar) and Geoff Saunders (double bass/banjo) are not blood relations, says Forrest, “we sometimes refer to them as ‘Uncle Joe’ and ‘Cousin Geoff.’” The band’s music, he adds, is a blend of Americana, bluegrass, country, jazz and even classical.
“Kate and I have played several times at Isis,” Forrest says, “and it’s one of our favorite venues out there—one of the best venues for Americana and bluegrass music, not only in Asheville, but in the country as far as I’m concerned.” Tickets are $32 in advance and $38 at the door.
On Thursday and Friday, December 15 and 16, at 9 p.m., it’s time for the Bluegrass Ball, featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, Andy Thorn, Travis Book and Jon Stickley, among others. Sons of Del McCoury, Robbie and Ron McCoury play traditional and progressive bluegrass. Thorn plays banjo with Leftover Salmon, Book is a vocalist and bass player with the Infamous Stringdusters and guitarist Stickley of the Jon Stickley Trio has been a part of the Asheville scene since 2006. Advance tickets are $20 and $40 for a two-day pass.
Fiddler Jamie Laval’s Scottish Solstice Holiday Celebration on Thursday, December 29, at 8 p.m. is a blend of music, dance, poetry and stories celebrating ancient Celtic traditions associated with Winter Solstice and Christmas. Tickets are $24 in advance, $28 at the door, with students under 15 admitted for $12.
It’s an Asheville party to ring in the New Year on Saturday, December 31, at 8:30 p.m. when local favorites of country and bluegrass, The Honeycutters and the Jon Stickley Trio (with Taylor Martin), take to the stage. Dinner reservations will be available in the dining room and in the Isis Lounge. Tickets are $20.
Isis Restaurant and Music Hall is located at 743 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For ticket information and dinner reservations, call 828.575.2737 or visit isisasheville.com.
