Increase in state arts funding
With a boost in state appropriations, the North Carolina Arts Council will launch two new programs this year and provide…
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New director of WCU’s School of Music
An acclaimed pianist who has performed around the world and who teaches that musical artists must be entrepreneurs and good…
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This must be the place: Feeling lucky? Cast the first stone
I ain’t perfect. And the older I get, the more I realize just how true that statement is. Along with…
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Take it or leave it: Foghat to headline Cherokee Blue Ridge Run
It’s the intersection of American blues and British rock. When you throw some Foghat onto the stereo, you’re entering a…
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When my last song is sung: A conversation with Rob Ickes
In the bluegrass world, it doesn’t get much bigger than Rob Ickes. Fifteen-time “Dobro Player of the Year” by the…
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The music of the heart: 48th annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival
It gets to the point without distraction. Folk music — the intersection of the human heart and the greater world…
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This must be the place: ‘North Country Ice Storm of ‘98’
I can still feel the cold air, the sense of hopelessness. Watching the clips of the massive rainfall and flooding…
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Play by your own rules
An iconic mandolin and fiddle player, Sam Bush has rewritten the game of bluegrass, especially when it comes to live…
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Balsam Range turns 10 atop IBMA nominations
Leading this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association awards with eight nominations, Haywood County group Balsam Range is atop the mountain…
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Chatham County Line
Formed in Raleigh in 1999, Chatham County Line has emerged as one of those unique branches of tone and approach…
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Canton Labor Day: Ricky Skaggs
Throughout the 1980s, Ricky Skaggs was the toast of country music. Twelve #1 hits, eight CMA and ACM awards, a…
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The ‘Canton Comeback’
When the Town of Canton relaunched its Labor Day Festival a couple years ago, it was in a crucial move…
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This must be the place: ‘Tired, but wiser for the time’
The trifecta. By this past Monday morning, I was running on fumes heading back to my humble abode in downtown…
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DSO returns to WNC
In their 20 years together, the members of Dark Star Orchestra have equaled — if not surpassed — the number…
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Comin’ Home: Former Black Crowes start anew with Magpie Salute
With the demise of The Black Crowes in 2015, Rich Robinson was in search of new digs.
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WNC welcomes ‘The Great American Solar Eclipse’
At 2:35 p.m. on Aug. 21, Western North Carolina residents and visitors will have the chance to watch as the…
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Prepare to shoot: Eclipse photography takes research, preparation
It’s safe to say that a good solar eclipse photo requires a bit more preparation than your average snapshot.
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Local governments plan for the worst, hope for the best
There are still many unknowns as the historic Total Solar Eclipse approaches Aug. 21, but local governments are trying to…
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Behold the Seer: Chris Robinson Brotherhood roll on
The CRB sports a curious and mischievous grin these days, whistling a tune near-and-dear to their hearts, all while slowing…
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No way to stop the flow: A conversation with Tim O’Brien
In the annals of bluegrass history, the chapter on multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien is not only long and bountiful, it’s also…
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This must be the place: ‘Catch my soul, catch the very light ... ’
It does mean something. Sitting in the darkness of the Grail Moviehouse last Thursday, this overwhelming feeling of deep sadness…
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Roundabout: YES swings through WNC
Spanning over six decades, British prog-rock act YES were recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although…
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Finding a balance: Tipping Point Brewing closes, new location set for Brevard
It’s 12:15 p.m. Sunday. On a normal weekend, Tipping Point Brewing in downtown Waynesville would have been open for 45…
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This must be the place: ‘We will get by, we will survive’
Happy birthday, Captain Trips. On this day (Aug. 1) some 75 years ago, Jerome Garcia was born in San Francisco.…
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Field of Dreams: If you build it, they will come
By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer In a sense, Warren and Phil Drake and Warren’s wife Ronda have created their…
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Mortgage agreement goes up in flames
Forty-one years have gone into making Dogwood Crafters Cooperative of Dillsboro the successful business it is today. And the co-op…
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This must be the place: ‘Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control’
This one? This one hurt. When I heard Thursday afternoon about the tragic suicide of Chester Bennington, lead singer for…
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This must be the place: ‘Everywhere I turn, here we are…’
I was about an hour late. Rolling up to the Swain County Business Education & Training Center in Bryson City…
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Above the distraction: The Swag celebrates old traditions, welcomes new era
Heading up Hemphill Road, just outside of Maggie Valley, the lush fields and bungalow homes of Jonathan Creek fade into…
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Heinzelmannchen Brewery to close
After a couple years of uncertainty, Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva will close its doors on Thursday evening.
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This must be the place: ‘Would you like to know a secret, just between you and me?’
Those who forget history, tend to... Well, you know the rest. Nowadays, it seems each morning we awaken into another…
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‘Galaxy of Stars’ now ‘WCU PRESENTS’
The “WCU PRESENTS” performance series, previously known as “Galaxy of Stars” brings professional artists from around the world to the…
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Theme for a celebration: Empire Strikes Brass to headline Folkmoot ‘Sunday Soiree’
At the heart of Asheville is a funky soul. And providing the soundtrack to that carefree and self-less attitude of the…
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This must be the place: The year is half-over, my cup half-full
I remembered those places, and those faces. Scrolling through Facebook — through the “fun in the sun” Fourth of July…
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The next chapter: Blue Ridge Books celebrates 10 years
Sitting at a booth in the back of her store on recent morning, Allison Lee remembers the days long ago…
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Religion in early America
The World Methodist Museum in Lake Junaluska announces its participation in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History exhibit. The…
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A Lake J Fourth family tradition
It’s not noteworthy to hear someone ‘round these parts say, “This will be the fourth generation of my family participating…
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This must be the place: Ode to Lloyd, ode to the faces
It’s the hardest part of this gig. As a journalist for just about a decade, I’ve been lucky enough to…
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Pints in Papertown: BearWaters Brewing reopens in Canton
It was weird. Driving around downtown Canton this past weekend, it was weird to have a hard time finding a…
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This must be the place: ‘Look in the mirror, who do you see?’
I look forward to it these days. Calling my dad at the end of the day. With my parents still…
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BPR names new arts journalist
Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) continues to invest in the development of local programming and content with the hiring of…
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Front Street a success
Wonderful blue skies, great entertainment and over 60 multi-talented artisans brought out more than 3,000 people to Front Street Arts…
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Innovation Brewing to open Dillsboro location
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) has announced that Innovation Brewing will be the new tenant of the GSMR Dillsboro…
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Cataloochee Ranch welcomes Chatham County Line
If you want to understand the history of bluegrass music, you need to look at its entire spectrum — of…
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‘Purrfect’ harmony: The American Museum of The House Cat
It took over 30 years, but Harold Sims can now show the world. “It’s been very rewarding,” he said. “I…
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HCC crafts Asheville exhibit
The Folk Art Center in Asheville is currently celebrating Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program graduate class of 2017. With…
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This must be the place: You say ‘covfefe,’ I say ‘who cares?’
I’m exhausted. I think y’all out there reading this can attest to the pure exhaustion — of body, mind and…
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