This must be the place: ‘And live the way I said I would, but somehow never did…’

As I awoke in my hammock, I could see the branches and leaves swaying above, sprinkling small bits of the…
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‘American Pickers’ return to WNC

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to Western North Carolina to film more episodes of…
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Cherokee to open first brewery

In keeping with the long tradition of women within indigenous cultures crafting fermented beverages, Seven Clans Brewing is born. 
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New pictorial book on Cherokee released

Images of America: Cherokee, Anna Fariello’s new pictorial history book, will be presented during a special event at 6:30 p.m.…
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Hard times, come again no more: An evening with Scott Ainslie

Literally and figuratively, the idea of “listening” is somewhat of a lost art in our digital world. When a voice…
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This must be the place: There’s a reason you should care, seriously

Sitting in a chair on a front lawn late Sunday afternoon, the sun had already disappeared behind the mountains, a…
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‘Let the freaks take back the night…’

The further you meander down the road of life, the more you come to realize just how haphazardly bumpy and…
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The gold in the mountain of our madness: A conversation with Wayne Coyne

For the last 35 years, the Flaming Lips have gone from a fringe rock act in Oklahoma to a highly-sought-after…
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This must be the place: ‘Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again’

When you’re young — full of confusion about the ways and means of a “stable adulthood,” amid a hazy sense…
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Wind on the water, carry me home

When you simply mention the name Graham Nash, a multitude of sounds, images, movements and ideas flood your field-of-vision. You…
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This must be the place: ‘There’s no such thing as truth. Everyone has their own truth.’

Now, let’s get this out of the way. What happened to U.S. figure skater Nancy Kerrigan from within the social…
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New Yancys album strikes a chord

A southern gothic love triangle set in the age of Trump? Or maybe J.D. Vance’s bestseller Hillbilly Elegy as a…
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On your plate, on the plateau: Chef Ken Naron of Canyon Kitchen

Though the culinary and agricultural history of Southern Appalachia is as vast and robust as the tall and rigorous mountains…
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This must be the place: ‘It’s herd behavior, it’s evolution, baby’

Cape Cod. Well, to be more specific, the small seaside town of Chatham, Massachusetts, on the southeastern coast of Cape…
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Galaxy of the Stars series returns to WCU

The Galaxy of Stars Series, the only professional entertainment series in Jackson County, enters its 12th season this fall. It…
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Soul insight: A conversation with Marcus King

You find yourself frozen. Watching and listening to The Marcus King Band onstage, your feet are stuck to the floor,…
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This must be the place: ‘I ain’t getting rich now but I’m gettin’ more than by’

The solidarity was evident. Sitting onstage this past Monday at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City, I conducted another episode of…
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Ever since you left town: Louisville honky-tonk band rolls into Waynesville

For the better part of the last four years, Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters have zigzagged to and fro every…
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This must be the place: ‘And the morning came with bells on’

Hola. I’ve been saying that an awful lot while currently down here in Cancun, Mexico. Ten days of feet-in-the-sand with…
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Meant to be lonesome: Maggie Valley Band launches new album, pushes ahead

The territory, and what comes with it. Being a traveling musician has always been a haphazard and often difficult position…
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Music classes at HCC
 

Music classes at HCC

Haywood Community College Continuing Education Creative Arts is expanding its selection of music classes spearheaded by local musicians Julie and…
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This must be the place: WNC art councils: where do we stand?

It’s like pulling teeth. As your arts and entertainment editor for Western North Carolina, I find it difficult sometimes to…
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Don’t stop the music: A conversation with Del McCoury

If there’s one singular force truly keeping the flame of Bill Monroe alive and kicking well into the 21st century,…
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This must be the place: ‘Set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul’

The time had come. Last Friday, right around noon, I received a message on Facebook. It was a fella looking…
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This must be the place: ‘Life being what it is…’

Ten years ago this week I left my native Upstate New York for my first journalism gig out of college…
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Eye of the beholder: Outdoor photographer shares love of the craft

Catch him if you can. For the last few years, Steve Yocom has made quite a name for himself as…
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This must be the place: ‘You know I’m such a fool for you’

They said it happens. When I was younger, and very much so in conversation nowadays, it was always said that…
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Grant awarded to Women’s History Trail
 

Grant awarded to Women’s History Trail

The Women’s History Trail (WHT), a project of Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, has received a $740 grant from…
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Between the lines tells the story: Waynesville woodworker carves into passion

When you are in the presence of the woodwork by Ben Grant, you find yourself captivated by the contours of…
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The end of silence: A conversation with Henry Rollins

He is a welcomed voice of reason in a planet seemingly gone mad. For the last four decades, Henry Rollins…
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This must be the place: ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot…’

Nobody ever seems to know. New Year’s Eve is the same day every go around, and yet, why is it…
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HGTV features Cataloochee Ranch

Cataloochee Ranch, the well-known Haywood County vacation destination on top of Fie Mountain, will make its national debut on HGTV…
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House of my soul: A conversation with Langhorne Slim

The sound echoes a tone of inclusion and timelessness. When you listen to Langhorne Slim, you’re hearing something oddly familiar,…
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This must be the place: ‘Keep on rolling, my old buddy…’

Once the roads became sketchy, I became familiar with the territory.
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Raleigh hotelier purchases Balsam Mountain Inn

A Jackson County landmark has changed hands.
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Latest GSMA musical release earns Grammy nod

The Great Smoky Mountains Association’s newest musical release, “Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad Tradition,” earned a Grammy nomination recently…
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This must be the place: ‘I have been all over but I can’t help feeling stuck…’

The crunching kept catching my attention. After finding a scarce parking space, it was a short, careful stroll from the…
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All American Made: A conversation with Margo Price

Catch her if you can. In the last two or so years, the name “Margo Price” has overtaken brightly lit…
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This must be the place: ‘I been a workin’ man dang near all my life…’

“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing. As opposed to those that are just…
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Regional Artist Project Grantees announced
 

Regional Artist Project Grantees announced

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), administrator of this year’s Regional Artist Project Grant (RAPG), is pleased to announce grantees…
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This must be the place: Pass the gravy, and the memories

It was right around the second beer when I began to settle in. The warm sunshine and lingering foliage of…
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Exodus of Venus: Elizabeth Cook swings through WNC

Don’t fuck with Elizabeth Cook. In a city like Nashville, where your artistic integrity and credibility can be bought and…
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This must be the place: ‘Two all-beef patties, special sauce…’

That slow walk from the car. When I was 16 years old, I entered the American workforce. I was the…
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Sense of wonder: Freeway Revival releases new album, looks ahead

They stick out. In a city like Asheville and in a region like Western North Carolina, world-renowned for bluegrass and…
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This must be the place: ‘Gonna see my picture on the cover, gonna buy five copies for my mother…’

It’s the carrot. For the better part of the last 12 years, Rolling Stone magazine has been a carrot dangling…
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New logo for Haywood Arts Council

In its 40th anniversary year, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) received a $4,500 grant from the Fund for Haywood…
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Only here for your love: Futurebirds to rock Highlands Food & Wine Fest

It’s about finding a balance between your creative soul and your sanity. “When you feel you’re doing what you’re supposed…
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This must be the place: ‘And it feels like heaven’s so far away’

Taken too soon. It’s the three words one person — let alone one family or one community — never wants…
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Brewing success: Two WNC craft breweries win national medals

With sunshine spilling into the taproom of Currahee Brewing Company in Franklin one recent afternoon, brewmaster Taylor Yates is all…
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