30 Days Out, March 2026 #2: Michael Rabinowitz Quartet, Somewhat Petty, Lee Fields, Della Mae
A world-class jazz musician, a pair of celebrated Asheville-based acts and a top-flight bluegrass group: those are among the highlights of the coming 30 days in live music here in Asheville.
Artist: Michael Rabinowitz Quartet
Venue: White Horse*
Date: Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $20 suggested
Bassoon isn’t among the most well-known instruments. And when one odes bring the slightly odd-looking woodwind to mind, jazz isn’t first idiom that’s discussed. But jazz bassoon is what Michael Rabinowitz is all about; a veteran of myriad sessions with some of jazz’s biggest names – Wynton Marsalis and Joe Lovano among them – Rabinowitz is also a founding member of the Charles Mingus Orchestra. He’ll appear for this White Horse performance with his Quartet, accompanied by piano, drums and bass.
Artist: Somewhat Petty
Venue: Third Room
Date: Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m.
Door: $19.73
For concertgoers who didn’t get to experience the real thing – or for those wh did but wish to experience the thrill yet again – tribute bands are a popular draw. And the work of tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is widely beloved, critically lauded and just plain durable, so the existence of this fine, Asheville-based tribute band is a fine ting indeed. When I hosted my Music to Your Ears series, band leader Damon Goldman was my special guest/co-host for an evening in celebration of that music. This is an opportunity to experience Somewhat Petty on a big stage with a top-notch sound system.
Artist: Lee Fields
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Thursday, April 2, 8 p.m.
Door: $40.42
Lee Fields is a superb soul singer with a long pedigree. And while his early material is primarily known within the circles of especially-hip soul aficionados, his more recent output on Daptone has brought him the wider exposure he so richly deserves. I interviewed him nearly a decade ago for a story, and just spoke to him again for a feature that will run soon (ahead of this show) in Mountain Xpress. Monophonics open.
Artist: Della Mae
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Friday, April 10, 8 p.m.
Door: $24.10
Della Mae are notable as one of the best all-female bluegrass bands out there. But that description sells them short: they’re superb at what they do in a way that renders mention of gender wholly superfluous. I interviewed band leader and fiddler Kimber Luidker in 2023.
See you at the show!
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.