Above: Tom Rush (Photo Bob Stegmaier)
Here are just a few of the many shows at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall this month. These four performances, produced by Mountain Spirit, each promise to be an enjoyable evening.
At 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, Pat Donohue will take the stage for a CD release show of his long-awaited new album Blue Yonder. Tickets are $20.
For 20 years, Pat was a songwriter and guitarist for the Guys All Star Shoe Band on Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. His new album showcases his masterful fingerstyle guitar playing that sets the musical stage for his clever lyrics. Several members of the Prairie All Stars (who also appeared on Prairie Home Companion) are included on Blue Yonder. The songs on the recording range from folk and blues to rock and jazz. Pat’s show will be opened by Carla Ulbrich, a New Jersey-based comedy songwriter.
At 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, Isis presents John McCutcheon, who Pete Seeger said “is not only one of the best musicians in the USA, but also a great singer, songwriter, and song leader. And just incidentally, he is committed to helping hardworking people everywhere to organize and push this world in a better direction.” Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door.
Pat Donohue
At 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, Christine Lavin and Don White present concert that is equal parts folk music and comedy. Don says of Christine, “We rehearse and we rehearse and then inevitably, she’ll throw something at me that I have no idea about, with a mischievous grin that lets me know she’s been thinking about it all afternoon—just to see what will happen.” Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
At 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, Isis welcomes Tom Rush and Matt Nakoa. With a distinctive guitar style and wry wit, Tom has become a legend to audiences worldwide. He intersperses his songs with a knack for telling hilarious stories. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.
Matt grew up on a small goat farm in New York where he began composing music during his teen years. After some time spent as a concert pianist, he won a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. His first solo album (Light in the Dark released in 2012) is widely regarded by fans as a pop/rock masterpiece. He followed this in 2014 with A Dozen Other Loves, which is primarily an acoustic recording. He has performed at the White House and around the world.
Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Isis Restaurant & Music Hall is located at 743 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For tickets and more information, visit isisasheville.com or call 828.575.2737.
