Orange Peel expanding to former Cursus Kĕmē brewery site
The Orange Peel’s new owners plan to revive 155 Thompson St., the former Cursus Kĕmē brewery site, with a sustainable, flood-conscious music venue.
ASHEVILLE – It’s time to rock, tap toes and dance like no one’s looking. Local venues and organizers are rolling out schedules for concert series and are ready to welcome festivalgoers to music extravaganzas now that the warm weather days are here.
In a city teeming with creative spaces and places to hear live music, here are a few more events to put on your radar.:
Asheville Buskerfest
May kicks off with the debut of a two-day street performer-packed festival taking over downtown and the River Arts District.
On May 2-3, Asheville Buskerfest is planned, with performing artists who are either current or former buskers. Local, regional and national acts will include musicians, aerialists, magicians, jugglers and other artists who’ve graced Asheville’s busking scene.
Arts and craft vendors and food trucks will also be on-site.
Asheville Buskerfest is family-friendly and free to attend, with partial sales supporting LEAF Global Arts, the nonprofit behind the popular LEAF Festival, which marked its 30-year anniversary last year and is reportedly facing financial challenges.
Performances ― from jugglers, magicians, musicians and more ― are scheduled throughout the day and into the evening at All Souls Pizza, RAD Brewing Co, and the Wedge Brewery at Foundation in conjunction with The Marquee.
Cash tips are encouraged for performers.
Attendees are encouraged to ride bikes, catch a ride on Tukit Taxis, or consider the city bus for site-to-site transportation.
Shows are scheduled from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 2 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 3, on select stages. For the complete schedule at ashevillebuskerfest.com.
Bryan Matheny, a local musician and former busker, is Asheville Buskerfest’s organizer. He is the co-founder and former partner of citywide music festival, AVLfest, which rebranded as AVL Sounds Fest.
AVL Sounds Fest, led by Worthwhile Sounds’ co-founder Jeff Whitworth and Wicked Weed Brewing, will return Aug. 6-9 at various venues. For updates on ticket pricing and more, visit avlsoundsfest.com and follow @avlfest on Instagram and Facebook.
French Broad River Brewery Outdoor Concert Series
The French Broad River Brewery Outdoor Concert Series returns with all-ages shows scheduled from May through September.
FBRB’s taproom is at 101 Fairview Road in Biltmore Village. Beginning April 29, tickets are available for:
- May 29 and May 30. Beats Antique, an experimental world fusion and electronic music group based in the U.S., will perform from 5:30-10 p.m. Tickets cost $39.44.
- July 28. Steel Pulse, a British reggae band established in 1975, will perform from 8-11 p.m. Tickets cost $55.07.
- Aug. 2. Oteil and Friends featuring Steve Kimock, Jason Crosby, Jonny Kimock, Tom Guarna and Lamar Williams, Jr., will perform from 6-11 p.m. The two-time Grammy Award–winning bassist Oteil Burbridge and fellow world-class artists will weave together various genres to showcase their musical depths and talents. Tickets cost $69.
- Aug. 21. Brew Ridge James, featuring Leftover Salmon, will take guests on a musical journey through traditional and progressive bluegrass, known as “Jamgrass,” from 4-11 p.m. Tickets cost $45.
- Aug. 29. Keller and The Keels, with special guest Tanashi, will perform Appalachian psychedelic bluegrass from 7-11 p.m. Tickets cost $45.70.
- Sept. 3. The Movement and Pepper will bring the sounds of alt-reggae and a fusion of reggae, alternative rock, dub, island rhythms and punk rock from 6-11 p.m. Tickets cost $47.50.
Purchase tickets and learn more about the artists at frenchbroadbrewery.com.
Hellbender by The Orange Peel
The Orange Peel’s new outdoor music venue, Hellbender, will launch with a partial season in July.
On April 29, Hellbender’s logo was revealed, created by local designer and tattoo artist Danny Reed of Hot Stuff Tattoo and Crooked Creek Holler apparel.
The premiere season’s lineup includes An Evening With Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr. (July 17), Watchhouse with special guests Fruit Bats (July 18), Rhiannon Giddens presents American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (Aug. 1) and Acid Bath (Sept. 5).
Indie electronic icons LCD Soundsystem will perform on Sept. 17, and Brooklyn-based indie rockers Geese on Sept. 30. Tickets for both shows go on sale at 10 a.m. May 1.
Hellbender is at 151 Thompson Street, off Swannanoa River Road and South Tunnel Road.
Tickets are sold at hellbenderavl.com, Etix outlets, and the Orange Peel box office at 101 Biltmore Ave. Seated tickets will be available, as well as general admission lawn tickets.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Company, covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Guide, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events.
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