West Asheville officially has one more music venue (joining the Mothlight, Isis, The Grey Eagle, Sly Grog, and Odditorium) this weekend.
Meet Ambrose West: A listening room + event space in the old church at Beachum’s Curve (right as you turn into West Asheville at Pizza Mind). ⛪ 🙌
Ambrose West is a kind of second life for the Altamont Theatre, founder Sam Katz’s first project. The Altamont Theatre was closed after seven years on Church St. after hosting names like Free Planet Radio + Jane Kramer, The Broadcast, and Mishka in just their last two months (and many, many weddings).
In September, the owners of the building at 18 Church St. announced they would be converting it into short-term rentals. (No word the fate of the building after City Council voted to ban short-term rentals).
Katz, who will book the venue’s talent, joins a team that includes co-owner Nikki Woods, who will manage the special events side of things.
Meet Ambrose West:
- The venue has a 150-person capacity in the listening room (with a dedicated parking lot next to the building).
- Like the Altamont, Ambrose West will host mostly seated shows that lean towards singer-songwriter and acoustic sets.
- The floor has a slight slant, meaning that if you’re sitting in the back, you won’t have to crane your neck to see. 👏
- Need a drink? The bar is right downstairs, along with private rooms that can be used for weddings and special events. 🍸
- A spacious courtyard on the side of the building leads to a smaller event space, which features a large fireplace and portable bar.
- The crown molding in the main room features the Golden Rule in Morse Code.🌟
- The team is booking events + shows now – Here’s how to get on their calendar for weddings, conferences, and live music.
On the schedule:
On opening night, catch the Grateful Asheville Music Experience, a free show hosted by the Paper Crowns’ Spiro Nicolopoulos (Feb. 15), gypsy jazz outfit Gonzalo Bergara Report (Feb. 16), and The Lost Chord: A Tribute to the Moody Blues (Feb. 16).
Pro Tip: Scoop your tix for that last one early, because they consistently sell out AND they’re playing a special set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Days of Future Passed. Need to get familiar? Listen here. Shows have been booked through the month—here’s the full schedule.
