Asheville live music best bets: Little Feat, Wailers, Gretchen Peters, Terrance Simien

Seminal rock band Little Feat will perform one of its classic albums front to back for its fans during an upcoming local show to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the LP.

The band, who will perform at 8 p.m. May 26 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, is playing its 1978 live album “Waiting For Columbus” in its entirety. The album contains some of Little Feat’s most enduring songs, like “Willin',” “Dixie Chicken” and “Spanish Moon.”

Little Feat was started by Bill Payne and George Lowell (who died in 1979) in 1969 in Los Angeles.

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The “Waiting For Columbus” album has been re-released several times since its first release, including a 2002 album that included six extra tracks.

The original recording is 17 tracks and was the group’s first live recording. It included the Tower of Power horn section and was recorded during seven appearances from its 1977 tour.

Well-known songwriter plays Isis

Gretchen Peters’ name may not known to a lot of music fans, but many of her songs are.

Her song “Independence Day,” which was made famous by Martina McBride, won the CMA Song of the Year honor in 1995. Her tracks have also been recorded by artists like Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill.

Peters, who will perform at 8:30 p.m. May 20 at Isis Music Hall, with local performer Jane Kramer opening, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.

Famed Wailers return to Orange Peel

More than 25 years passed between releases by the legendary reggae band, The Wailers, but in 2020 the group dropped “One World.”

Now the group, which came to prominence with Bob Marley in the 1970s, is on the road playing a mix of legendary reggae hits, deep cuts, and newer material.

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The Wailers, led by singer Aston Barrett Jr. (son of original Wailer Aston “Family Man” Barrett), will play at 8 p.m. May 25 at The Orange Peel.

“One World” garnered plenty of attention and included tracks with Marley’s children Skip and Julian. It also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album.

Downtown Comes Alive With Zydeco

Sounds of Louisiana will permeate through downtown Asheville during the next Downtown After 5 event.

Two-time Grammy winner Terrance Simien, with his Zydeco Experience, will perform at 5 p.m. May 20 at Downtown After 5 on North Lexington Street.

According to the event website, Simien is “one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. He and his band mates have performed over 9000 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 45 countries during their eventful career.”

The opener for the night will be Asheville’s Sanctum Sully. This group mixes rock, bluegrass, funk, psychedelia, country, folk and blues for its unique sound.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville gigs: Little Feat, Wailers, Gretchen Peters, Terrance Simien