30 Days Out, October 2020 #1: Tom Paxton, Del McCoury Band, Papadosio, Frisson Ensemble
Since this pandemic seems to be hanging on (blame our inept current federal “leadership”), it’s up to performing artists, booking agents and music venues to find ways the at least approximate “normal.” They’re rising to that challenge in some positive ways. For this edition of 30 Days Out, I take a quick look at four upcoming live shows in and around the Asheville area. Two are live streamed shows, and two are drive-in performances.
Artist: Tom Paxton & the Don Juans
Venue: Crowdcast
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
Door: $15
This ticketed live stream event is presented by Isis Music Hall. Paxton is, of course, a Grammy-winning folk singer/songwriter, and for this virtual tour he’s teaming up with fellow Grammy winner The Don Juans (Don Henry and Jon Vezner).
Artist: Del McCoury Band
Venue: Maggie Valley Festival Grounds
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $100 per vehicle
A drive-in live performance presented by The Grey Eagle. Del McCoury is a bluegrass legend; it’s that simple. Hi current band is a red-hot aggregation of players who display a deep and thorough understanding of the style. I interviewed Del McCoury in 2017.
Artist: Papadosio
Venue: Smoky Mountain Event Center
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 6:45 p.m.
Door: $150 per vehicle
Another drive-in concert, this time presented by Asheville Music Hall. Papadosio plays a sort of jam/progressive space rock with a distinctly EDM sensibility. The Asheville-based group often features three keyboardists at once onstage. I will tell you that when I saw them live a few years back, they were just about the loudest band I had ever experienced. And I saw the Who in ‘80!
Artist: Frisson Ensemble
Venue: YouTube
Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Door: donation
This is a live streamed performance sponsored and presented as part of the Asheville Chamber Music Series. This nine-piece chamber ensemble will perform works from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Gershwin and Antonín Dvořák.
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 since 2018). The 4500-plus 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 -- more than 30 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: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.