Live music in Henderson County this weekend: An Appalachian Christmas
There are lots of live music options in Henderson County this weekend, but for the biggest gathering of professional musicians playing a wide selection of music, consider the Hendersonville Symphony at Blue Ridge Community College at 7:30 this Saturday night. But don’t assume it will be all high-brow classical music. This holiday concert -- An Appalachian Christmas -- will celebrate with a world class fiddler/violinist, a banjo player from the Steep Canyon Rangers, and a soprano whose voice will lift your spirit and melt your heart.
The musical lineup for the orchestra looks great with familiar music by American composer John Williams (from the movie "Home Alone") and rock hall-of-famer James Taylor ("Sweet Baby James"), along with traditional tunes such as "Cold and Snowy," "Breaking Up Christmas," and "Auld Lang Syne." The guest artists, however, will certainly stand out, starting with Graham Sharp, a Grammy award-winning songwriter, banjo player, singer, and guitarist best known for his work with the Asheville-based bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. He will perform "The Mountain's Gonna Sing" from the Rangers’s album "Deep in the Shade" and "North Star" from his own "Truer Picture" album.
Soprano Amanda Horton will sing the traditional piece "Appalachian Carol." Classical Voice of North Carolina says her voice is capable of “quiet passion and simplicity, joy and power.” Horton performs a variety of repertoire, including opera, musical theater and Appalachian folk tunes -- from symphony halls to the cabaret stage.
Julian Pinelli is a free-spirited violinist who spins deep tones with modern ease. He was awarded the 2016 Fresh Grass Fiddle Award and was the winner of the 2017 RockyGrass fiddle competition. He is on tap to perform "Another Time" and "Possibility of Squirrel," both of which are on his new CD "Songs from Quarantine."
“Well, I always love coming back and playing music around WNC, but this is a particularly special occasion,” Pinelli said. “I played in the Hendersonville Youth Orchestra as a youngster and attended many concerts by the professional orchestra, too. It means a lot to be asked to play with the symphony for this show along with Graham Sharp and Amanda Horton. It’s going to be a musically diverse evening ranging from holiday classics to obscure fiddle tunes and original music in between. I am looking forward to seeing it all come to fruition. Hats off to the music director Eric Scheider for pulling all this great music together!”
This is the Hendersonville Symphony’s first concert of a new season -- after being silent during the pandemic. “Our excitement is greater than ever, starting this season with a special holiday concert,” HSO Executive Director Paul Conroy said. “I can’t think of anything that brings a community together in celebration, better than traditional holiday music.”
If you go, take your mask, proof of vaccination, and picture identification. You can expect Christmas excellence.
Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider
749 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville
Friday, Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m., Canaan Cox, Hendo native, singer, songwriter, original music
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2:30-5:30 p.m., The Last Full Measure, Jamie Gorsuch and Karen Corn, guitar, singers, WNC folk/blues, originals and covers
Sunday, Dec. 12, 2:30 p.m., Ken & Nicole, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana
Burntshirt Vineyards
2695 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville
Friday, Dec. 10, 3-6 p.m., Myron Hyman, soloist, singer, guitarist, easy listening rock, folk, country, pop
Continuum ART
147 Suite C, 1st Ave. E., Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, noon-5 p.m., The Foreign Landers, married couple, folk, bluegrass
Covenant Presbyterian Church
2101 Kanuga Rd., Hendersonville
Sunday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m., Noel! Night of Peace, choral Christmas music
D9 Brewing Hendersonville
425 N. Main St, Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., Kid Billy (Billy Litz), soloist, multi-instrumentalist, Americana, blues, ragtime
Flat Rock Playhouse
2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock
Now through Dec. 19, various times and dates, A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, an extravaganza of holiday music, a WNC tradition
Guidon Brewing Co.
415 8th Ave. E., Hendersonville
Friday, Dec. 10, 7-9 p.m., Two Step Too, Just Rick and Marc Brown, modern and classic tunes, originals and covers
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2-5 p.m., Sunlight Drive, Hendo-based acoustic singing duo with guitars, Americana, blues, folk, classic rock, covers, Christmas music
Hendersonville Presbyterian Church
699 N. Grove St., Hendersonville
Sunday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., Blue Ridge Ringers, Carols of the Bells, favorites and traditional carols
The Hendersonville Symphony
Blue Ridge Community College, 180 W. Campus Drive, Flat Rock
Saturday, Dec. 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m., An Appalachian Christmas, holiday favorites with mountain flair, featuring RockGrass fiddler Julian Pinelli and Steep Canyon Ranger frontman Graham Sharp on banjo, $12-$45.
Oklawaha Brewing Company
147 1st Ave. E. Hendersonville
Thursday, Dec. 9, 7-9 p.m., Wesley Ganey, blues guitar, soulful singing, frontman for Blue Ridge Pistols
Friday, Dec. 10, 8-11 p.m., Roots and Dore, original blues, funky soul, rock, Asheville-based
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8-11 p.m., ALR Trio, Matt Allender, Tink Lwing, Rabbit, blues, rock, original music, covers
Packa’s Place
4210 Brevard Road, Horse Shoe
Sunday, Dec. 12, 1-4 p.m., Jeff Michaels, folkadelic jam
Point Lookout Vineyards
408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 6-9 p.m., The Super ‘60s Christmas Party, party band playing hits from the 1960s
Sunday, Dec. 12, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Craig Edwin St. John, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, member of The Super ‘60s
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Sandy Herrault, Charlotte-based violinist and fiddler, pop, rock, Celtic, original music, Gypsy
Sunday, Dec., 12, 2-5 p.m., Hunnilicious, mother/daughter singing duo
Sawyer Springs Vineyard
124 Sandy Hill Lane, Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2-5 p.m., Myron Hyman, soloist, singer, guitarist, easy listening rock, folk, country
Sierra Nevada Mills River
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2-5 p.m., Matt Sellars Trio
Sunday, Dec., 12, 2-5 p.m., Page Brothers Acoustic, Andy and Zack, gypsy jazz
Southern Appalachian Brewery
822 Locust St., Ste. 100, Hendersonville
Thursday, Dec. 9, 6-8 p.m., Howie Johnson and Bill Mattocks, acoustic blues, classic rock
Friday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m., Mr. Jimmy Trio, blues
Saturday, Dec., 11, 6-8 p.m., The Roving, WNC-based, American, roots, rock
South Rock Sports Grill
830 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m.-midnight, Misdemeanor, four-man band from Upstate SC, southern rock, runk, blues, soul
St. James Episcopal Church
766 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Saturday, Dec. 11, 5 p.m., Celtic service with Allelu (folk ensemble) and Lelia Lattimore on harp
The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar
101 E. Allen St., Hendersonville
Thursday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m., Seth Brand, covers and originals, singer, songwriter, Americana, rock, pop, country
The Dugout Sports Bar & Taphouse
430 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Friday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m.-midnight, Twisted Trail, rock band, danceable
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Pleasantly Wild, alternative band from Asheville, originals
Triskelion Brewing Company
340 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville
Friday, Dec. 10, 7-10 p.m., Aunt Vicki, husband and wife, acoustic, electric, folk, Asheville-based
Sunday, Dec. 12, Johnnie Blackwell, Jukebox Johnnie, rocker
Want to be included in “Live Music?” Send your information via email to Steve Wong at Just4Wong@Gmail.com by Monday at 8 a.m. for the coming Thursday-Sunday. Don’t forget to send details on your performing artist along with a good high-resolution photo.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Henderson County NC live music: An Appalachian Christmas
