ARTS + MUSIC

Allen Stone

Allen Stone Brings His Neo Soul to the Orange Peel
Spend your Friday night moving + grooving to Allen Stone at the Orange Peel.
Xero God photographed by Sarah Carballo

Album Review > Xero God Drops Their Latest

When these guys work together, there’s an automatic flow of creativity that results in invention and beauty.
Janeane Garofalo

Janeane Garofalo is Coming to Asheville
The iconic comedian and actor is performing at the Orange Peel in January and tickets go on sale November 6.
Maid of Mars Design Asheville

Art, Fashion + Fantasy Collide for Asheville’s Faerie Fashion Show
Get ready for a very Asheville fashion show of wearable art and intricate body paint.

Asheville Theater Isn't As Bourgeois As You Think. Really.
Why you should rethink Asheville's performing arts scene, especially if you're a student.

Asheville Ink > Inside Downtown Asheville's New Red Rabbit Tattoo

Red Rabbit Tattoo owner Chris Chavers talks shop about his new downtown Asheville tattoo studio.
"Lord of Darkness" by Gus Cutty / Photo by Steve Mann

Asheville Muralist Gus Cutty Brings "Satanic Panic" to Push Gallery

Asheville aerosol artist Gus Cutty is celebrating Halloween, and 80's heavy metal and horror movies in his latest show.

Chilean Activist + Folk Virtuoso Nano Stern Comes to Asheville
Sunday, November 1st, Asheville will be visited by award-winning Chilean singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Nano Stern.

Lady Lamb Jams @ The Mothlight

To many, Lady Lamb (aka Aly Spaltro) is an enigma. We were able to catch up with her in anticipation of her show at The Mothlight on October 28th.

Steve Martin to Join Steep Canyon Rangers @ The Orange Peel
The band that encapsulates what North Carolina sounds like will play Asheville in January with a very special guest.

BEAT LIFE Presents Xero God @ The One Stop > 9/23
Xero God is the ultimate dream team—a jazz-infused, electronic hip-hop duo who have, amazingly, created a truly new sound.

Rising Appalachia Recounts New Orleans @ LEAF
We had an opportunity to to sit down with Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia at LEAF and ask a few more questions regarding their experience in NOLA.

Michal Menert + The Pretty Fantastics @ New Mountain 10/15
Pretty Lights co-founder Michal Menert brings his brand of electro-soul back to Asheville with a new album and a new band, The Pretty Fantastics. And they are.

Watch LEAF Live @ iamavl.com for FREE This Weekend!
For the first time ever, we will be streaming the main stage at the 41st LEAF all weekend for you for free at iamavl.com.

Slack Rocker Mac DeMarco Doesn't Give a F*ck
Don't take yourself too seriously...Mac DeMarco doesn't. Mac has established himself as a down to earth, albeit goofball, slack rocker who draws a massive following.

A Path Untold Releases Secret Subtle Light on Aligning Minds Recordings
The latest solo project from Daniel Merril is a lush, expressive record that’s ethereal, psychedelic, and atmospheric in a way that the best dreams often are.

Dohl 'n’ Brass Punjabi Pioneers Red Baraat > @ Asheville Music Hall 10/10
Red Baraat, easily one of the most unique acts currently on the tour circuit, will play Asheville Music Hall tonight.

Why You Should Check Out Fiesta Latina Asheville on Saturday
Music. Food. Dancing and more. It's all happening Saturday, October 10th in Pack Park at Fiesta Latina Asheville.

Eliot Lipp w/ Flamingosis + BomBassic 10/8
Fans of Pretty Lights Music will find two of the label's featured artists in Asheville over the next week, beginning with everything-electro Eliot Lipp.

Heavy Dreaming: KYLESA Celebrates 'Exhausting Fire' @ New Mountain > 10/10
Savannah-based KYLESA just dropped a new album and are bringing their unique, dark, "dream rock" / metal to New Mountain.

Asheville > Meet New Zealand’s Salad Boys...
Live, The Salad Boys perform a wondrous assault: a charged up blitz of clanging guitars, intoxicating drones, head-down acid repetition and an abundance of dazzling pop hooks – and they play Tiger Mountain Tuesday, October 6.

Thinking Machines > Autechre at the Orange Peel 10/8
Massively influential electronic duo Autechre are gracing The Orange Peel with their conceptual, abstract, and always enthralling sounds Thursday, October 8. The duo shift the way we think about what music is, how it’s made, and where it’s headed.

The Polish Ambassador + The Human Experience 10/9
The Polish Ambassador and The Human Experience perform Friday, October 9 at the New Mountain Amphitheater. It's one of only 4 tour dates through 2015, so get on it.

This Month’s BEAT LIFE > Hosted by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective Sept 25
This month’s BEAT LIFE, hosted by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective at the Mothlight, brings an eclectic mix of performers to the stage on Friday, September 25. It’s going to be literally impossible not to dance your face off.

Fall Into Dance: Ballet Celebrates Local Artists, Autumn in Asheville
The Asheville Ballet's first Fall performance (which is free and looks freaking amazing) is this Friday and Saturday, September 25-26 at 7:30pm. They will take place at the Masonic Temple downtown, and did I mention are free?

5 Questions with Tropical Indie Rockers The Hip Abduction
The Florida-based, indie afro-pop band The Hip Abduction will be playing a free after-party this Saturday, August 19 at New Mountain Asheville. We were able to sit down with the guitarist and vocalist to learn more about the band and what to expect from the show.

The 2015 #MayorOfBrwegrass Has Been Chosen!
Many entered their photos, 5 were chosen as finalists, and the people got to vote and pick a winner. Congratulations to Emily Young Hopson for being 2015's Mayor Of Brewgrass! Brewgrass goes down this Saturday, September 19th.

Franny + Her Farm > An Asheville Dream
Read about how a woman turned her dream into her reality, establishing Franny's Farm – one of the amazing organic farms in our area and home to the ever-expanding Asheville Barnaroo music festival taking place September 26-27.

Homeboy Sandman with Xero God @ New Mountain SOL Bar > 9/8
New Mountain’s SOL Bar hosts a night of hip hop, wordsmithing, and deep beats on Tuesday, September 8th. The intimate venue is ideal for an up close and personal night with some of the best emcees and DJs in Asheville and beyond.

Looks For Less Fashion Blogger Challenge: Some Romper Saved My Life Tonight
My mission was to create an outfit from any combination of stores at the Asheville Outlets for $100 or less and then shake my blog thing about it. This is how Backstage Sass rocks a fashion challenge.

Ne-Hi Brings Their Fresh Blend of Summer Rock to the Mothlight
Chicago four-piece Ne-Hi’s songs bubble with energy not unlike those of the Paisley Underground or R.E.M., but mixed with the jangle-punk of the early Flying Nun scene.

Psych Pop Band Ancient Warfare Play The Mothlight August 5
Kentucky bred band, Ancient Warefare, is making their Asheville debut this week, in promotion of their new LP. In anticipation of their show coming up on Wednesday, I was able to ask them a few questions to get to know them and their music a little better.

Aligning Minds Announces New Record Label
Regional favorites and visionary producers Aligning Minds (Mike Folk and Daniel Merrill) have been heavy hitters in the local scene for years now. Now, Aligning Minds is also turning their attention to production and artist representation with the founding of Aligning Minds Recordings.

Water Seed to Play Free Show @ One Stop
New Orleans born, neo-soul band Water Seed will be making an Asheville appearance at the One Stop for a free show this Thursday, July 30.

West Africans + Asheville Locals = Dance Party For All
Fiending for some cultural diversity this summer? Well, in the next few weeks there are some amazing African musicians from the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, and Burkina Faso performing with Asheville musicians from Toubab Krewe and Zansa.

