Asheville live music best bets: Ashley Heath, Keller Williams, Madison Cunningham

Ashley Heath had big plans for her newest recording until a global pandemic caused a short delay.

“I had planned to record this specific set of songs in the beginning of 2020 and that’s when everything shut down. When the studios opened up again, those spots filled quickly,” she said. “I was able to get into the studio in the summer of 2021 and began to work on the album.”

The result is a six-song EP titled, “Something To Believe,” which will be released on Oct. 21 and celebrated with an 8:30 p.m. show on Oct. 14 at Isis Music Hall. This will be Heath’s first release on Organic Records, which is headquartered in Arden.

Heath, who performs with her band called The Heathens, plans to perform the entire EP throughout her performance at Isis, along with songs from her previous two projects and, she said, maybe a cover or two.

Heath spent the summer performing locally and regionally, performing at big festivals and in small towns. The songs from the EP, which were written in 2019, have been a part of her sets since.

“It’s wild because I think a lot of people have heard these songs over the last two years,” she said. “I’ve been sitting on them and waiting and I’m super excited (to release them).”

Heath’s full-time music career began more than seven years ago and she has continued to improve her songwriting and performing skills.

A week before the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Black Mountain. In a new town and living alone, Heath had time to write.

“I think my songwriting is getting stronger. I’ve had a lot of time,” she said. “It forced me to be more internal and I had a lot to dedicate to writing and singing and playing without any distractions. I’m like an introverted extrovert.”

Now she’s ready to get out into a venue and share what she has written with others.

Williams returns for another big show

Keller Williams has been an Asheville staple over the years, performing live in several of his various projects.

He returns to town for an 8 p.m. performance on Oct. 15 at Salvage Station.

This show is part of a string of nights where Williams will perform his entire “Laugh” album. “Laugh” was released 20 years ago and is highlighted by the track “Freeker By The Speaker.”

Williams is also bringing along two of the album’s original musicians, Tye North (bass) and Dave Watts (drums).

Cunningham plays The Grey Eagle

Two-time Grammy-nominated performer Madison Cunningham brings her folksy rock to town with an 8 p.m. performance on Oct. 14 at The Grey Eagle.

The opener will be the alternative-folk band, Bendigo Fletcher.

Cunningham, who has been nominated for best Americana and folk albums in the past, recently released her third album, titled “Revealer.”

The record showcases the stellar songwriting and guitar chops that Cunningham, who has opened for current pop superstar Harry Styles in the past, is known for.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville music: Ashley Heath, Keller Williams, Madison Cunningham