Steve Miller Band comes to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Wednesday March 29, 2017 at 8pm. Tickets go on sale Friday November 11th at 10am and will be available through the USCC Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-745-3000.  Ticket price are $130.00, $85.50, $65.50.


Steve Miller was a mainstay of the San Francisco music scene that upended American culture in the late ’60s. With albums like Children of the Future, Sailor and Brave New World, Miller perfected a psychedelic blues sound that drew on the deepest sources of American roots music and simultaneously articulated a compelling vision of what music-and society-could be in the years to come.

Then, in the ’70s, Miller crafted a brand of rock ‘n’ roll music that was polished, exciting and irresistible, and that has dominated radio through today. Hit followed hit in an endless flow: “The Joker,” “Livin’ in the USA,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Rock’n Me,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Jet Airliner,” “Jungle Love,” and “Abracadabra” among them. To this day, these songs are instantly recognizable when they come on the radio-and impossible not to sing along with.

Running through Miller’s catalogue is a combination of virtuosity and songcraft along with melodic vocals and signature guitar riffs. His parents were jazz aficionados — Les Paul was his godfather — so as a budding guitarist and singer, Miller absorbed valuable lessons from their musical tradition. When the family moved to Texas, Miller deepened his education in the blues, meeting T-Bone Walker and learning to sing and play listening to him and Jimmy Reed. Miller then moved to Chicago where he played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Buddy Guy and Paul Butterfield.

Miller, who has just been voted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after being nominated for the first time this year, keeps himself immersed in listening and playing all genres of blues and jazz and rock ‘n’ roll music-American music. Miller is also contributing his time to serving on the welcoming committee of the Department of Musical Instruments of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and as a board member of Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he curates and hosts
shows at both institutions celebrating the bridge between blues and jazz music and early American music.

For additional news and information, and to learn about the history of The Steve Miller Band and all the musicians who have played and recorded with the band, please visit www.stevemillerband.com, www.facebook.com/stevemillerband, and twitter.com/smbofficial.

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS ANNOUNCE 2017 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

JUNE 7 AT THE THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM IN ASHEVILLE, NC

TICKETS ON-SALE 10am, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

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‘Skeleton Tree’ Out Now On Bad Seed Ltd. via KLS

‘One More Time With Feeling’ Returning to Cinemas December 1

 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ newly announced North American tour will kick off at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on May 26, 2017. The 19-date tour will make its way across the continent and will conclude June 29 at Los Angeles’ historic Greek Theatre.

The band were last in North America in 2014 with critical response being best described as ‘blown away en masse’:

“Visions of murder, catastrophe, transfiguration and desperate love issued from the stage, set to dirges, stomps and inexorable crescendos.” NEW YORK TIMES

“Right up there amongst the best frontmen of this or any generation. No one on the circuit can both command and terrify a crowd quite like Nick Cave.” DALLAS OBSERVER

“Thanks, Nick Cave, for ruining pretty much every other show we’re going to see for the rest of the month. Or year. Or ever. There’s no way anybody is going to top what we saw on Saturday night… it was a mind-blowing evening of rock ‘n’ roll.” NASHVILLE SCENE

“Towering over everyone else, however, were… the Bad Seeds, whose merciless performance, delivered with the fury of hellhounds unleashed, easily stole Sunday from any up-and-comers…” OC REGISTER

September saw the release of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ 16th studio album ‘Skeleton Tree’ and the companion film ‘One More Time With Feeling’ directed by Andrew Dominik. The theatrical success of the film was such that a second run is now confirmed nationwide starting December 1 (Tickets available for purchase at www.nickcave.com). ‘Skeleton Tree’ topped the chart across the globe and achieved the bands highest US chart position to date. Songs from the album will be brought to life for live audiences alongside other Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds classics and deep cuts.

