This year’s festival line-up includes NYC-based drummer and composer Allison Miller, Ani DeFranco, Portuguese World Music Hand Pan artist Kabeção, Vicki Genfan, who has showcased as one of the world’s top percussive guitarists multi-percussionist extraordinaire David Kuckhermann, MO’RHYTHM, Monette Marino, dancer Barakissa Coulibaly and the founder of the festival, Asheville’s own rhythm ambassador River Guerguerian. Local songstress extraordinaire Kat Williams will be sharing her soulful talents as the Masters Concert vocalist. The festival will include a wide variety of hands-on workshops, such as Middle Eastern Drumming, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban Rhythms, The Art of Frame Drumming and Drumset and Rhythms ofIndian Dance to name a few. The festival will also feature a series of wellness workshops sponsored by Four Seasons Compassion for Life, Conscious Drumming, Introduction to the Role of a Music Therapist, and Music Therapy and Songs. Other events of interest include Friday night community drumming around the fire and a Sunday morning Sound Meditation. Workshops are for all levels, beginners through advanced and those who are just curious about percussion and want to learn while having fun.
The Masters Concert, featuring the musical collaborations of the visiting residency artists, will be held on Saturday June 18, 8pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre.
There will be vendorsthroughout the weekenddisplaying and selling aneclectic array of percussion instruments and delicious localfoods. This project is funded in part by the GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM of the NC Arts Council, A division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources through the Asheville Area Arts Council.
Fifth Annual Asheville Percussion Festival on June 17-19, 2016 at the Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St. among the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains in Asheville Tickets are available for day passes or weekend passes and range from $20-$120. For more information and to purchase tickets online please visit: