Women Making Music – July Music Venues

Women Making Music – July Music Venues

by | Jun 26, 2021 | Asheville, Music, Musician, Vocal Coach, Women

As the music venues in the city and surrounding communities open up a little more each week, so have the opportunities for our beloved female music artists.

Herein is a comprehensive list of gigs and shows from some of my past and future interviewees. I am thrilled to discover that more and more of the women who were regularly performing pre-pandemic, are filling in their once bare calendars with bookings.

Encouraging you to get out and support live local music, especially the individuals and groups who are fronted by and/or include female musicians, is part of my mission. While funding-organizations exist for performers and entertainers, these monies are shared. When a music fan attends a concert, gig or show, the tips and a chunk of ticket sales goes directly into the pockets of the performers.

So here you go, all you music-goers! There are so many options and I am stoked to list so many choices!

Thursday, July 1st: Love Bubble featuring Paula Hanke, Peggy Ratusz & Hank Bones – Debut record release “Love Revolution” The Grey Eagle Music Hall, 8pm. You’re in for a dreamy, nostalgic, heartwarming and whimsical time! reverbnation.com/lovebubblewnc

Friday, July 2nd: Pimps of Pompe featuring Cynthia Mc Dermot on mandolin and vocals One World Brewing West, 6pm. Specializing in jazzed-up renditions of 90s/2000s hip-hop and R&B, with vintage jazz to create a vibe that is equal parts swag and sophistication. mandocynmusic.com/pop

Saturday July 3rd: Alex Krug combo Patio Show at the Grey Eagle, 6pm

Singer and songwriter Alex Krug is a colossal force of power, strength and charm, and their voice emerges as a diamond in the rough. With a sense of discovery, the Asheville-based players strike a stunningly evocative chord about life, being an outsider and the kind of heartache that transforms your soul. alexkrugmusic.com

Saturday July 3rd: Linda Mitchell Ooh LaLa Curiosity Market Pritchard Park, 2:30pm. Smoky, rich Blues and Jazz from our quintessential Music Mauven! lindamitchellblues.com

Sunday July 4th:  The LadsAVL features female rhythm section Kim Butler on electric bass and Stephanie Irvine on drums, Maggie Valley Country Club, 11am

Playing songs we know by heart and compelling originals they hope you will come to know by heart! Rock, folk, roots & blues. TheLadsAVL.com

Wednesday July 7th: Jesse Barry & Friends Patio show the Grey Eagle, 6pm

Wielding a unique blues sound Jesse is often described as an “old soul” and audiences are stunned by the voice that comes out of her petite frame. This Blues, Funk, and Soul group has a huge following, so get your tickets now!
facebook.com/JesseBarryAndTheJam

Friday, July 9th: Kayla Lynn & The Change Grey Eagle debut Patio Show, 6pm A bass player, singer/songwriter, empowerment speaker, has immersed herself in the funk music community in and is a resident artist with LEAF Global Arts, an ambassador for Free2Luv and a founding member
of The One Voice Project. areyoureadyforthechange.com/

Friday, July 9th: Singer/songwriter Izzi Hughes plays The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine & Beer starting at 6pm in Hendersonville. Award winning wunderkind continues her trajectory into the world of music with catchy and thought provoking covers and originals. izzihughes.com

Saturday, July 10th: Lyric Band opening at Silverado’s, Black Mountain 5pm. A WNC favorite who holds Mountain Xpress “best of” awards: funk band, vocalist, lyricist, r&b/soul, and artist who gives back to the community. reverbnation.com/lyricfans

Saturday July 10th: Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs Band, Mills River Brewing, 7pm outdoor stage. “Everything” has been the answer to the question, “What kind of music do you play?” Asheville is giving the one they called the “ruby throated blues mama” a platform to dip into her many musical styles and influences. reverbnation.com/peggyratusz

Sunday, July 11th:  Alexa Rose Band Isis Music Hall Main Stage, 7pm. Virginia-born singer-songwriter creates her own style of modern folk with bits of Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, and Gilliam Welch. Well-crafted songs explore timeless topics. American roots with modern country and a little rock and roll. alexarosemusic.com

Sunday, July 11th:  Many A Ship featuring Vickie Burick vocals, Grey Eagle Patio Show, 6pm. An indie-folk-rock band deeply rooted in the mountains of Western North Carolina drenched in inspiration from nature, humanity, frailty and nostalgia. facebook.com/manyaship

Monday, July 12th: Aoife Clancy, White Horse Black Mountain, 7pm. The Ladies lead singer from Ireland’s legendary Clancy family. Whether the songs she sings originate in the United Kingdom, Australia or Appalachia, Aoife’s seemingly effortless blend of warm, natural vocals, genre-defying instrumentation, and repertoire of classic and modem material deserves to make this Clancy Daughter a worthy inheritor of an iconic family name and an even broader following.