The touring lineup is as follows:

Nick Cave
Warren Ellis
Martyn Casey
Thomas Wydler
Jim Sclavunos
Conway Savage
George Vjestica
Larry Mullins

 

Tickets will be on sale at 10am on Friday, October 28th through the USCC Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

More info on all tour dates can be found on www.nickcave.com

 

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS 2017 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Wednesday, June 7 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Southern Conference announces that it will return to Asheville, NC and the U.S. Cellular Center Arena in March 2017 for the Men’s and Women’s Southern Conference Basketball Championships. View the full article HERE.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:  August 16, 2016
City of Asheville | Civic Center and Economic Development
Contact: Chris Corl, General Manager | 828-259-5452 | CCorl@ashevillenc.gov

 

PRESS RELEASE: Hiring Fair at the U.S. Cellular Center

The U.S. Cellular Center (USCC) is hiring part-time, temporary/seasonal staff in multiple positions. The USCC is owned and operated by the City of Asheville, and provides a fast-paced, engaging environment perfect for experienced workers, as well as those just beginning in the field. Flexible hours, several entry level positions available. Wages for all vacancies begin at $12.50. The USCC hopes to hire up to 50 new staff members with starting dates as early as September 8, 2016. All USCC employees must be 18 or older.

The U.S. Cellular Center is the largest event venue in downtown Asheville, and contains the biggest arena in western North Carolina. The USCC has hosted thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, trade shows, and corporate meetings and conventions. Reflecting the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry for which Asheville is known, the USCC is currently home to the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament. Family-friendly, community-driven, and with an emphasis on entertainment excellence, the U.S. Cellular Center is constantly adding exciting events to the calendar, annually boasting more than 200 days of events a year and drawing 200,000-plus people annually.

Open positions:

A/V Technician
Banquet Server
Concessionaire
Concession Stand Manager
EMT
Event Coordinator
Event Staff
Labor Crew Leader

Fair details:

2 – 7 p.m. August 30
U.S. Cellular Center
87 Haywood Street | Asheville, NC 28801

 

For more information, contact the U.S. Cellular Center General Manager Chris Corl at ccorl@ashevillenc.gov or 828-259-5452. Or visit www.USCellularCenterAsheville.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  August 3, 2016

City of Asheville | Communication & Public Engagement Division

Contact: Joey Robison, Communication Specialist | 828-232-4517 | JRobison@ashevillenc.gov

 

PRESS RELEASE: City of Asheville to hold workshop on potential for downtown shuttle

The City of Asheville is working with Nelson Nygaard Consulting Associates on a study to examine downtown parking conditions and identify strategies for improvement. One strategy to consider as part of this effort is the introduction of a circulator or shuttle system. A circulator or shuttle system is a short and frequent transit route that provides access to destinations that are just a bit too far to walk to. Circulator and shuttle routes have carefully chosen stops at centers of activity, memorable, frequent schedules, and a brand identity consistent with the areas they serve.

The City of Asheville’s 2009 Downtown Master Plan and 2016 Asheville in Motion Plan also recommend consideration of a downtown shuttle or circulator service.

This type of service could provide convenient and reliable connections to key destinations, including centers of employment and cultural activity, as well as connections to transit and parking. In addition to supporting a more walkable and accessible environment, the service could improve the proximity of downtown’s extremities and connect downtown to nearby neighborhoods. A circulator/shuttle could be an alternative to driving and parking in the downtown and other key commercial centers through direct connections to park-and-ride locations.

Representatives from Nelson Nygaard will facilitate an Aug. 17 public workshop to get feedback on interest and priorities to consider for this type of service. Possible routes, frequencies and vehicle types will be discussed.

 

Meeting details:

5:30 – 7 p.m. August 17 (doors open at 5 p.m.)

U.S. Cellular Center (87 Haywood Street)

[RSVP HERE]

 

For more information, contact City of Asheville Downtown Coordinator Dana Frankel at dfrankel@ashevillenc.gov or 828-251-4051.

A copy of this press release is available on Asheville City Source, http://bit.ly/2aTwhos.

For Immediate Release – June 10, 2016
Contact: Stefan Magura, Board Chair / smagura@brbj.com

ImageHandler

Demp Bradford Named Sports Commission Executive Director

Asheville, NC: The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission Board of Directors is proud to announce Demp Bradford will join the Commission as Executive Director, effective July 1, 2016. Bradford is a sports management industry veteran bringing over 15 years of experience to the organization. Bradford is relocating to the Asheville area from Greensboro, NC where he served in a variety of roles at the Greensboro Sports Commission and Greensboro Coliseum in which he most recently served as the Director of Events for the Greensboro Tournament Host Committee.

