LOCAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 1 LEAF FESTIVAL e ax
377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain 828-686-8742 • theLEAF.org
2 ALL GO WEST FEST (NOT TAKING PLACE IN 2019) w Asheville
2 DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 d
North Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-251-9973 • ashevilledowntown.org
3 LEAF DOWNTOWN d Pack Square Park, Asheville 828-686-8742 • theleaf.org
PLACE TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC 1 THE ORANGE PEEL d x
101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-398-1837 • theorangepeel.net
2 THE GREY EAGLE r
185 Clingman Ave., Asheville 828-232-5800 • thegreyeagle.com
3 ISIS MUSIC HALL w
743 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-2737 • isisasheville.com
OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE 1 SALVAGE STATION n
466 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-407-0521 • salvagestation.com
PHOTO BY JOE PELLEGRINO
2 PISGAH BREWING CO. e a
AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS
150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain 828-669-0190 • pisgahbrewing.com
Best Americana/Country
2 THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING e
12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370 • highlandbrewing.com
3 AMPHITHEATER AT SIERRA NEVADA BREWERY s a 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River 828-708-6242 • sierranevada.com
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA
x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
6
BEST OF WNC - PART ONE
A
SHEVILLE is an arts des-
tination for many reasons, 60 or so of which received top votes in this year’s readers’ poll. But while beloved institutions such as LEAF (Local Music Festival), The Orange Peel (Place to Hear Live Music) and LaZoom Tours (Comedy Troupe or Series) deserve every accolade they rack up, there are plenty of perhaps lesser-known — but no less inspiring — creatives and businesses worth mentioning. For example, Stephen Pruitt (who captures the “pieces of life we always want to remember,” according to his Facebook page) was named best
AUG. 7 - 13, 2019
MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES
Photographer. Ginger Huebner, a collage artist and the founding director of Roots + Wings School of Art and Design, takes top mention in the Painter/Illustrator category. And Robert Beatty, who penned the New York Times bestselling Serafina series, elbowed out the likes of Ron Rash and Wiley Cash as best Local Author. Even if the Best of WNC reads like a who’s who on the local arts scene, it also offers readers’ tips into what’s worth checking out. Noble Kava garnered attention as the best Open-Mic Night Venue, Heather Neeld was named best Local Filmmaker and pianist Taylor Pierson, who often lends his talents to the projects of other local
musicians, received recognition in the Jazz category. This year also brings some big winners: Lyric continues to dominate in many areas of local music (Lyricist, Singer-Songwriter, Vocalist, R&B/ Soul, All-Round Favorite Band and a second place for Hip-Hop). Meanwhile, Abby the Spoon Lady managed to claim first, second and third places in the Busker/Street Group category, thanks to her various collaborations. We also welcome Peggy Ratusz (Blues) to this year’s Hall of Fame. — Alli Marshall X