Thursday, July 15th: Love is A Rose Isis Music Hall’s Patio concert, 7pm. An exciting and critically acclaimed tribute to Linda Ronstadt, Paula Hanke and Peggy Ratusz belt out her hits in perfect harmony, while adding personal stories to celebrate Linda’s 75th birthday! loveisaroselive.com

Sunday, July 18th: The Appalucians featuring Aditi Sethi on bass/vocals and Angie Heimann on guitar, banjo, vocals, Isis Music Hall Main Stage, 7pm. They play music from the mountains featuring spirited songwriting, sublime harmonies, and a layered interplay between dobro, guitars, harmonica and banjo. theappalucians.com

Thursday July 29th: Songwriters in the Round ft Hannah Kaminer, Kathryn O’Shea and Laura Boswell Patio Show at The Grey Eagle, 6pm

Hannah Kaminer is a folk/Americana artist based in Asheville, NC. Kathryn O’Shea  is widely recognized as that Asheville-dwelling vocalist chick with the banjo and all the feelings. Laura Boswell Described as “a vibrant, wholly original, deeply personal young artist” by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mike Reid.

Friday, July 30th: Ashley Heath and Her Heathens Grey Eagle Patio Show, 6pm

Winning the hearts of Americana lovers’ with a “velvet soul,” driving her career forward and playing music full-time since spring of 2015 facebook.com/ashleyheathandherheathens

Friday, July 30th: Blind Phoenix, White Horse Black Mountain, 8pm.

Indie Rock, American Roots band lead by Rebekkah Hilgraves & Chris Daniels.

blindphoenix.band

There is so much more going on with “Women Making Music” in WNC, so check local listings at Asheville Live Music!  facebook.com/AVLLiveMusic

Peggy Ratusz isa vocal coach, song interpreter, and songwriter.
For vocal coaching email her at [email protected]

Managing Our Emotions

Managing Our Emotions

by | Jun 26, 2021 | Acupuncture, Asheville, Depression, Health, yoga

Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems. – Epictetus

Consciousness is an unending tide of emotions. Every moment that we are awake (and often asleep) we are inundated with both remarkable and unremarkable emotions. All emotions are a natural part of our reaction to stimulus. Positive feelings such as joy and accomplishment can enhance and enrich our life experience, while emotions of fear and caution can help us navigate danger. The broad spectrum of emotions can be an intoxicating experience and allow us to fully engage and connect with the gift of life.

As emotions increase in intensity, we become more conscious of them and they can quickly become pathological. In Chinese Medicine, too many heightened emotions can become pathological and hurtful to the health of the body and mind in the same way a poor diet can make us sick. Too much joy can become manic and make us anxious. Too much bliss can make us gluttonous and greedy. Too much worry can become an obsession. Too much anger can turn into rage.

While it’s important to engage in each emotion so that we have a full life experience, it’s equally as important to learn to process and release them so that they don’t create illness. For example, in my acupuncture practice, I have found that people with chronic tension headaches or teeth grinding often have stored up anger and resentment. This is because energy flows throughout the body and negative emotions disrupt the smooth flow of our energy. Intense emotions act like a traffic jam in the body. Learning techniques to help us process our emotions is an important tool to avoid making ourselves sick.

One of the most important tools to help us move through our emotions is breathwork. There is nothing more powerful than this. Dr. Andrew Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing technique is very helpful for reducing anxiety and controlling or reducing anger responses.

