RiverLink's RiverMusic brings another summer of great sounds by the river

RiverLink's RiverMusic kicks off its fifth big year on May 6, 2016, with a night of world/funk/soul featuring Les Amis, Major and the Monbacks, and The Greyhounds taking the Prestige Subaru Stage. The event will take place at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza, located at 144 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District (map). RiverMusic gates will open at 5 p.m. and the good times roll until 10, with all events sponsored by Prestige Subaru, The Chaddick Foundation, AC Hotel Asheville Downtown, and Allegra Marketing Print Mail.

Says former Washington Post music writer Joe Sasfy, "The May 6 RiverMusic offers three bands whose groove- heavy sounds range from the Afro-Caribbean world music of Asheville's Les Amis to the smoky soul, funk and blues of our headliner, Austin's highly regarded Greyhounds. In between, Major and the Monbacks will kick up their retro, driving, rocking soul."

The May 6 event offers beer from Oskar Blues and New Belgium, and something new this year - cider from Urban Orchard. Foodtrucks Chef Daddy, Out of the Blue, El Kim Chi, Appalachian Smoke and Melt Your Heart will be on hand, as will ice cream from The Hop. There is free parking on both sides of the concert site, and free admission, too. Every night features the sun setting over the beautiful French Broad River.

The Prestige Subaru Stage for all of these events will be powered by Sundance Solar again. There will be a Grey Line trolley making a circuitous route between the concert venue and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (map). Attendees can also paddle up to the river access RiverLink has installed, and there are bike racks available onsite.

Dogs (except service dogs), outside food and beverages are not allowed.

RiverLink's RiverMusic and RiverFest, featuring the Anything that Floats Parade, are a six-part series of free concerts over the next six months. RiverLink is celebrating 30 years as an environmental nonprofit working to revitalize the French Broad River and her watershed as a place for everyone to live, learn, work and play.

Volunteers are vital for making these events happen. Interested parties can sign up at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4caea82ba1f49-may62016 or email dave@riverlink.org or 828-252-8474, ext. 11.

Asheville native named area manager for Regus

Nicole Erber has been promoted to the position of Area Manager for Regus Offices of Asheville. Erber, who has been with Regus since 2012, is responsible for sales, marketing and community relations of the Regus Offices center in Biltmore Park. Additionally she oversees the day-to-day operations, which include managing the 55 individual offices and two board rooms, leading the reception team and coordinating the “Regus World” program which provides members access to working space and office amenities.

Nicole Erber, an Asheville native, is thrilled to be a part of Western North Carolina’s economic growth, especially in serving new business start-ups. “Every day I have the privilege of meeting individuals who are relocating to Asheville or fellow residents who have made the decision to start their own company,” notes Erber. “Through my position at Regus, I get to share our resources and the Center’s synergy in serving their fellow business owners. It is quite exciting and very gratifying to see their growth and success!”

Regus Offices provides fully-furnished offices suites on an annual, monthly or daily basis. Services include a fully-staffed and professional reception area with internet access, printing and faxing availability and a lounge area with beverages. Options include local phone and internet service, in-person answering services and staffing support for short-term projects. 

Regus operates 1,000 locations throughout the United States and 3,000 locations around the globe.

Homeward Bound partners with Nightbell to end homelessness in WNC

Homeward Bound is delighted to partner with Nightbell Restaurant and Lounge for a special event to raise funds to end homelessness in WNC. The Welcome Home dinner will take place at Nightbell on Wednesday, May 4, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Katie Button, Nightbell's executive chef and owner and one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs 2015, is crafting a multi-course dinner paired with carefully selected wines provided by Proof Wine and Spirits, Empire Distributors, Tryon Distributing and Haw River Wine Man. Proceeds of this benefit will go directly to Homeward Bound's efforts to end homelessness for our neighbors in Buncombe and Henderson counties. 

Seating at the event will be communal and each course will move seamlessly to the next with a chosen wine to create an exceptional dining experience.  Wines will be available for purchase at special pricing after the dinner. 

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Nightbell will do their best to accommodate food allergies and restrictions, but please inquire about options prior to purchasing your ticket. Nightbell is located at 32 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. To purchase your ticket, please visit this link http://homewardboundatnightbell.brownpapertickets.com/

To learn more about how you can help end homelessness, please visit Homeward Bound at www.homewardboundwnc.org. Questions? Contact Beth Russo at 258.1695 ext.111

Star cellist Zuill Bailey returns to perform with Asheville Symphony

Internationally renowned cellist Zuill Bailey returns to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Saturday, May 14, to perform a piece written specifically for him as the Asheville Symphony Orchestra closes its 55^th season.

Bailey, who last appeared with the Asheville Symphony in September 2009, joins the ASO for the 8 p.m. concert under the direction of ASO Music Director and Conductor Daniel Meyer. He will perform Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway, a new work that the ASO co-commissioned for Bailey with a consortium of other orchestras from across the country.

“Based on the fascinating life of the great American author, this new cello concerto will most certainly display Zuill’s superb technique and his innate flair for the dramatic,” Meyer said. “The final movement, titled ‘The Sun Also Rises,’ artfully evokes Spain and its famed matadors as the soloist strums his instrument like a guitar.”

Bailey has performed with symphony orchestras worldwide, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Honolulu, Milwaukee, Nashville, Toronto, Israel, Cape Town, and the Bruchner Orchestra in Linz, Austria. He has collaborated with such conductors as Itzhak Perlman and Alan Gilbert, and has been featured with musical luminaries Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell, and Janos Starker.

The concert opens with Weber’s Der Freischütz Overture. “Packed with important musical moments from this Romantic opera, this music manages to combine a jaunty hunter’s chorus with secrets from deep within the Wolf’s Glen and finish with a celebration of a heroine’s enduring love,” Meyer said. 

The ASO closes its season with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” a piece inspired by the composer’s life and activity in America.

“Dvořák pointed the way to the future of American music by insisting that composers tap into America’s rich Native American and African American cultures,” said Meyer. “His own example, Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World,’ did just that, incorporating spiritual-tinged melodies, The Song of Hiawatha, and an exuberant finale that sweeps you away with its bold confidence.”

Single tickets for all concerts are $22 – $62 depending on seating section; reduced youth pricing is available. Single tickets and season ticket packages can be purchased at www.ashevillesymphony.org, by calling 828-254-7046, or in person at the U.S. Cellular Center box office at 87 Haywood Street.

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra performs and promotes symphonic music for the benefit, enjoyment and education of the people of Western North Carolina. The ASO presents concerts in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center. Related organizations include the Asheville Symphony Guild, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Symphonettes, and education initiatives such as the Asheville Buncombe Youth Orchestra, Music in the Schools, MusicWorks!, Spotlight on Young Musicians, Symphony Talks, and pre-concert lectures.

Masterworks 7

ZUILL BAILEY RETURNS

May 14, 2016 • 8 p.m.

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Daniel Meyer, conductor

Zuill Bailey, cello

Program:

Weber                  Der Freischütz Overture Daugherty           Tales of Hemingway (ASO Co-commission) Dvořák                  Symphony No. 9 “From The New World”