Live Music This Weekend: Ken & Nicole, a couple of musicians who like being local
From online photos and briefs, Ken & Nicole look to be a very nice duo, playing eclective covers from rock, pop, country, folk and Americana.
They do have last names: His is Morgan, and her's is Ray. He plays a guitar; she plays a ukulele. They’ve been together for more than seven years.
Normally they play about one gig a week, usually in Hendo or very close by. But inquiring minds want to know more, especially if those minds are thinking about checking out Ken & Nicole at one of the local cideries or wineries.
This week, they will play at Bold Rock Friday night and Appalachian Ridge Sunday. Here are 10 questions and their answers, which will give us a better understanding and appreciation for Ken & Nicole.
What is the relationship between the two of you? Are you married?
Yes, but not to each other. We've been playing music together in some form or fashion since 2013, when we met singing at church. We performed together in the party band The Groove Shakers for several years.
We also have another band project about to come out called Dive Bar Divas. So keep on the lookout!
I get the impression that your music is very middle of the road. Expand on or correct that impression. Include some songs that you play a lot that are popular among your fans.
We like to think we have a pretty wide variety of songs; a little something for everybody. We try to do musical transitions that you rarely hear, like going from Willie Nelson to Earth, Wind and Fire to Taylor Swift.
We use a variety of instruments including guitar, ukulele, keyboard, bass, harmonica, and kazoo. You haven't lived 'til you've heard a blistering kazoo solo.
We also like to mix things up style-wise, like playing Sublime's "Santeria" on ukulele with a female vocalist or mashing up Ed Sheeran with Marvin Gaye.
Do you both have professional training and experience as musicians? Do you have day jobs?
Neither of us have formal musical training, per se, but we've had years of experience. Ken has been doing music in some form since childhood, starting with singing in the Cherub Choir in church. He participated in band and chorus throughout junior high, high school and college.
He's been active in the Asheville/Hendersonville music scene since 2010, playing in such bands as A Social Function, Commodore Fox and The Caribbean Cowboys.
Ken's day job is music director at Covenant Community United Methodist Church in Asheville.
Nicole also participated in choir in junior high, high school, and college. She joined the music scene with The Groove Shakers in 2016.
Nicole is a physician assistant with Blue Ridge Health in Hendersonville.
Obviously, you don’t have a heavy performance schedule. Why is that?
We just started with the duo at the beginning of 2020. Then, of course, COVID hit and gigs dried up. We're just starting to get some traction now, but we do have day jobs and do this for fun, so we're happy with three or four gigs a month.
What is your niche?
We just wanna play some place where people are aware we're in the room. We like laid-back spaces where people can engage with us, or sit and listen, or sit and talk. We don't have to be the center of attention. We love playing wineries, cideries and breweries.
Tell us something about Ken that will give music lovers some insight about him as a person and musician.
Ken is the old one. His formative years were the '80s. He loves '70s and '80s music, likes '60s and '90s music, and tolerates anything from 2000-on.
He has a wonderful wife who works in health care (bless her heart), a son at UNCG and a daughter in high school. He loves both cats and dogs, likes to cook and also does woodturning.
Tell us something about Nicole that will give music lovers some insight about her as a person and musician.
Nicole, on the other hand, was born in the ‘80s. She listens to nearly all genres of music depending on her mood. She recently picked up ukulele and a little bass as her COVID hobby so as not to be too outdone by Ken.
She likes any excuse to dress up, but is actually kinda shy and prefers board games with close friends and reading challenges on comfy couches when she's not singing or, you know, practicing medicine. She is married to an Asheville teacher with two elementary-aged kiddos.
What do you think about the live music scene in Hendersonville?
We love playing in and around Hendersonville. The people are always so friendly and really seem to appreciate live music. There are a lot of great venues and music groups playing in the area. There's always something to do. It's great!
Where are Ken and Nicole going with their music? (Recording, touring, etc.)
To the top, baby! Actually, we don't have any huge aspirations. We just love playing music and entertaining folks. We're happy to just play around Western North Carolina. It really is the best place in the world! (Sorry Toledo.)
What is your philosophy about being the Ken & Nicole duo?
If the audience isn't entertained, what's the point? We don't do a lot of songs just for ourselves. We do songs that we hope people want to hear and will enjoy.
Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider
749 Chestnut Gap Rd., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Bill & Tad’s Excellent Duo, acoustic, blues to Beatles, 12-string guitar, djembe, singers
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2:30 p.m., Ken & Nicole, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana
Blue Ghost Brewing
125 Underwood Rd., Fletcher
Sunday, Nov. 13, 3-7 p.m., Pickle Music by The Log Noggins (progressive southern fusion/rock) & the Bald Mountain Boys (smokin’ mountain grass), as part of Picklepalooza event
Bold Rock Hard Cider
72 School House Rd., Mills River
Friday, Nov. 12, 6 p.m., Ken & Nicole, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m., Super ‘60s, party band playing 1960s pop, hits, classics
Burntshirt Vineyards
2695 Sugarloaf Rd., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2-5 p.m., Roots & Dore, American blues, soul, rock, Asheville-based,
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m., Ben Phantom, singer, songwriter, guitarist, covers, originals about his world travels
D9 Brewing Hendersonville
425 N. Main St, Hendersonville
Friday, Nov. 12, 7-10 p.m., Vilai Harrington, soul-filled Americana with a country twang
Dry Falls Brewery
425 Kanuga Rd., Hendersonville
Friday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Awake in the Dream and Becky Stephenson, all rock, today’s pop, covers, originals
Guidon Brewing Co.
415 8th Ave. E., Hendersonville
Friday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., The Baggage Brothers, acoustic duo, Scott Moss and Derek McCoy, singers, guitarists
Mills River Brewing Co.
336 Banner Farm Rd., Mills River
Friday, Nov. 12, 7-10 p.m., Adi the Monk, blues, jazz, funk guitarist, Asheville-based
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2-5 p.m., Hope Griffin Trio, folk, Americana, pop
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m., Two Step Too, Just Rick and Marc Brown, eclectic
Oklawaha Brewing Company
147 1st Ave. E. Hendersonville
Thursday, Nov. 11, 7-9 p.m., Collin Cheek, covers and originals, singer, guitarist
Friday, Nov. 12, 8-11 p.m., ALR Trio, blues, rock, covers, originals
Saturday, Nov. 13, 8-11 p.m., JED Flanders, three-piece cover band, Hedno-based, reggae, indie
Packa’s Place
4210 Brevard Rd., Horse Shoe
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2-5 p.m., Perry Wing Combo, duo playing originals, Texas country/Americana
Sunday, nov. 14, 2-4 p.m., Lefty Carmean, soloist, singer, guitarist, covers, alt-country, classic country, Americana
Point Lookout Vineyards
408 Appleola Rd., Hendersonville
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m., Almost Vintage, classic rock band, Morganton-based
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
588 Chestnut Gap Rd., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 3-6 p.m., Hunnilicious, mother/daughter singing duo
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m., Brian Ashley Jones, soulful singer, acclaimed guitarist, country, blues
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards Flat Rock
2698 C Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Geriatric Jukebox, husband and wife sing favorites from the ‘60s and ‘70s
Sierra Nevada Mills River
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2-5 p.m., Daniel Shaerin, singer, songwriter, finger-style guitarist, Asheville-based
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m., King Garbage, Vic Dimotsis and Zach Cooper duo, Asheville-based, singers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists
Southern Appalachian Brewery
822 Locust St., Ste. 100, Hendersonville
Thursday, Nov. 11, 6-8 p.m., Howie Johnson and Bill Mattocks, blues, classic rock, eclectic
Saturday, Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m., Mattocks-Johnson Band, blues, classic rock, eclectic
Sunday, Nov. 14, noon-3 p.m., Hendo Showcase Brunch with Carver, Carmody, McIntire with Johnnie Blackwell, eclectic rock
South Rock Sports Grill
830 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.-noon, Sinder Ella, classic and southern rock, covers; Asheville-based
The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar
101 E. Allen St., Hendersonville
Friday, Nov. 12, 7-9 p.m., Foreign Landers Duo, South Carolinian David Benedict and Irishwoman Tabitha Agnew, bluegrass, folk
Saturday, Nov. 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Jason Whitaker, guitarist, acoustic, Americana, blues, country, rock
The Dugout Sports Bar & Taphouse
430 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Thursday, Nov. 11, 8 p.m.-midnight (every Thursday), open jam
Friday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., Pleasantly Wild, alternative band from Asheville, originals
Saturday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.-midnight, Ricky Gunter Band, singer, songwriter, country
The Greenhouse Moto Cafe
4021 Haywood Rd. (Highway 191), Mills River
Friday, Nov. 12, 7-10 p.m., Howie Johnson and Bill Mattocks, acoustic duo, “playing whatever we want”
Saturday, Nov . 13, 6 p.m., Marvin King Revue, blues; and Pyletribe, rock (Chris Pyle, singer, guitarist; Artimus Pyle, drums; Josh Chassner, guitar, percussion; and Matt Pike, bass)
The Loft Cafe & Pub
111 Joel Wright Dr., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m., Gin Mill Pickers, Randy Sarton and Eric Ellis, Asheville-based, eclectic blend of retro-fitted folk/rag Americana
The Poe House
105 1st Ave. W., Hendersonville
Saturday, Nov. 13, 7-10 p.m., Mary Kenyon, indie singer, songwriter, Asheville-based
Triskelion Brewing Company
340 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville
Friday, Nov. 12, 7-10 p.m., Mojomatic, “grooves so rocking your head may explode”
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: Live Music in Henderson County: Ken & Nicole, a couple of musicians who like being local
