Fine Art Museum receives national honor
The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance…
Read More
This must be the place: It all comes back to you, you’re bound to get what you deserve
Opening up my email inbox last Friday morning, there was a press release from an entertainment publicist making note of…
Read More
The melodic bridge of that ‘high, lonesome sound’: A conversation with Del McCoury
When it comes to the preservation and perpetuation of bluegrass music in the 21st century, Del McCoury is the leading…
Read More
Cosmopolitan country: Sylva restaurant combines fine Italian, Appalachian culinary delights
For several years, the small building at the corner of Main and Mill streets in downtown Sylva has sat dormant.…
Read More
This must be the place: Rolling on from town to town, been so many places, still don’t know where I’m bound
With my feet dangling out of the back window of the truck, a cool morning breeze rolled through the Tacoma…
Read More
This must be the place: The heart has its seasons, its evenings and songs of its own
Stepping into the lobby of the Days Inn just north of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, last Wednesday evening, I was immediately hit…
Read More
The way love goes: A conversation with Brian McKnight
For the last 25 years, few R&B/soul performers have risen to height of success and level of mainstream talent as…
Read More
This must be the place: By now you took what was to take, tear it apart and start again
Emerging from the beer line along the top of the hill with a Fiddlehead IPA, I heard the slight sound…
Read More
We could leave them behind in the sparkle and fade: A conversation with Art Alexakis
If the old adage, “obstacles are opportunities,” rings true, then Art Alexakis might just be the definition of an opportunist.
Read More
New heritage center launches in Maggie Valley
In an effort to preserve and perpetuate the heritage arts and lore of the Great Smoky Mountains and greater Southern…
Read More
This must be the place: Ode to Cousin Nate, ode to sharing the love of music
Nathan Manuel Arruda, age 42, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 28, at his place of residence in Rouses Point,…
Read More
Setting the tone: Beloved Canton restaurant celebrates five years
Five years ago, when the Southern Porch opened its doors in Canton, it wasn’t hard to get a parking spot…
Read More
The attitude of gratitude: Michael Reilly of Pure Prairie League
In the annals of country-rock history, a handful of acts were able to ride the line of mainstream radio success,…
Read More
This must be the place: I awoke and faintly bouncing round the room, the echo of whomever spoke
The air was cool and the sleeping bag warm when I heard the early morning loon from across Buck Pond.
Read More
This must be the place: White lace and feathers, they made up his bed, a gold covered mattress, on which he was laid
It was about 15 minutes into meeting Sailor Steve and Texas Jeff when I knew I’d met some of the…
Read More
Scripting the flip: A conversation with Jon Stickley
A blend of jazz-fusion, bluegrass and avant-garde folk music, the Jon Stickley Trio is at the core of the current…
Read More
This must be the place: Somethin’ keeps him driftin’, miles and miles away, searchin’ for the songs to play
I was already 10 minutes late to my niece’s seventh birthday party some 20 minutes away last Sunday afternoon.
Read More
Diamond Rio to play Canton Labor Day
The CMA, Grammy winning, and six-time Vocal Group of the Year Diamond Rio will be headlining the 114th Canton Labor…
Read More
This must be the place: Ode to 22 years, ode to being together again
It was exactly a week ago when it was decided as a newsroom to cleanup up our offices for The…
Read More
Truer picture of me: Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers
It’s late morning at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville. Formerly the Citizen-Times Building, the historic structure is now home to…
Read More
Mountain Heritage Day returns
Mountain Heritage Day, the festival of cultural traditions presented by Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, is again being planned as…
Read More
In the journey: A conversation with Martin Sexton
Leaving his hometown of Syracuse, New York, in 1988, singer-songwriter Martin Sexton hit the road — in search of not…
Read More
This must be the place: I feel summer creepin’ in and I’m tired of this town again
He walked into the bar, grabbed a seat next to me, and proceeded to order four shots of Jameson Irish…
Read More
This must be the place: Racin’ with the wind, and the feelin’ that I’m under
My eyes shot open when the air-conditioning unit kicked on. It took me a couple of moments to realize where…
Read More
Snowbird mural brings community together
Snowbird Cherokee artists and community members in Robbinsville recently gathered to launch the outdoor installation of a long-awaited 400-square-foot mural…
Read More
Meet me where the music calls: Chuck Garvey of moe.
