The Real to Reel Film Festival, put on by the Cleveland County Arts Council (Shelby), is not only back with a wide variety of independent films but it also celebrates a special anniversary. Real to Reel turns 25 this year. Cleveland Co. Arts Council - Marketing Coordinator Thomas Manning dropped by the Friday Feature to preview what's to come, July 24-27, at the event.

Recently, the Student Services Division at Isothermal Community College (ICC) in Spindale, became Student Affairs. Isothermal Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Sandy Lackner joined the Friday Feature to talk about their ongoing mission, the roles of her team, and preparing for a new fall semester. Sandy's door is always open to students and co-workers.

Shay Brown of Shay and Company, the group that helps present Carolina Ciderfest, talks about this year's event. Taking place Saturday, June 22nd, Carolina Ciderfest makes this their second year taking place in Asheville. The festival partners with and benefits the N.C. Cider Association. The number of participating cider makers and distributors at the festival is much too large to list, so listen to this podcast to learn more.

Smoky Mountain News, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Garret K. Woodward was excited to discuss upcoming music festivals across Western North Carolina. Garret, who also contributes stories to Rolling Stone Magazine, provided the Friday Feature with a rundown of shows he plans to attend and some of the musicians he hopes to interview.

Author, photographer, and filmmaker - Pete Candler joined WNCW to discuss his career and newest book, A Deeper South: The Beauty, Mystery, and Sorrow of the Southern Road. Pete goes to find people and places that are often hidden and unknown by most of us. That's what made the pages of his latest book.

Close To Home has been on public radio in Western North Carolina since the 1980s. When it came to finding a new home for this old-time and folk music show, WNCW was the perfect fit. Close To Home host, Don Pedi talked with Paul Foster about the show, his love of the dulcimer, and his excitement for this new opportunity.

Western North Carolina resident Otto Vazquez was Paul's guest to discuss the ongoing film project about his novel, "The Rebirth of Kool." The story's character, Kool, gives up a life of bootlegging to open a Jazz nightclub in East Los Angeles. The novel takes place during the real-life Zoot Suit Riots of the 1940s, which makes this story both dangerous and thrilling.

North Carolina native and best-selling Author Wiley Cash has teamed up with Our State Magazine to host their new podcast, "Our State Book Club", where Cash spotlights writers from across the state. He sat down on the Friday Feature to talk about it. Jill McCorkle will be his guest in June.

Manna Foodbank, headquartered in Asheville, is known for fighting food insecurity across Western NC. They have now introduced a way to make locating and contributing food simpler through a food finder tool or app. Interviewed about this was Manna's Director of Network Strategy and Partnerships, Jennifer Lutz.

The Greenville Jewish Film Festival's Co-Chairs, Helanie Meyers, and Caroline Warven joined us to discuss their upcoming events. Some time ago, the festival introduced pop-up screenings for attendees to check out one main film, instead of viewing multiple films over several days. At the time of this interview, the GJFF was taking part in Greenville's Shalom Fest.