who: Sourwood Festival
what: A family-friendly event celebrating honey and the sourwood tree
where: Downtown Black Mountain
when: Saturday, Aug. 11 & Sunday, Aug. 12 (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sat. & 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Free. exploreblackmountain.com)
why: Celebrating the region’s important honey source, The Sourwood Festival features art, crafts, honey-making, bee keeping demonstrations and events for the whole family to enjoy. Live music will be performed throughout the festival, including jazz music by Sharon LaMotte and Bill Gerhardt, country music by Gary Cody, Southern gospel by The Black Mountain First Baptist Church Choir and more.
who: LYLAS presents Local Comedy: Thousands of Miles Funnier
what: Asheville’s all-female sketch comedy troupe
where: 35below (located underneath Asheville Community Theatre)
when: Wednesdays through Fridays, Aug. 7 through 15 (8 p.m. $10. http://www.lylas.org or 254-1320)
why: Presenting a new series of original work, the LYLAS blend pop-culture references, musical numbers and political commentary to give their work an exciting edge. Their show makes fun of everything Asheville and beyond. But don’t worry, their humor is never mean spirited.
who: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
what: Folk-rock duo
where: Grey Eagle
when: Thursday, Aug. 7 (8:30 p.m. $12. http://www.thegreyeagle.com or 232-5800)
why: Growing up with with the legacy of folk icons Woody and Arlo Guthrie (grandfather and father, respectively), it’s no wonder that Sarah Lee has grown into a talented and poetic songbird. Now performing with her husband and touring with her two daughters, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion perform high-lonesome folk songs and energetic country rock, their voices “clicking together like an old belt buckle.”
who: Hudson K
what: “Anti-pop piano rock”
where: Bobo Gallery
when: Saturday, August 9 (10 p.m. http://www.hudsonktoday.com or 254-3426)
why: Christina Horn a.k.a. Hudson K is a classically trained pianist whose indie, piano-rock band is said to “have the power of an electric orchestra behind it.” She will be performing with local Americana group The Leigh Glass Band.
who: James Nolan reads from Perpetual Care
what: A book signing and reading
where: Malaprop’s Bookstore
when: Friday, August 8 (7 p.m. http://www.malaprops.com or 254-6734)
why: Awarded the 2007 Jefferson Press prize for “Best New Voice in Fiction,” Perpetual Care and Other Stories explores life in New Orleans after the devastations of hurricane Katrina. Don’t miss James Nolan as he discusses the inspiration behind his gripping short stories.
who: David Grisman Bluegrass Experience
what: “Dawg music” founder and Bay Area icon
where: Orange Peel
when: Saturday, August 9 (8 p.m. $32. http://www.theorangepeel.net 225-5851)
why: Affectionately nicknamed “Dawg” by his contemporary and friend Jerry Garcia, David Grisman performs bluegrass infused with jazz, folk and world music: a genre that he calls “Dawg Music.” Grisman performs with folk-rock band Crooked Still.
