Community Calendar

A free lecture series at the tribal museum of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee History & Stories explores culturally significant sites, stories, and figures in Cherokee history. All are welcome to attend, and registration is not required.

For Tank and the Bangas, music is a vessel for unbridled joy and transcendent connection—forces as integral to their essence as their wildly original sound. On their new album The Last Balloon, the New Orleans-bred outfit channel those impulses into something celebratory yet profoundly human, exploring themes of frustration, resilience, and self-realization with equal parts raw emotionality and playful exuberance. A shapeshifting collective helmed by lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball and multi-instrumentalist Norman Spence II, the globally beloved group completed the LP after winning a GRAMMY for 2024’s spoken-word powerhouse The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, moving from incendiary poetry to a euphoric collision of soul and hip-hop and forward-thinking R&B. As the final installment in a trilogy of albums that began with 2019’s Green Balloon (a critical triumph that earned them a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist), The Last Balloon ultimately solidifies Tank and the Bangas’ legacy as one of modern music’s most steadfast voices of sublime exhilaration.

The Earl Scruggs Center presents Dom Flemons

PATTERSON HOOD Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood’s fourth solo album and first in over 12 years, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams sees the veteran singer, guitarist, and songwriter exploring his youth and young manhood in a collection unlike anything in his ever-evolving catalogue. A baroque American song cycle spanning the time between early childhood and leaving his rural hometown in search of his musical dreams, the album gathers songs that have amassed over the remarkably prolific songwriter’s career, many of which provided him with distraction and creative sustenance during lockdown, others which have resided among his notebooks for years. “This record has all these kinds of unintended themes,” Hood says. “It’s all subconscious, because I didn’t really set out with an agenda, writing-wise. It really just kind of occurred to me when I was actually putting it all together, just how much it seems to have a theme to it.” The dozen years since his last extracurricular outing, 2012’s Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance, had seen Hood accumulate a cache of material which did not quite fit into the Drive-By Truckers canon, songs which he set aside for “if and when” he got around to another solo project. Kept off the road during the 2020 lockdown, he found himself recording demos in his Portland, OR attic, without a clear plan but thinking “maybe this might be worth pursuing at some point.” Hood had moved to Portland with his family in 2013 and swiftly found a place among the Rose City’s thriving music scene, including a friendship forged with producer/musician Chris Funk (The Decemberists). Having long discussed collaborating, in 2023 the two artists’ typically stacked calendars finally allowed them the opportunity to team up and they set to work recording what Hood intended to be “a bigger departure” from Drive-By Truckers and his previous solo efforts than ever before. “The band has been in such a good place that I hadn’t really thought in terms of doing anything outside of the Truckers anytime soon,” Hood says. “I decided if I ever was going to do another solo record, I wanted it to be pretty different than the band, as different as it can be.” Hood further took the occasion to explore sounds outside the boundaries and obligations of his day job, deviating from Drive-By Truckers’ traditionally guitar-driven palette to craft richly textured arrangements marked by the inclusion of strings, woodwinds, and vintage analog synthesizers. With its powerful textural clarity and Hood’s literary strengths at the fore, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams emerges as a staggering investigation into how time can shed light on the recesses of memory, revealing this exceptionally gifted songwriter’s resolute inclination to look back through the golden haze to grapple with the darkness and secret truths that perhaps weren’t understood or reckoned with at the time. As he has throughout his career – from Drive-By Truckers’ ceaseless investigation into American values and culture to his solo body of work’s autobiographical meditations – Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams sees Patterson Hood once again stripping away the facade of things to get to the core, lifting up life’s rock to see what lies underneath.

You’re invited to the 4th annual Trails & Trains Festival this June 4-6, 2026! Mark your calendar and help us celebrate the Great Trails State by joining us in downtown Old Fort, North Carolina. Come celebrate with us the rich history of our Blue Ridge Mountain community by focusing on its pathways and connections through the town’s notable railroad and Pisgah National Forest history. Keynote Speaker John Kelly, live music from renowned bluegrass musicians, and exhibitor booths from outdoor recreation brands. Vendor Village and Food Trucks.

A brand-new live music experience is coming to the rails June 5 & 6, 2026.

Step aboard a historic steam-powered train for an unforgettable evening of live music and mountain scenery. The Great Smoky Mountains Music Train is a moving musical journey through the heart of the Smokies—traveling alongside the Nantahala River and Fontana Lake.

What to Expect
• 6 live performances throughout vintage railcars
• 2 full bands + 4 solo/duo/trio artists performing live American, Appalachian, folk, country and bluegrass music
• Wander freely between coaches and open-air gondola cars
• Beer, wine and food offerings available for purchase onboard
• Dance, relax, mingle, and enjoy nonstop music
• Stunning mountain views from start to finish
Each music coach offers its own vibe, sound system, and atmosphere. Four enclosed vintage coaches provide seating and room to move, while two open-air gondola cars are dedicated to high-energy band performances and dancing. Two additional quiet coaches are available for conversation and relaxing.

A One-of-a-Kind Experience
Think of it as a jam session in your living room—except your living room is a moving train winding through the Great Smoky Mountains.
Schedule
• Boarding: 6:30 pm
• Departure: 7:00 pm sharp
• Return: Approximately 10:00 pm
• Includes a short intermission during the ride
• Round trip: approximately 3 hours

The train departs from and returns to the Bryson City Depot in downtown Bryson City, NC.