To use the 4-7-8 technique, focus on the following breathing pattern:

empty the lungs of air

breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds

hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds

exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound, for 8 seconds

repeat the cycle up to 4 times

Movement is our best friend when it comes to getting our emotions “unstuck. If I find myself having trouble releasing nagging feelings, I will often do a quick cardio routine that allows me to move the energy through my body both fast and efficiently. The quick routine includes these exercises and can be done as often as needed:

30 seconds of jumping jacks

30 seconds of jogging in place

30 seconds of holding a plank

30 seconds bicycle crunches

Other important tactics to help us process our emotions include the following:

mental health counseling

journaling

yoga and Qi Gong

creative expression through things like art and dance

bodywork such as acupuncture and massage

Natasha Kubis is a licensed acupuncturist and certified yoga teacher. For more information, visit acuwellhealth.com

Edamame Hummus with Seasonal Veggies – Vegan

Edamame Hummus with Seasonal Veggies – Vegan

by | Jun 26, 2021 | Asheville, Food, Recipes

A delicious dish for a gathering, lunch or healthy snack. 

Makes 6 cups

2 (10-oz) packages frozen shelled edamame (soybeans)

2 cups fresh or organic frozen peas

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)

2 teaspoons minced garlic

Salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus more for garnish

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint plus more for garnish

Freshly ground black pepper

Endive spears

Rainbow carrots

English cucumbers, or whatever is on hand.

Blanch edamame in heavily salted boiling water, for about 5 minutes, firm but tender. Put in an ice bath, and drain. This step keeps the vibrant color, and stops them from cooking.

Repeat the process with peas for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.

Add edamame and peas to the food processor and pulse a few times. Add coriander, cumin, garlic, salt to taste, and pepper. Pulse again a few times. Drizzle olive oil into mixture, pulse again. Put mixture in a large bowl, add lemon juice and fresh herbs and stir in by hand. Add more olive oil and lemon juice if needed. Garnish with more fresh herbs. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cooks note:  You can blanch veggies a day in advance.

Take the time to toast coriander and cumin seeds in a dry pan for about 4-5 minutes.

The flavor is superior to ground from the jar.  Marinate rainbow carrots in 1 tsp ground cumin, salt, and lemon.

Not the cucumbers as it will make them soggy.

Buon Appetito

For scheduled Cooking Classes in Asheville, Visit:
LaurieRichardone.com

Summer Beauty Checklist

Summer Beauty Checklist

by | Jun 26, 2021 | Asheville, Beauty, Health

If you feel like you could use a bit of a glow up, this beauty checklist is for you. It’s time to get ready for summer, show some skin, and jump back into your social circle.

From head to toe, we’ll get you back into prime condition.

Hair  It’s time to freshen your locks with a maintenance trim and color. Don’t be afraid to DIY if your favorite salon is booked for the next few months. It’s especially important to trim if you have bangs, which can look unloved without frequent shortenings.

Add a weekly hair mask or hot oil treatment to boost the health and shine of your mane. Many kitchen ingredients, such as egg whites or olive oil, will get the job done.

Face  How old is your makeup? It’s likely time to purchase a new stock, and maybe experiment with different brands while you’re at it.

Washing your makeup brushes with soap and water is another important step to avoiding exposure to bacteria, which can cause skin breakouts. Replace any broken or missing beauty tools as well.

It’s also time for a facial. If your budget can handle a professional facial, try to book one that offers exfoliation, extractions, and a gentle peel. However, you can certainly freshen your skin at home with a DIY facial. The internet is full of facial recipes from common ingredients. Just focus on cleansing thoroughly and moisturizing deeply.

Skin  For the rest of your body, exfoliate from the neck down. Gritty scrubs, such as coffee grounds, will sluff off all your
dead skin to give you a new glow. Follow up with moisturizer and sunscreen, as this fresh layer will be more susceptible to damage from the elements.

Clothes  Peruse your favorite stores in person or online to refresh your closet. You need a couple of cute outfits that fit well and make you feel excited to get dressed.

Try a curated subscription box if you’d rather a professional weigh in on what would look best on your body type.

Nails  It’s a good idea to file or clip your nails, both on fingers and toes, and get a good polish. Don’t forget to trim the cuticles and scrub away the calluses. Summer is all about barefoot beaches and walks in sandals.

Body  It’s also time to hit the gym. Set a workout time daily and commit to at least 20 minutes. Your body will be stronger and leaner by the end of the summer.