Bradford has a Bachelor’s Degree from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in Education from East Carolina University. In addition, Bradford is a Certified Sport Event Executive, a multi-year training program, from the National Association of Sports Commission offered for industry professionals. “My experiences in Greensboro have been incredible but Asheville is such an amazing community, filled with such vibrancy. I am very excited to take part and contribute to its increased success,” said Bradford.

The Board of Directors led a three-month process to find an Executive Director that will continue the growth of the Sports Commission’s impact on the community. Stefan Magura, Chair of the Board of Directors shared that, “The board is thrilled to welcome Demp to the community. His knowledge and experience is exactly what we were looking for in our new leader.”

Bradford will replace Ben VanCamp who served as the organization’s first Executive Director. VanCamp announced his resignation earlier this spring along with the decision to move closer to family in New England.

Demp can be reached at demp@ashevillesports.org.

 

About the Sports Commission:

The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission was formed in 2010 by UNC Asheville, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA), City of Asheville, The Buncombe County Commission and a group of civic-minded leaders, who had a vision to impact the local economy by bringing more sporting events to the region. The Sports Commission is a community driven organization led by a diverse board of directors representing varied community interests. These leaders share a common goal of improving the health and quality of life of Asheville and Buncombe County residents while enhancing our community’s economic vitality with a thriving sports tourism market.

For Immediate Release – June 2, 2016

We, Death Cab for Cutie and Chvrches, are deeply saddened by the recent passage of North Carolina’s hateful and backwards House Bill 2 (aka, HB2 or the “bathroom law.”). We are appalled by how Governor Pat McCrory and his conservative cronies have stoked the flames of fear around an undocumented, non-issue (i.e., sexual predators posing as transgender for the purpose of molesting children) as a way to not only discriminate against transgender persons but also to undermine the constitutional rights of North Carolina’s entire LGBT community.  This nefarious brand of bigotry is embarrassing for the state of North Carolina and has no place in this great nation.

Since the passage of this horrific legislation, we have been deliberating as to what to do about our show together in Charlotte on June 16th as well as Death Cab for Cutie’s show in Asheville on June 11th. While we whole-heartedly support the decisions of our contemporaries to cancel their upcoming appearances in political protest, we have decided to honor our commitments and play.  These shows will now be staged as benefits for two terrific North Carolina based organizations, Freedom Center for Social Justice and Southerners On New Ground (SONG), whom we admire for their tireless defense of LGBT rights in the state of North Carolina.  We will not be taking a single dime from these shows. All profits will be donated to these important organizations.

“We have absolutely loved playing in North Carolina over the past 17 years,” says Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, “Not only have the crowds always been amazing but we have met so many wonderful people who remain friends to this day.  Not to mention that the music of Chapel Hill’s Superchunk, Archers of Loaf and countless others have been integral to the ethos and sound of our band.  And so it is with a heavy heart that we announce these shows in Asheville and Charlotte will be our last in North Carolina as long as HB2 stands.  We sincerely hope we won’t have to wait long to come back”.

“We are incredibly distressed by HB2 and all that has been happening in North Carolina, but are also heartened to hear about so many people fighting to create positive change,” stated Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry. “I know that our fans will join us and Death Cab in promoting equality, empathy and understanding between people, and we are proud to be supporting Freedom Center for Social Justice and Southerners On New Ground at this show.

“We know that all of us have a role to play in creating a world free from fear where attacks like HB2 are no longer feasible,” says Elias Lyles of Southerners On New Ground. “Death Cab for Cutie and Chvrches are acting in solidarity by using their concerts in North Carolina to lift up the voices and work of southern LGBTQ people of color, immigrants, and working class folks.”

If you are not able to attend the shows but are interested in donating to these organizations, you can do so here:

Southerners On New Ground – https://song.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2

Freedom Center for Social Justice – http://fcsj.org/product/donations/

About The Organizations:

Freedom Center for Social Justice: Through established programs and initiatives that counter the effects of poverty and all forms of oppression, the Freedom Center for Social Justice addresses social, economic and other justice needs within the LGBTQ community, helping to create true culture change within communities, businesses, organizations and institutions that serve and connect to some of the most marginalized.

