Halloween Ramblings, 2007
There’s a connection between being a musician and Halloween that goes beyond the obvious skulls/pumpkins/fake blood/heavy metal stereotype, at least…
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Highlands sets the table for a fall feast: Inaugural gathering of gastronomes holds great promise for the plateau
By Michael Beadle Indulge in a seven-course meal that includes roasted pheasant, foie gras and braised wild boar. Sip award-winning…
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Recommended diversions
Brian Regan Live! Whether you purchase this CD or simply Google Brian Regan on your computer, you will find yourself…
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“Away From Her” Based on the great short story “The Bear Came Over The Mountain” by the ever-amazing Alice Munro,…
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Something Pumpkin this way rolls ...
By Michael Beadle Carve ‘em. Cook ‘em. Turn ‘em into glowing faces. There’s plenty you can do with this year’s…
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Halloween recipes
Pumpkin Nut Bread 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon each salt and baking soda 1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ginger and…
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Sharon Jones conjures up the heart of soul
By Chris Cooper Sharon Jones and her amazing band of funk/soul revivalists were responsible for one of the happiest musical…
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Rock On: An Office Power Ballad Written by Dan Kennedy, this venture into life in the corporate music business isn’t…
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A labor of love: Skipper Russell’s Cold Mountain Corn Maize raises support for cancer research
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Bright yellow sunflowers ring the edges of Skipper Russell’s Cold Mountain Corn Maize in…
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Ex Tempore: Impromptu excellence
By Chris Cooper I first heard Johnny Irion years ago at a little venue in Charlotte. He was performing with…
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The Green Book Looking for more ways to help save energy costs and be more environmentally responsible? Check out this…
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Art for all ages: Studio 598 in downtown Sylva offers on-going art classes for youth and adults
By Michael Beadle Making a mess never looked so fun. It’s Friday morning at Studio 598 in downtown Sylva, and…
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Happy to be here: David Holt headlines Oct. 14 Bridge Park Project fundraiser
By Chris Cooper David Holt is a happy guy. In a recent phone (cell phone, no less) conversation as he…
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Hoss: clawing their way to the top
Bands just have to stick with it. Whether on the grand scale of being a signed, touring group or one…
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Raising Sand Duet albums are about as original as cheeseburgers, but this one has stayed in my car’s disc player…
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Where pots (and a cat) are thrown: The Flying Cat Studio is one of 20 Haywood County art studios that will host open house events this weekend
By Michael Beadle If you’re lucky enough to visit the Flying Cat Studio just off U.S. 276 in Jonathan Creek,…
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Giant Van Halen rock lands in NC
By Armando Basulto • Guest Writer There is something vaguely depressing about watching your nostalgia for your adolescent years transformed…
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Blessed, demented genius
By Chris Cooper The picture you see when you flip open the new Moolah Temple Stringband CD shows singer/guitarist/found-sound alchemist…
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Recommended diversions
Ugly Truths Has the entertainment industry really crumbled to such a sorry point that rather than attempting to make the…
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Funny guise: Ventriloquist extraordinaire Jeff Dunham to appear at WCU on Oct. 4
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The problem with trying to interview a ventriloquist is that he — in this…
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Dillsboro’s Riverwood Shops fetes 50 years
Riverwood Shops, a group of artisans’ studios overlooking the town of Dillsboro, will commemorate their 50th anniversary from 10 a.m.…
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Michael Buble In his four albums of the American Song bag series, Rod Stewart brought back many American classics from…
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Balsam Range redefines regional bluegrass
By Chris Cooper Two things still stick in my mind about Darren Nicholson’s excellent self-titled 2006 release; state of the…
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Turning the tables: David Tripp’s artistic vision evolves with his craft
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer David Tripp’s workshop is piled head-high with wood. There are tree limbs here, locust…
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“Come Early Morning” This is the kind of movie that gets past you, a small budget movie that didn’t get…
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Fresh voices gain ground
Angi West: Orange Thread In A Blue Sea Thoughtfully arranged tunes that wander through elements of folk, sun-dappled guitar and…
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A potter’s calling: For Sarah Rolland, the process is as rewarding as the product
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Sarah Rolland first connected with clay on an emotional level. With lunch plans to…
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Spray Paint Took a page from “Trading Spaces” and all those other home renovation/redecoration shows this past weekend and salvaged…
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Notes from a waitress: Former star of ‘Alice’ comes to WCU for cabaret-style, one-woman show
By Michael Beadle Once upon a sitcom, Linda Lavin was America’s hardest-working waitress. Remember “Alice” — a household name in…
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Exploring every angle: Alison Brown’s bluegrass journey comes to Maggie Valley’s Eaglenest Entertainment Sept. 8
By Chris Cooper The phrase “well rounded” gets thrown about pretty often, but it fits few people better than banjoist…
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Passion for pewter: Riverwood Pewter continues eight decades of family tradition
By Michael Beadle It’s been called the poor man’s silver, but its shine and durability have made it prized in…
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Truth is, Sloe Gin fizzed
By Chris Cooper Robben Ford: Truth Not many guitarists can meld the harmonic sensibilities of jazz with the visceral punch…
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He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Ah, the old TV cartoons from childhood...The Smurfs. The Super Friends. Scooby Dooby…
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In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick If you want an adventure-tragedy…
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Nature inspired art
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education specialist Lee Sherrill dips out a cup full of…
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Beach Boys coming to Canton
By Chris Cooper The ocean’s a powerful thing. Source of life, nice to look at ... all that stuff. How…
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One thing I've noticed over these years of teaching guitar lessons is the principle that not only do we all…
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A tale of two Smiths: Local actress brings latest Lee Smith novel to stage
By Michael Beadle Actress Barbara Bates Smith was bound to meet novelist Lee Smith. Back in 1985, a friend sent…
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I attended a classic rock concert and lived to tell about it
By Chris Cooper So, answer me this: how many people, artists especially, can maintain a vital career for 38 years…
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One for the kiddies; one for the fans
By Chris Cooper Ronnie McCoury: Little Mo’ McCoury You’d be hard pressed to find a family more deserving of the…
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Broadway comes to WCU: Young talents hone their skills with some of Broadway’s best
By Michael Beadle So you think you’ve got singing talent? Think you have what it takes to leap and strut…
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The Rhythm of Life Subtitled “Living Every Day with Passion & Purpose,” Matthew Kelly’s The Rhythm of Life is in…
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An interview with Masha Hamilton
Editor’s note: Margaret Osondu, owner of Osondu Booksellers in Waynesville, recently conducted an email interview with Masha Hamilton, one of…
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“Picket Fences,” and “Northern Exposure” Is it possible to be nostalgic for the 1990s already? Or maybe it is the…
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And now for something completely different...
By Chris Cooper For your consideration this week: some engaging new sounds from Canyon Records, and a frantic but exhilarating…
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Canton Two weeks ago this Thursday my husband and I moved to Canton. Anyone who’s been in the area for…
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Fresh tunes, new faces: Like the swallows of San Juan Capistrano, summertime’s home-grown music has returned to the mountains, bringing with it a host of new CD offerings
By Chris Cooper It’s warm out, people are out wandering the streets later in the evening, guitars clang and drums…
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Steep Canyon Rangers sharpen their bluegrass skill set
By Chris Cooper Finding a line between respecting the bluegrass form and tradition, while gently pushing its boundaries, is a…
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Guide to William Bartram’s Travels There are guidebooks and then there are GUIDEBOOKS. If you’re a Bartram junkie as I…
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A smashing residency in Asheville
By Joe Hooten As I was barreling down Interstate 40, racing to make it to Asheville in time to see…
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