Supplements  Ask your doctor what supplements you might need based on your diet. Most people lack omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. However, your doctor can tell you if you are low in any particular area.

Building up your body’s supply of vitamins and minerals, as well as good fats, will help your skin, hair, nails, and much more look beautiful.

Although this checklist is for summer, it’s actually great to run through at the beginning of each new season. It keeps you fresh and glowing all year long.

“Walk with me while I tell you a story”

“Walk with me while I tell you a story”

by | May 29, 2021 | Asheville, Healing, Horses

When he first came to the barn he had survived years of abuse. He had been kicked, hit, bruised, branded, and scarred. And after years the feelings of shame, fear, pain, and loneliness turned to anger, and eventually he grew tired of being hurt, so He pushed back. Then he was labeled. Aggressive. Violent. Unmanageable. And those who were supposed to have nurtured him finally abandoned him. But his story didn’t end there…      

Today he is safe. Happy. He has found compassion, acceptance, and purpose.

And now that you have heard a small piece of his story, can you tell me…is he a horse, or human?

Walk With Me is a non-profit organization in Conover, NC. Our Mission is to create a program that focuses on the healing steps for the ones that have been mistreated, abused, and forgotten. Our vision is to provide hope and healing for all those who need it and can not afford it.

At Walk With Me we provide our community the opportunity to heal with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/Learning/Life Coach. While at the barn, our clients will work in a variety of outdoor settings through their journey. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an experiential (hands-on) form of therapy which teams with the therapist, equine specialist, client, and the horse to strive for happiness in life. During sessions, our clients build a relationship with one of the many therapy horses at the barn. While building the relationship with the horse, the client is able to process the present emotions and obstacles in their lives. As the obstacles occur in sessions our Equine Specialist assists the client in understanding the communication between them and the horse. Horses are prey animals that react in the present moment. They communicate with body language. These interactions are beneficial for clients who have difficulty in communication, depression, anxiety, self esteem, healthy relationships, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Walk With Me offers our community, families, and individuals a few different programs to include individual sessions and/or ten week group sessions. Operation Battle Horse is a program geared for Veterans who feel like they have lost their identity and purpose after active duty. We understand how difficult the transition from military life to civilian life can be. By providing support and guidance we can help in that transition to make it as smooth as possible. Our Youth Program works with your youth and family to help improve communication within the family, build confidence, increase self-esteem, and find happiness in their lives. The Women’s Trauma Program guides women to find the strength that may have been lost. The goal is to support women in a safe place, with the focus on allowing the
safety for positive steps forward.

“I lost who I was, I was only the victim of a traumatic experience; the hardest part of the journey was to discover that it was safe to find me.”–Signed Unknown

Jennifer Bandy, ESMHL, NLC-EP, NC Certified Peer Support (Trauma Recovery), Life Coach

Website:
walkwithmehealingsteps.com

Email Us:
[email protected]

Our Location: 4170 LB Propst DR

Conover, NC, USA

Contact Us:

828-471-7969

828-838-0726

Spotlight on Caromia Humphrey and her beautiful and intimate EP releases: “Green” and “Sunday Land”

Spotlight on Caromia Humphrey and her beautiful and intimate EP releases: “Green” and “Sunday Land”

by | May 29, 2021 | Asheville, Music, Musician, Women

Nine years ago I was doing my usual surfing on YouTube for local female singers and stumbled upon a video that moved me to my core: Caromia’s rendition of Patsy Cline’s, ‘Crazy.’

At the time I was hosting a singer songwriter in the round, so I reached out to her and booked her within a month. Soon after, I asked her to play for the Female Artist Spotlight nights I was hosting twice per month. I was also fortunate to have shared the stage with her in 2016 for the Downtown After Five All-Star jam!

I’ve been in love with her all this time and it was my honor to speak with her about her two most recent EP releases, “Green” from 2019 and “Sunday Land” from 2020. Here are highlights from our exchange!

Peggy:
You said at the time you released the EP “Green” that it was anticlimactic. How has Green moved in the ethos since its release?

Caromia:
It was a combination of the lockdown, and what felt like a tectonic shift in the mainstream narrative of our country. It felt silly to try to call attention to myself, and ask people to listen to these intimate songs amidst a revolutionary moment. For both of the albums, the purpose and totality of my ambition was in the creative process of writing and recording them.

