30 years strong: Celebrate Record Store Day with In Your Ear Emporium
This summer will be 30 years since Lauren Calvert opened the doors to In Your Ear Emporium, downtown Sylva’s record…
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Record renaissance: Gar Ragland of Citizen Vinyl
Since its opening in October 2020, Citizen Vinyl has become a melodic hub for artists, music lovers and the curious…
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The books I didn’t read
As often as not, I check out books from the library I never read. They sit on my dining room…
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Carolina Heritage Weekend
A multi-day event celebrating Appalachian heritage, Carolina Heritage Weekend will take place April 18-20 around Haywood County.
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Greening Up the Mountains
Presented by the Town of Sylva, the 26th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival will be held from 10 a.m.…
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HART presents ‘I’ll Eat You Last’
A production of “I’ll Eat You Last” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. April 19-20, 26-27 and 2 p.m.…
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Americana, folk at Mountain Layers
Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Mountain Layers Brewing…
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Blue Ridge Books welcomes Hall
Author Tiffany Hall will present her new book, “Bigger,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Blue Ridge Books in…
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Gold light: Mallett Brothers Band rolls into WNC
It was about 15 years ago when Will Mallett cruised into Portland, Maine, and ended up crashing on the couch…
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Staring up at the branches on ‘Berry Lane’
A month ago, on a day that was officially in winter but which felt like spring, I was walking in the…
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‘Trailblazing Women of Country’
The production “Trailblazing Women of Country: A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,…
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Bluegrass, Americana at Folkmoot
In conjunction with Haywood County’s “Carolina Heritage Weekend,” Folkmoot USA will present The Well Drinkers at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18,…
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HART to present ‘Constellations’
A special stage production of “Constellations” will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 12-13 and 2 p.m. April 14 at…
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‘The Midnight Post and the Postbox Clock’
Author Sarah Dean will host a special reading and signing from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Blue Ridge Books…
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Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
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Cherokee welcomes NC Symphony
The North Carolina Symphony will host a special concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Chief Joyce Dugan…
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The art of the tale: Pigeon Center storyteller series focuses on conversations
Stories abound in these here mountains, almost as countless as the towering trees that cloak those familiar slopes. But beneath…
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An old-school mystery for leisurely reading
For me mystery novels are summer. They are captivating, enjoyable and the perfect thing to read on a vacation.
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Haywood Arts differently abled exhibition
In 2004, my life was completely changed when one of my twin boys was born with Down Syndrome. Initially, I…
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Abstract art, surrealism showcase
Artwork by Ralph Verano will be on display through the month of April at the Macon County Public Library in…
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Built to last: A conversation with Randall Bramblett
At 76, singer-songwriter/keyboardist Randall Bramblett has been a musical artist most of his life. In recent years, a new outlook…
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Helprin’s new novel shows off his skills
It was another ordinary day when I swung by the public library on my way to town. I picked out…
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Big heart: Following cancer battle, J Rex releases new album
For Jerad Davis, it all started with a dry, nagging cough in the summer of 2022. With shortness of breath,…
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‘Hologram’ is a warning about our age of deceit
“In the land of the blind,” goes the old saying, “the one-eyed man is king.” In Walker Larson’s dystopian fantasy,…
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Running wild again: Jesse Iaquinto of Fireside Collective
Celebrating a decade together with a special anniversary gig this week at the Salvage Station in Asheville, Fireside Collective has…
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Novel is a lyrical trip to the Scottish Highlands
“Caledonia” was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain that lies…
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Misfit Mountain hosts art fundraiser
In an effort to raise funds for Misfit Mountain, there will be a special art showcase and sale through March…
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Appalachian blues: A conversation with Scott Low
At 46, Scott Low has a lot to be thankful for. Beyond his enduring career as a beloved singer-songwriter in…
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A unique self-help guide: ‘The Artist’s Way’
It’s always beneficial to revisit a classic and Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” (J. P. Tarcher/Putnam, 1992, 272 pages) is…
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That mountain sound: 'An Appalachian Evening' celebrates 25 years
Celebrating a quarter-century this coming summer, the “An Appalachian Evening” live music series at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center…
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A history of U.S. wars is worth a read
“Stand your ground! Don’t fire unless fired upon! But if they want to have a war, let it begin here.” …
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‘Oscar Wilde and the Art of Lying’
Dan Desjardins’ presentation of his book “Oscar Wilde and the Art of Lying” will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday,…
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Taking it to the streets: Asheville mural artist Dustin Spagnola
“After pop art, graffiti is probably the biggest art movement in recent history to have such an impact on culture.”…
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Parallel lives of two men makes great history
That many Americans today suffer a disconnect from their past is beyond argument. Some of us have seen those man-in-the-street…
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WCU undergraduate exhibition, reception
The 56th annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition will run through March 22 at the Fine Art Museum in the Bardo Arts…
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Labor of lust: A talk with Grammy winner, banjo phenom Kyle Tuttle
When it comes to bluegrass banjo, you’d be hard-pressed to find as vivacious and voracious a picker-n-grinner than Kyle Tuttle.
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Creating health for the earth and humanity
Recently, I was told about a book titled “The Design Pathway For Regenerating Earth” (Earth Regenerators Press, Barachara, Columbia, 2021,…
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Letters From the Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park librarian/archivist Michael Aday will present his book, a collection of correspondences, “Letters From the Smokies”…
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Different ways to look at love
I had a book in mind to review for Valentine’s Day, but was hesitant to reveal the choice to my…
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Rash inducted into NC Literary Hall of Fame
With a list of novels, five books of poetry and seven collections of short stories, Ron Rash has garnered a…
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Casting into the future: A conversation with Woody Platt
On his latest single, “Broke Down Engine,” singer-songwriter Woody Platt teamed up with bluegrass icon Del McCoury.
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An encouraging book about democracy
In the year 2020, we lived with a pandemic and a hotly contested presidential race. Strong feelings made their appearance,…
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A Nordic escape for American snow days
With the winter season upon me, I couldn’t help but seek out a book to fit my longing for cold…
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I am one of you forever: Remembering WNC literary icon Fred Chappell
In a November 2022 interview with The Smoky Mountain News, storied writer Fred Chappell, a Haywood County native who was…
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A life immersed in the written word: Questions posed to the late Fred Chappell
Editor’s Note: Over his tenure here at The Smoky Mountain News, Arts & Entertainment Editor Garret K. Woodward has had…
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Remembering Fred: Frazier, Rash, Burnette
Editor’s Note: A renowned Western North Carolina writer, Charles Frazier burst onto the worldwide literary scene with his seminal 1997…
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War, persecution and manhood: three books
Cold weather means more time indoors, and more time indoors means more time for books. Here are three for the…
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Ready to try theater?
The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville is currently offering a wide variety of classes in the theater arts for…
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A portrait of an Appalachia upbringing
For those of you who don’t know her, Julia Nunnally Duncan is an award-winning freelance writer and author of 11…
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An artist's legacy: New database contributes to study of George Masa's photography
Angelyn Whitmeyer might be the last person you would expect to contribute to ongoing research surrounding a Japanese photographer who…
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