Dear Moog...Love, Asheville
Thanks for the $14 mil­lion in eco­nomic activity. But, maybe Asheville would be even more thank­ful if Moog would have planned for the future and cre­ated an Asheville-appropriate event that could have been su­ccess­ful year after year.

Tanlines @ The Mothlight Wednesday July 22
Brooklyn-based duo Tanlines have a new record out that is heartfelt without ever being cynical, nostalgic without pretension, danceable without cliches. The excitement I feel for this album is only eclipsed by the thrill I get when I realize they're playing in Asheville at our very own Mothlight...

Futuristic Sexy Soul Sound: An Interview with BomBassic
Asheville's BomBassic is on the threshold of greatness as the word continues to spread about their performances. I sat down with the guys to talk about the trajectory of their relationship, the development of their sound, and all of the exciting things on the horizon for them.

LEAF's Funky Cocktail Crawl
From July 17-31, the LEAF Funky Cocktail Crawl is bringing the groove back to Asheville. Each participating restaurant or bar is competing to create the most far-out cocktail this side of funky town - and YOU get to determine who wins.

Vibe on Michael Rault > Sunday July 19 @ Tiger Mountain
Michael Raul is bringing his era-defying mischievousness of jukebox R'n'B and acid psych to Asheville at Tiger Mountain this weekend. We were lucky enough to catch this mellow out Canuck for a short call before hitting the road.

Holiday Liquor + Dance Party > Summer Luau Edition
What started as a bunch of college buddies getting together to throw a Holiday party in a garage has grown into what some have called "The Best Dance Party in Asheville," and it's having a Summer Luau Edition.

RBTS WIN Likely to Win My Heart @ Isis July 11
The sonic lovechild of Javier Bolea and Cliff B. Worsham, RBTS WIN, formed in 2008 and soon found a groove that reflected both their shared musical interests as well as their distinctive origins. They bring their electro-soul back home when they play Isis on July 11.

Michael Franti + Spearhead @ New Mountain Friday 6/26
Michael Franti and Spearhead's infectious sound, based in roots-rock rhythms and swelling, immersive chords, is an expression of the absolute joy of being alive – even when taking on darker subjects.

BomBassic Headlines BEAT LIFE @ the Mothlight June 27
BomBassic headlines this month’s BEAT LIFE show at The Mothlight, happening on June 27. The evening promises to be another experience to remember brought to you by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective, a group of artists and producers who are at the forefront of innovation in sound.

UPDATE > King Sunny Adé Show Cancelled
The King Sunny Adé​ show that was scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 at New Mountain has unfortunately been cancelled leaving lovers of African music heartbroken. Check out the original post about his music, legacy, and about the show that truly should have been.

Jaga Jazzist Plays New Mountain Tuesday June 23
Ultimately unclassifiable, Jaga Jazzist's music, which has been alternately regarded as nu jazz, acid jazz, electronica, and post-rock, is infectious. Characterized by the creative melding of sounds across genres, performances are energetic, virtuosic, and not to be missed.

Xavier Rudd at LEAF Spring 2015
We at IamAVL were out at LEAF this past spring, live streaming and archiving the main stage. In partnership with the festival and the bands that performed, we are beginning to release singles form those performances.

CUSSES to Rock The Odditorium June 14
CUSSES is a trio of musicians with one main goal; to play really loud music. This Georgia based band brings their bold mix of metal and grunge to The Odditorium on June 14. Get ready to rock your face off.

Psych-rockers Marion Walker Play Tiger Mountain June 6
Marion Walker is a trio of artists and musicians who come together to create a sound that is dreamy, fuzzy, a little dark and a little technicolor. They fell in love with Asheville awhile back, made friends, and return to play Tiger Mountain for June 6. And it's free.

Beach Goth @ New Mountain: An Evening with the Growlers June 10
The psychedelic sounds of the Growlers, purveyors of “Beach Goth,” are coming your way on June 10th to New Mountain AVL. The band’s music melds darkly poetic lyrics with the jangly guitar of surf-rock. It’s a midnight bonfire on a haunted beach, and you’re invited.