With the first three RiverMUSIC series of concerts by the French Broad River drawing hundreds of music-lovers, RiverLink is excited to announce that the fourth event — an evening of gypsy music featuring Sirius B. with The Blood Gypsies — will take place on Friday, August 24 at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza (144 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District). Parking lots will open at 4:30 p.m. and the venue opens at 5:00. The Blood Gypsies start the music at 6:00, followed by headliner Sirius B. at 8:00.
According to their Wikipedia page, “Sirius.B is an eight-piece musical group from Asheville, NC. It was formed in late 2006 by Xavier Ferdón, Pancho Romero Bond, and Imhotep and takes its name from the white dwarf star, Sirius B. The band describes itself as ‘Absurdist Gypsy Folk Funk Punk.’ Sirius.B combines accordion, volin, cello, acoustic guitar, flamenco guitar, charango, banjo, African drums, marching band percussion, snare drum, fretless bass, melodica, clarinet, and multi-lingual vocals to create a sound that has a gypsy feel, but with elements from other modern genres.”
Another local favorite, The Blood Gypsies, consisting of Ram Mandelkorn, Jacob Bauman, Tim Philpott and Ben Reva, will open the evening’s music at 6 p.m. In addition to the great lineup of music, New Belgium Brewing and Skyland Distributing will bring beer, and there will be foodtrucks to feed the crowd. Power for the stage will be provided by Sundance Power Systems, Inc., and Asheville on Bikes will provide a bike corral.
The concert is the fourth of five shows RiverLink is hosting beside the river this summer. Inspired by a grant from the Chaddick Foundation, RiverMUSIC is also sponsored by Pisgah Investments, Sundance Power Systems, Asheville on Bikes, Ed Holmes Survey, 98.1 The River, Blue Ridge Bio Fuels and Phil Mechanic Artist Studios.
The final RiverMUSIC event features Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band with special guests The Fritz on Friday, Sept. 14.
Attendees are encouraged to leave their cars at home and get to the concerts via alternative modes of transportation. Asheville on Bikes will provide a bike corral for stowing bicycles. There is also a paddle-up option. Paddlers can easily float to the concerts or to nearby Jean Webb Park, a takeout point beneath the RiverLink Bridge, where they can lock their boats and walk to the concerts.