The Seldom Scene
September Isis Concerts Showcase Variety
Asheville attracts world-class musical talent every month, and September is no different. Several noteworthy concerts promise great music at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall.
The first weekend of the month begins on a spicy note with an evening of world music and dance. Juan Benavides Group and The Resonant Rogues bring “Romany Revelry” to Isis on Saturday, September 3, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The bands, both based in Asheville, will perform an evening of original music from around the world.
Known for an eclectic mix of Balkan, Turkish, and Middle Eastern music, The Resonant Rogues pulls together danceable set lists that run the gamut from gypsy swing to early New Orleans jazz and Appalachian old-time to eastern European folk music. The result is a delicious musical mixture. The group includes harmony vocals, accordion, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and upright bass, with percussion added for special occasions. Juan Benavides Group blends traditional and new flamenco and Middle Eastern styles with modern soul and rock ’n’ roll. Juan hails from Bogota, Colombia. He studied flamenco guitar in Spain and has toured extensively throughout the US.
Switching genres to acoustic and blues, American Roots singer-songwriter Seth Walker takes the stage Thursday, September 8, at 8 p.m. Claiming influences from artists such as T-Bone Walker, Snooks Eaglin, and B.B. King, Seth has taken a classical education and developed it into a six-string force for going on two decades. NPR has hailed his work as “hard-driving” and called his voice a “sweet tenor,” while the Washington Post has praised his “soulful croon.” Previously ranked in the top 20 on the Americana Music Chart, Seth has toured with The Mavericks, The Wood Brothers, Raul Malo, Paul Thorn, and Ruthie Foster, among others. His concert is also the release party for his ninth album “Gotta Get Back.” Tickets are $15.
Two-time Grammy-nominated fiddler Bruce Molsky performs at Isis on Saturday, September 17, at 7 p.m. Besides his premier fiddling skills, Bruce also plays banjo and guitar, as well as sings. His performances recall moments sitting on a front porch in the deepest reaches of the mountains and hollers. His repertoire includes a reverence for the past and he engages audiences with a relaxed, conversational wit. Bruce tours widely and is known for his old-time fiddlin’ workshops. Tickets for his show, produced by Mountain Spirit, are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
The Seldom Scene began playing together more than 40 years ago, and the band has since become one of the single greatest contributors to the progressive bluegrass movement. The Scene’s weekly jam sessions in the DC area are legendary, and their trip here is rare. The group will perform a mix of country music, rock, and even classical pop on Sunday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Isis. Careful, The Seldom Scene has a way of creating bluegrass groupies. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Isis Restaurant and Music Hall is located at 743 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For tickets or more information, visit isisasheville.com or call 828.575.2737.
