RiverMUSIC Returns

Music Festival Kicks Off 2013 Season in the River Arts District.

Image source

Mark your calendars for five Friday nights of music next to the French Broad River. Riverlink has announced the 2013 season of RiverMUSIC with the first show taking place this Friday, May 24, 2013. The shows start at 5:30 p.m. and are free to the public. Food trucks and beer tents are on hand as well. Check here to learn about other Asheville music festivals.

2013 Lineup

May 24th, 2013: StephaniesID (Indie Pop), Mary Frances & The Dirty Classics (Dirty Organ Soul), Molli Parti (DJ)

June 14, 2013: David Mayfield Parade (Energetic Roots & Americana)
Underhill Rose (Heartfelt Bluegrass Soul), feat. Brass band interludes byEmpire Strikes Brass (BRASSFUNKROCK)

July 12, 2013: G.E.D. Soul Records Showcase feat.
DeRobert & The Half-Truths (Funk / R&B / Soul), AJ & The Jiggawatts(Electrifying Funk & Timeless Soul), To Be Determined
feat. Brass band interludes by Empire Strikes Brass (BRASSFUNKROCK)

August 23, 2013: Town Mountain (Bluegrass and Acoustic)
23 String Band (Old Time, Roots & Bluegrass) The Flowers (Americana, Soul, Blues)

September 13, 2013: The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown (Funk Supergroup feat. members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Mudvayne, The Fritz & More!) Bubonik Funk (Funk, Soul, Rock)

Go on and Take a Free Ride

Hop on a red Gray Line Trolley and ride from downtown Asheville to RiverMUSIC in the River Arts District for free! 

Here's the trolley schedule:

5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm: Haywood Street across from U.S. Cellular Center

5:15pm, 6:15pm, 7:15pm, 8:15pm, 9:15pm: Aloft Hotel on Biltmore Avenue

5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm: Glen Rock Depot

5:45pm, 6:45pm, 7:45pm, 8:45pm, 9:45pm: RiverMusic

Mountain Blooms

Photos of the Day: Pink Dogwoods and Mountain Catawba Rhododendron.

Spring blooms continue to color the mountain landscape. This week,  rhododendron is starting to make its annual appearance, and azaleas are still showing off their colors in one of Asheville's secret gardens. Check this week's spring bloom report for details on where to find these flowers and what's blooming next.

A big thank you to Byron Robinson of B&D Photography for sending in these great spring bloom photos.

Want to submit your photo for consideration in our Photo of the Day series? Send in your photo (high-res preferred) to dholston@exploreasheville.com.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

A Southern Gothic Supernatural Musical Comes to Asheville.

Photo by Kevin Mazur

What happens when the minds of Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett converge? You get Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a ghost story set to music. Coming up in October 2013, this traveling show will make its way to the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville.

Asheville is the only city in North Carolina that will host the show so don't miss out. The musical was recently highlighted in USA Today so check out their review here.

On June 4, 2013 the Ghost Brothers album will be released. It features numerous artists including Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and so many other major names in showbusiness.

Special Pre-sale

Today only: Friday May 17, 2013, from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., purchase tickets in advance by visiting the official site. Use this password: Ghost

Here's the trailer...