Southerners On New Ground: Southerners On New Ground (SONG) is a regional Queer Liberation organization made up of people of color, immigrants, undocumented people, people with disabilities, working class and rural and small town, LGBTQ people in the South. We believe that we are bound together by a shared desire for ourselves, each other, and our communities to survive and thrive. We believe that Community Organizing is the best way for us to build collective power and transform the South. Out of this belief we are committed to building freedom movements rooted in southern traditions like community organizing, political education, storytelling, music, breaking bread, resistance, humor, performance, critical thinking, and celebration.

Date:  May 10, 2016
City of Asheville | Communication & Public Engagement Division
Contact: Todd Okolichany, Director of Planning and Urban Design | 828-259-5840 | TOkolichany@ashevillenc.gov

The community is invited to a public presentation on the theories, tools and techniques successful cities use when studying opportunities for vibrant and inviting public spaces. The presentation is the first component in the visioning process set for the City-owned property at 68-76 Haywood Street and 33-37 Page Avenue. Opportunities for community participation over the course of the process will also be presented.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 19, and will take place in the US Cellular Center Banquet Room. Placemaking experts Ethan Kent and Philip Winn from Project for Public Spaces will share key components of great public spaces. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with the community. This event is free and open to the public.

In March 2016, Asheville City Council approved a public visioning process for City-owned property located on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. The process is being facilitated by Asheville Design Center in collaboration with City staff and a City Council-appointed advisory team. Community engagement efforts will inform a long-term vision for the properties while also serving to identify opportunities for temporary installations to enliven the space in the short-term.

Asheville Design Center

The Asheville Design Center is a local nonprofit focused on creating livable communities and is led by staff and a group of volunteers who have expertise in design, architecture and landscape architecture. This meeting is free to attend and the public is welcome.

Project for Public Spaces

The Project for Public Spaces is a nationally recognized organization based on New York City whose goal is to encourage great public spaces and placemaking in order to strengthen community connections, create local destinations and enhance quality of life and urban vibrancy.

Find a copy of this press release on Asheville City Source: http://bit.ly/1UQxw9t

ASHEVILLE, NC  –  Widespread Panic announces their 2016 Fall Tour. Set to play on Saturday September 17th at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena. Show will be general admission with tickets priced at $45.00. On-sale date will be determined soon. Stay tuned!

ASHEVILLE, NC – KANSAS comes to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium this May 27th at 8pm! Tickets on sale this Friday 4/8 at 10am. Presented by 105.9 The Mountain and ABC News 13 WLOS, KANSAS will play a night of their most time-honored and beloved tracks that helped make rock classic. KANSAS has spent more than four decades as a part of the soundtrack of the lives of multiple generations of music lovers. The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums, one platinum live album, and two one million-selling gold singles, ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ and ‘Dust in the Wind.’ ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995 and went to #1 in 1997. The band, which is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, keyboardist David Manion, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, and original guitarist Richard Williams, continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences around the world. KANSAS signed a new recording contract with InsideOut Music in late-2015. The band’s 15th studio album is scheduled to be released Fall 2016.

See here for more information.


ASHEVILLE, NC – SIGUR RÓS comes to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium October 10th at 8:30pm! Tickets on sale this Friday 4/8 at noon. Icelandic experimental rock band Sigur Rós have announced an upcoming North American tour this Fall.  For the first time in their career the band will be touring without a support act, instead offering the audience two sets (+ intermission) starting from 8:30pm sharp at each show. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 8th at 12pm EST, with a limited number of exclusive packages available that include the best seats in the house, autographed memorabilia and more. For further information and to participate in an exclusive presale go to sigur-ros.co.uk.

The month long run is comprised primarily of theater shows, marking the band’s most intimate tour in a decade. In keeping with the scale of the venues, the group will be performing without the string and brass sections that have been characteristic of recent performances, opting instead to focus on the core unit of the band itself.  The shows will give the group a chance to road test new music, the first time since the tour leading up to the acclaimed ( ) album in 2002 that the band has performed new material ahead of album recording sessions. Alongside this experimentation played out in public, the band is also planning on attempting new interpretations of old songs that haven’t been played in a very long time.

Though the scale of the venues and band will be reduced, the live production will be characteristically stunning, designed again by the team behind their previous Knights of Illumination award-winning tour.

See here for more information.