Peggy:
How are you doing now that both releases are out there?

Caromia:
I’m in a good place! It’s interesting to look back to where I was when I wrote them. I wrote and recorded Green fall/winter of 2019, Sunday Land in spring/summer of 2020.  I’m just realizing this now, but they absolutely reflect the physical seasons they came from. In Green, I was turned inward, navigating a dark time, processing grief, heartbreak, moving through pain, holding the weight, trying to accept I had to let go. When I started writing Sunday Land, I was ready to feel hopeful again…I was falling in love, I was feeling lighter again, reconnecting with joy. It was Spring after a long Winter.     

Peggy:
Musically speaking, what is your intention?

Caromia:
My intention is to create. I start writing, and the meaning comes after the song is written. I write and record in my bedroom “studio”, which is really just a microphone, Apollo Twin interface, some guitars, keyboards and a computer. I never write with the intention of releasing or even sharing the songs. Most of what I write and record never gets heard by anyone, which allows me to move more freely than if I was writing with the audience in mind?

Peggy:
This paradigm shift we’ve experienced is aptly reflected in your song from Sunday Land, “Shifting Shapes”. Was there a shift in your own thinking that prompted you to write it?

Caromia:
Yeah, there were some major shifts happening for me. The song is a meditation on the energetic reincarnation that happens in life; how we think we know what we want, how things “should” be, and get attached to the idea of certain fixed realities, “make believe that we see finish lines”… We often struggle with graceful acceptance of natural changes, and end up mourning them as a death of sorts, when it’s really just an energetic reincarnation.

Peggy:
On “Pedals,” I am thrilled to hear your voice take off, soar and land and play with the horns and vamps. How fun was that section of the song to experiment with?

Caromia:
That’s one of my favorite sections of the album!  It was just playful experimentation that I allowed to develop naturally. Adam Dotson wrote the horn arrangement around the vocals, and I had a huge smile on my face when I listened back to what he came up with.

Peggy:
On “I Was a Sailboat,” there’s a juxtaposition of it in relation to “Pedals.” “Pedals” is sparse lyrically and rich with meditative space with tickles and playful prods of horn riffs and vocalese. On ‘Sailboat,’ there’s a development of feelings and narrative.  I am drawn to the song for what I personally get from it.

Caromia:
I did write it about a specific storyline that was unfolding in my life, but I think it’s better to leave listeners relating it to their own stories. I love that you have your own story with it:)

Peggy:
I picture you in your studio producing the synths and sounds that meander in this one; I’m curious about the depth of exploration to produce it.

Caromia:
I probably spent the most time doing just that on this one. In general, I spend a lot of time experimenting with approaches, sounds, effects, exploring my instruments (vocals included) and softwares.

Peggy:
“To Do But Float” is the epitome of a letting-go song. I love it so much!

Caromia:
Thanks! Years ago, I was especially stressed out and needed an escape from where I was in that moment. I imagined diving into deep, cool, dark water floating weightlessly. The ‘weightless’ imagery has been sprinkled through my songs for years.

Peggy:
“Something Old Something New” reminds me of a 50’s tune brought into the now; which is cool, given the title.  What was going on when you wrote it?

Caromia:
I have no idea! Definitely one of those songs where I just write and eventually the meaning jumps out. It’s about the futility of trying to control everything, recognizing the parallel truths being simultaneously meaningful and inconsequential, of letting go, and allowing for joy.

Peggy:
I love the cover of Sunday Land. Did you design it?

Caromia:
My mom drew it! I think of it as a beachy dream wave, and she came up with this based on that concept. I love it too. 

Peggy:
What’s on your horizon musically and personally?

Caromia:
Lots of shifting shapes; literally and metaphorically. I’m growing a human for the first time, so my focus and energy is going into that right now. Who knows? Maybe my next album will be lullabies!

Whatever this magnificent artist decides to focus on musically, take it from me, it’s worth your investment.
Please visit her lovely website: caromiamusic.com to listen, purchase and attend an upcoming show.

Peggy Ratusz is a vocal coach, song interpreter, and songwriter.
For vocal coaching email her at [email protected]

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