By Peggy Ratusz
There’s a lot not going on; but also, there’s more going on every week- concert, gig and show-wise in WNC. Ticketed virtual shows are on the rise. Drive-In style concerts are popping up! Breweries with outdoor spaces are booking small combos of musicians and a limited number of restaurant gigs are up for grabs again!
Artists are still releasing music. Musicians are still practicing; on their own and having social distant rehearsals to keep up their chops. I know it’s been a godsend for me, to meet up with my music pals to play an outdoor live stream or do an outdoor house concert. Venues hosting bands for recorded shows to stream at a later date are becoming more common as well. The creative juices are still flowing in the music industry and our scene at large is no exception.
The women, for sure, are still making music. Here’s a list of just a select few, out of literally hundreds of female, career musicians in our region, who haven’t allowed this Coronavirus to keep them down or out of the spotlight.
April Bennett struts across the hallowed ground of R&B, straddles and rides the rhythm and rhyme of Hip Hop and sails on the wings of Soul. Seamlessly blending her influences into a sound called April B. & the Cool, look for this trendsetting grove ingénue, this guitar slingin’ starlet, this elastic yet deliberate singer with a conscience, on the other side of the Cororna! aprilbmusic.com
Lo Wolf just came out with her debut full-length album she titled, Singe. Some tracks come with a suggested Parental Advisory for their disquieting use of the English language. She’s blunt, honest, unfiltered and extremely personal. This is a singer/songwriter who puts her money where her activism is. 90% of all the proceeds from the album will be endowed to Asheville Survival Program.
lowolfmusic.com
facebook.com/groups
AshevilleSurvivalProgram
Way back in April, local singer/songwriter, Kathryn O’Shea released a debut album too, that she calls January 9th, which is the date her father died in 2014. On her website she elaborates about the album and her father: “….on January 9th 2020, I recorded 10 of my songs in a vocal booth built out of the closet I shared with him in my childhood home. My brother, Michael recorded everything. That day, he sat right around where he used to sit to do homework when this now recording studio was his bedroom.” Follow this link to support this amazing young artist, and purchase her
incredibly raw collection of songs:
kathrynoshea.net
One of the most prolific and sensitive singers and songwriters in our town is one Ms. CaroMia Tiller. She’s a staple in this town for a reason. And the reason is her stunning soul saturated vocals and reflective original songs. Her latest release, Green, is a compendium of a larger collection of her most inspired writings. It’s a project that she recorded at home and produced almost entirely on her own. Before the epidemic, fans and tourists flocked to her solo and ensemble gigs at places like 5 Walnut Wine Bar. If you’re “jonesing” for contemplative lyrics riding on gossamer melodies, this new CD is one for your library. Here’s the link to stream/purchase this new record avl.mx/76s and to view a video of the title track, go here:
youtube.com/watch?v=RjkYrxCdaTc
Kimberly Cann, concert pianist and director of Piano Lab Studios, now called The Music Lab, is a former professor and currently a piano music instructor. Founded in 2010, Kimberly’s concept has thrived and now includes several locations in South Asheville, Hendersonville and Mills River. Cann and her staff have a simple and compelling mission statement: To provide the best quality education for pianists & musicians in the WNC region and beyond. To ensure that ALL students, regardless of age, background or economic status are afforded the opportunities & benefits that a well-rounded music education can bring. Though the crux of students is on hiatus due to Covid 19, the lab offers virtual lessons upon request. For more information, I urge you to visit her website here: pianolabasheville.com/about
Cynthia McDermott is a fabulously innovative and so too, nostalgia-infused creative. She brandishes her mandolin like it was her heart on her sleeve. Open, liberated, unscripted is how I’d describe her playing style! Her singing voice is solid, lilting, twangy, edgy and pitch perfect – whatever the piece she’s interpreting needs, she brings it. The Pimps of Pompe, Miss Cindy & the The Knockin’ Boots, or when she plays “solo Cindy”, she’ll be back on a regular basis after all “this” is said and done. You might catch her on a virtual live stream until then. Just visit her website to find out: mandocynmusic.com/#miss-cindy-section
Viola teacher Anastasia “An Ya” Yarbrough explains her approach: “I talk with the student to assess their interests and playing level. If they are beginners, we start with the feel of the instrument, with posture, and later with hearing the pitches and associating what they hear with the movement of their arms and fingers. Once the student is comfortable with all of this, we move into simple tunes – first by ear, then by notation.” Yarbrough knows what she’s talking about! A sessions, orchestral and ensemble violist and singer, An Ya’s repertoire of accomplishments and collaborations is full and impressive. Reach her through the Asheville Music School. Their live streaming music session’s page is up and running: ashevillemusicschool.org/teachers/anastasia-an-ya-yarbrough
Heidi Holton has made a name for herself in the international Blues community. So much so, that Rory Block produced her sophomore release in 2018 which critics called “a stunning step forward.” Well versed in slide and finger pickin’style guitar, this tom-boy beauty has been touched by the likes of Mississippi John Hurt and Memphis Minnie. Before the state’s stay-at-home mandate was enforced, Heidi was touring regularly. We’re lucky when she schedules a show more close to home. She’ll tour regularly again, I assure you. And when she does, you’ll know it by keeping her website on your rolodex: heidiholton.com/home
Carolina Music Planner was founded by premiere cellist, Megan Leigh Johnson. It’s a one-stop shop for all you grooms and brides, especially, to sample any number of and configuration of stellar string ensembles. Megan’s expertise and experience, booking and performing with her extremely accomplished roster of instrumentalists has elicited a plethora of accolades you can read on her beautiful website. carolinamusicplanner.com/media
Singer Songwriter and guitarist, Ellen Trnka along with her partner, guitarist and vocalist, Howie Johnson, venture out to mostly breweries in and around Hendersonville to play music where social distancing is enforced. Their simpatico is refreshing and familiar, what with a playlist that ranges from folk, to blues to jazz to country. There’s a sweet spattering of original material in there as well. A delightful respite from sitting at home in your pajamas, this duo will bring you out of the dull-drums. Ellen’s facebook page: facebook.com/ellen.trnka
So there are just a few of the fine feathered females who are doin’it to it; helping to keep live music alive in Western North Cacka-lackie. Next month, I’ll delve into a few more, including Rebecca O’Quinn, Jesse Barry, Debrissa McKinney, Kelli Redman, Karen Corn, Melissa and Kayla Mckinney, Dulci Ellenberger and more!
Until then, be safe and support live, local music online or at a safe distance in person!
Peggy Ratusz is a vocal coach, song interpreter, and songwriter.
For vocal coaching email her at [email protected]