05.29.2024

Today’s Forecast

75º | 6% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:16 a.m. | Sunset 8:38 p.m.

Saddling up for a homecoming show

Steep Canyon Rangers gear up for their homecoming show

Catch the band at Salvage Station next Friday. | Photo via Steep Canyon Rangers

The Grammy award-winning Asheville- and Brevard-based bluegrass band, Steep Canyon Rangers, are on the road for their spring and summer tour. Since the band is set to take the Asheville stage next week, we caught up with banjoist and vocalist Graham Sharp, and guitarist, bassist, and vocalist Barrett Smith, to talk about their latest record.

While a lot has changed in the 20+ years of the band’s existence, a sense of place has always been a core element of the songwriting process. The band’s 14th album, “Morning Shift,” was recorded in Bat Cave, NC at the Hickory Nut Gap Inn in just five days, and Smith says it’s a product of the place. “The cover of the album is that place, and it couldn’t have been any other way.”

Sharp details the history of his own neighborhood on the album’s opening track, “Hominy Valley.” It’s a story he’s been eager to tell, but new development was the spark needed to finish the song. And “Recommend Me” was inspired by local author Wiley Cash’s novel, “When Ghosts Come Home.”

Throughout the band’s career, they’ve constantly been evaluating their relationship with bluegrass music, and this new record has some variety in its sound. Smith shares, “Just like Asheville changed and our lives changed, the band changed and loosened its grip on some of those traditional things and brought in new instrumentations, new structures of songs, and the whole thing just broadened.”

On Friday, June 7, Steep Canyon Rangers will take the stage at Salvage Station, one of the band’s favorite venues to play. “To stand on the stage at the Salvage Station and look out at that crowd and see so many people that we love, interspersed with people that we would love if we knew them,” says Smith. “It’s the best. It’s a homecoming.”

Grab tickets to see the band play with support from Holler Choir.

Events

Wednesday, May 29

Summer of Science | Wednesday, May 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Pritchard Park, 67 Patton Ave., Asheville | Free | Have some family-friendly fun with hands-on science activities, bubbles, and noise machines each week from the Asheville Museum of Science
Asheville Jazz Collective | Wednesday, May 29 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Foundry Hotel, 51 S. Market St., Asheville | Free | Hear the group of musicians play a fresh take on jazz standards and original music at this weekly residency.

Thursday, May 30

Wills and Power of Attorney | Thursday, May 30 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free, RSVP | Sign up to learn about heir property, wills, and advanced directives at this workshop conducted by Legal Aid of North Carolina.
WNC Bonfire Studio Painting “Southwest by Carolina” | Thursday, May 30 | 6:30-8:45 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr., Ste. 100, Asheville | $38 | Get step-by-step guidance in painting cacti and succulents — and let the studio take care of the supplies and clean up.

Friday, May 31

DeFi Wine and Boxcarr Cheeses Tasting | Friday, May 31 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St., Ste. 110, Asheville | Free | Sip on tasting pours and snack on cheeses during this complimentary tasting, with live music from Rocky Collin.
Canna Comic Cuisine? | Friday, May 31 | Times vary | Rezonance Lounge, 51-A College St., Asheville | $75-$100 | Savor a three-course infused dinner (vegan options available) as you laugh along to sets from local comics like Petey Smith McDowell, James Burks, Leah Garth, and Cody Hughes.
Juniper Bends Reading Series | Friday, May 31 | 7-10 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $15-$18 | Hear a lineup of writers and artists share prose, poetry, and music around the theme, “The Secret Life of Plants.”

Thursday, June 6

BMW Charity Pro-Am | Thursday, June 6-Sunday, June 9 | 6:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd, Greer | Tickets vary | Presented by TD SYNNEX, this is the only golf tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with professionals in a three-day competition over two golf courses. Start planning your trip to Greenville.*

100+ more events

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Struggling? Here’s where to get help.

a view of a person's hands leaning on a fence overlooking a body of water

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — making it the perfect time to consider how to get help working through life’s circumstances. | Photo via Unsplash

“It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It’s really a sign of strength.” - Heather J.

When Heather struggled with the tragic loss of her husband, Mission Health’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Program stepped in to help her navigate this difficult and unexpected circumstance.

If you’re struggling, the program will meet you where you’re at — holistically supporting you through mental health circumstances including:

Life transitions
Stress
Depression
Grief + loss
Anger management
Trauma
Anxiety
Suicide prevention
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See Heather's story + learn more

News Notes

Ranked

Hey, neighbor. Asheville landed the No. 7 spot on Southern Living’s 15 Friendliest Cities in the South. Voters cited “community-mindedness” as one of our city’s strengths.

Cause

Just Economics is hosting its 14th annual homebrewing competition and fundraising event, Just Brew It. Secure your Just Economics membership before heading to Pisgah Brewing on Saturday, June 1 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. to sip on homemade brews and learn more about the nonprofit’s community initiatives. We’ll cheers to that.

Civic

The grass is getting greener in Pack Square Park. The lawns between South Market Street and Court Plaza will close from Monday, June 17 to Friday, July 5 to be replaced with a hybrid bermudagrass that flourishes in spring, summer, and fall. Splashville, Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage, J. Rush Oates Plaza, and restrooms will stay open.

Open

Rustic Ritual Beauty, a clean beauty salon, recently opened in its new location at 51 Thompson St., Ste. C. You can celebrate its grand opening on Friday, June 7 from 12 to 5 p.m. with scalp massages, mini facials, and art on display.

Listen

If you’re heading to the mall this weekend, you’ll notice a new pop-up shop. Local band Indoor Condor will sell its debut record, “Candy Macabre,” shirts, and posters with a release party on Saturday, June 1. If you pick up a record, you may find a “golden ticket” for a guitar custom built by bandleader Ben Underwood.

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Pets

What does your pet need right now? For a limited time, get a $20 eGift card when you spend $49+ on Chewy.com — use code WELCOME.*

Listen

Asheville, put your records on

Answered: What mood would be on Asheville’s Spotify daylist?

Graphic with a blue and yellow gradient that says "Daylist" above the title "Optimistic classic rock looking for a cheap parking space."

Can we get a drum roll, please? | Graphic by AVLtoday

If you’re a Spotify user, you might have noticed the recently added feature that generates playlists based on moods throughout your day (better known as your “daylist”). So, we asked you all to help us create our own daylist for Asheville, and you didn’t disappoint.

Enter: “optimistic classic rock looking for a cheap parking space” — a playlist inspired by our mountain city, put together with the help of our readers. Let’s spotlight the track list a bit, shall we?

“I Won’t Back Down” — Tom Petty
“Got My Mind Set on You” — George Harrison
“Don’t Stop” — Fleetwood Mac
“Blue Sky” — Allman Brothers Band
“Don’t Stop Me Now” — Queen

Save this playlist for your next drive as you explore the corners of Asheville for inexpensive (maybe even free) parking. Want to add your suggestions? Send the song name + artist our way.

The Buy

Handcrafted candles. Transport yourself to the breathtaking landscapes and scents of your favorite National Parks with scents from The Roosevelts Candle Co.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

Good Hot Fish’s latest merch drop is inspired by its biggest fan, 10-year-old Ivy Bull. Check out the adorable new shirts and the even more adorable love letter that inspired them.

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