Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
I love the music festival season that’s starting up. Here are a few tidbits I’ve heard/noticed:
The Lake Eden Arts Festival is coming in just a couple of weeks and promises an eclectic mix, as usual. You’ll hear everyone from Arrested Development to David Wilcox to Habibe Koite & Bamada. One interesting change – all tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no ticket sales at the gate.
The wonderful Asheville Music Jamboree is just a month away. Word on the street is that Govt Mule will play one day, which has been announced, but that Warren Haynes will play solo on a second day. The other announced bands are: Burning Spear, Keller and The Keels, Dumpstaphunk, James McMurtry and The Lee Boys. That’s a rocking line-up, and the setting is beautifully chill.
Vortex Music Festival is a new one this year, coming June 27-28 at the Asheville Civic Center. The line-up so far includes Toubab Krewe, Dubconscious, Perpetual Groove, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Strut, SeePeopleS, Stephanie’s Id and plenty more.
Night Skye Entertainment, the organization responsible for the Vortex Music Festival, seeks to highlight local talent as well as provide a broad spectrum of musical genres to enlighten, inspire and celebrate individual creativity through sound. From the electronica of John Kelley and Telepath to the roots rock of Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, the festival offers something for every Asheville music lover and beyond.
In addition to the event’s unique lineup of stellar regional bands, Vortex offers something for the common good as well; this year’s inaugural event will sponsor three nonprofit organizations, including Child Abuse Prevention Services, NCAHA and Manna Food Bank. In addition, the event will be broadcast live by 105.9 The Mountain, so that everybody can enjoy the music if they can’t make it to the show, and can feel free to donate to any of the above nonprofits as well.
So it’s great music for a good cause. Tickets go on sale starting April 20.
French Broad River Festival May 2-3