For over three decades, moe. has remained a pillar of the ongoing and ever-evolving jam-band scene — this melodic entity…
Read More
This must be the place: Ode to Albino Skunk, ode to the spirit of ‘Fes-Taa-Vul’
It was just about 8:30 a.m. when I awoke in my pickup truck last Saturday.
Read More
And I could not ask for more: A conversation with Edwin McCain
When the entire music industry shutdown last year, acclaimed singer-songwriter Edwin McCain wasn’t necessarily concerned with not being able to…
Read More
Spring at the Rickman Store
The arrival of spring marks a new season of weekly festive gatherings at the Rickman Store in Macon County.
Read More
Sweet heaven in my view: A conversation with Charley Crockett
Standing in a hotel room last week, Charley Crockett peered out the window onto the quiet morning streets of Amarillo,…
Read More
This must be the place: Ode to ‘Lucinda,’ ode to busted front bumpers
Sitting in the waiting room of my hometown mechanic last week, I knew it wasn’t good when he called for…
Read More
On my way: A conversation with Grace Potter
At 37, Grace Potter has already positioned herself as one of the finest stage performers and singer-songwriters of the early…
Read More
This must be the place: The best things in life are truly free, singing birds and laughing bees
Woke up this morning with the thought of the impending summer, impending “state of being” for all of us slowly…
Read More
Shelton House reopens
The Shelton House will launch its 2021 season on Saturday, May 1, promising to bring more “History, Heritage and Crafts”…
Read More
Blue Ridge Music Trails podcast
Listen for new episodes of “Down the Road” on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina, a series highlighting…
Read More
This must be the place: Don’t look too far, right where you are, that’s where I am
Coming to a stop at the end of the off-ramp of Exit 40 along Interstate 87 last Saturday evening, I…
Read More
Rivers, rains and runaway trains: Tim Surrett of Balsam Range
In its 14 years together, Haywood County’s own Balsam Range has risen into the upper echelon as one of the…
Read More
A hard life makes a good song: Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters
Before the shutdown of the entire music industry in March 2020 due to the pandemic, The Infamous Stringdusters were widely-regarded…
Read More
Rowdy heart, broken wing: A conversation with Drew Holcomb
If there ever was a 21st century musical ambassador for the state of Tennessee, it would be Drew Holcomb. Born…
Read More
WNC Tomorrow Black Oral History Project
Western Carolina University’s Special and Digital Collections at Hunter Library has digitized a collection of interviews conducted between 1986-1989 with…
Read More
This must be the place: Driving down a corduroy road, Ferris wheel is rusting off in the distance
Yesterday, at the corner of Brown Avenue and Hazelview Drive in Waynesville, this weird feeling washed over me. The thought…
Read More
‘Connecting Legacies’: New art exhibit shines light on Black Mountain College
From 1933-1957, Black Mountain College was formed and thrived within the context of its seemingly unconventional methods and ways, only…
Read More
This must be the place: Ode to Mr. P, ode to never sacrificing the gift
It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share the news of the passing last Friday morning of Brian…
Read More
Haywood Arts director retires
Leigh Forrester, who served as executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) for four years has announced her…
Read More
Interested in metal art?
A new grant from the Center for Craft is supporting an effort to share traditional metal working techniques with the…
Read More
This must be the place: I never ever saw the stars so bright, in the farmhouse, things will be alright
It was a flood of memories I hadn’t thought of in years. There I was on a date with this…
Read More
Just like the days: Papadosio celebrates milestone with Haywood drive-in show
In its 15 years together, Papadosio has remained on a steady, upward trajectory as one of the premier jam-bands currently…
Read More
This must be the place: Look in the mirror, who do you see? Someone familiar, surely not me
The sound of thunder and a heavy rain awoke me from a deep slumber. Opening my eyes, I relaxed into…
Read More
How can it be wrong if it grows wild: An afternoon with Songs From The Road Band
On March 14, 2020, Songs From The Road Band jumped onstage in the backroom of the Wicked Weed Funkatorium in…
Read More
This must be the place: We sit together forever, by the color TV glow, telling stories, allegories
Stepping out of my old apartment in downtown Waynesville on Monday afternoon, I placed my old laundry basket on the…
Read More