HIGH HORSE is a Boston-based progressive-acoustic stringband breathing the energy of alternative rock into an indelible blend of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Folk magic with crisp vocals and virtuosic chops. Four friends with three bows, one pick, and great vibes deliver a rollicking romp as the band High Horse.

Comprised of fiddler Carson McHaney, cellist Karl Henry, guitarist G Rockwell, and bassist Noah Harrington; the band draws from their varied musical backgrounds to explore and perform original compositions and tunes from diverse folk traditions.

Friday, June 5th – 7:30 – We want everyone to access the healing power of music! Perhaps you can only afford a few dollars or maybe you have resources to cover the cost for others. Pay What You Can! You may enter your desired donation amount below. The suggested price per ticket is $22.00.

Our 17th annual Saturday Spectacular is THE Burlesque & Variety Show not to miss in Asheville!
Legendary artists from across the country light up the stage, bringing live music, empowering burlesque, and more. Enjoy our artisanal vendors.
Raffle benefits Sister Kitten animal rescue.
VIPS enjoy preferential seating, vendor access and a charming live music Pre-Show with doors at 6:45pm.
Preferred Seating and General Admission doors at 7:30.
The Spectacular starts at 8:00pm

Asheville’s original drag bingo experience is bringing a wave of fun with a Beach Bingo Fundraiser on Friday, June 5th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Event Center. This sun-soaked evening of laughter, lucky numbers, and seaside sparkle benefits the YWCA of Asheville. Tickets start at $20, include bingo cards, and are available now at BeardedLadyProductions.org. Ages 21+.

Hosted by the bearded beauties, Divine, The Bearded Lady and Natasha Noir Nightly, this lively night features six splashy rounds of bingo, high-energy drag entertainment, and prizes that are shore to make a splash. Expect beachy camp, splashy performances, and just enough tropical chaos to keep the room buzzing from first call to final number.

Attendees are encouraged to embrace beach bingo realness—sequins and sunglasses, sandals and sass, kaftan cabana chic or full mermaid glam. Sun-kissed divas and glitter-drenched lifeguard looks are all welcome as guests show up in style to support the YWCA of Asheville.

Produced by Bearded Lady Productions 501(c)3. For more information and tickets, visit https://BeardedLadyProductions.org.

Old Fort, NC – We are excited to announce that Rails & Rhythms Bluegrass Night is returning to Old Fort! This free public event will close out the Trails & Trains Festival, which highlights the area’s outdoors, history, and heritage. Community members and visitors alike are invited to support local businesses while enjoying regional music on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM in the State Employees Credit Union parking lot, across from the Old Fort Depot.
Live music, presented by Camp Grier and Grier Village, will feature performances by The Hayley King Trio, Zoe & Cloyd, Backline, and Grammy Award–winning Travelin’ McCoury’s. This special evening in downtown Old Fort invites you to join in celebrating musical heritage, strengthening community connections, and supporting local businesses.
Rhythms & Rails Music Director Jordan Laney shares that the team is incredibly excited about this year’s lineup. “It’s huge for Old Fort to host such talented musicians with connections to the area. We have a rich musical heritage in McDowell County, and each of these bands highlights our roots in different ways. It’s going to be a great evening for music lovers!”
This free event encourages attendees to bring their own chairs (no tents, umbrellas, or tented chairs, please). Free parking is available throughout the town and organizers encourage guests to enjoy dinner at one of Old Fort’s local restaurants and stroll through shops and galleries to support downtown businesses as the town continues to rebuild following Hurricane Helene. The Beyond 1842 Project, an initiative of America 250 in McDowell, will have a display on-site highlighting McDowell’s rich musical history.
Music begins at 5:30 PM. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music and community as we continue to support Old Fort’s recovery. More information can be found on the Rhythm and Rails Facebook event page and on www.oldfortfest.com. Bring a chair, a friend, and your dancing shoes!

Tour River Arts Studio tour, celebrating over 100 local artisans from Yancey, Mitchell and Avery Counties. Interact with local artisans in their studios and galleries. Celebrating 50 years of supporting the arts in Western North Carolina.

THE DESLONDES
When the Deslondes recorded their new covers album, they didn’t want to simply exalt their heroes and catalog their influences. They wanted to give their friends a boost as well. The poignant and powerful Don’t Let It Die Vol. 1 includes new interpretations of old songs by artists who’ve guided the band for years, including Swamp Dogg, Johnny Cash, and Clifton Chenier, alongside new songs by peers, tourmates, and collaborators, including Nick Woods, Pat Reedy, and the Kernel. “We have so many friends who are songwriters, and we just love their music so much,” says John James Tourville, who plays guitar and occasionally the fiddle. “Riley and Dan are always kicking around awesome, inspiring old songs for us to do, but for this album we really wanted to do some friend songs, too.”

Don’t Let It Die maps out a community of likeminded musicians given to hopping trains, crowding tour vans, and blurring the lines between styles and scenes. “These songs are very much a close part of our lives,” says Riley Downing, who sings and usually plays guitar. “They’re all part of our circle, this big organism that keeps influencing itself. It’s mysterious, though, which musicians get heard and which ones don’t. I think we’re in a good position to tip our cap to the friends we look up to, and hopefully it will benefit our buddies. Hopefully this album will encourage people to go down those rabbit holes.”

Congress The Band
The Gringos
The Band Solstice
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