The Songs Beckon us, as we Answer the Same Clarion Call

Local Music Makers

2025 feels like it’s been an extension of 2024. We spent a lot of it still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Helene. As this year comes to a close, all my senses are filled with the resilience we continue to find within ourselves and within the local music community.

All the creatives stepped up like champions, like guardians of the galaxy, like first responders tending to our wounds and broken spirits; healing us with potent concoctions, prescriptions and remedies of texture, color, rhythm, rhyme and harmony.

The tenacity, dedication, professionalism and passion radiating from the beautiful souls who make their living making music, are heroes as far as I’m concerned.

The fact that I know so many of them, that I shared stages with more than eighty of them just this past year, is an honor I don’t take for granted. Their names are listed below. But first I’d like to point out that….

It seems to me that the many spectacular festivals we count on each year, curated by organizations, departments and individuals, exist because the mission is the same for each: to unify us, to lift us up through music.

Of the amazing music events this year: the LEAF Global sponsored Boomtown Arts & Cultural Festival included an epic evening with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

The setting was under the late August stars at Pack Square. Over 10,000 people gathered to share a transcending and enthralling performance.

And speaking of LEAF Global, Lake Eden Arts Festival was celebrated for the 30th year in a row this past October. Always succeeding at offering the widest assortment of music, culture and education, the proficient organizers and their tireless tribe of loyal locals, worked tirelessly to bring this enormous three-day carnival to fruition in the months of May and October.

The 98th annual Mountain Dance & Folk Festival happened in late August too, and the 58th annual Shindig on the Green took place as it always does, in July and August.

Downtown After 5, presented by The Asheville Downtown Association and hosted by Fred Anderson Subaru switched locations for the first time in 36 of its 37 years.

Tryon’s Summer Tracks music series has been happening for the past 25 years; while Groovin’ on Grovemont in Swannanoa, commemorated 23 years in 2025.

Hendersonville’s Rhythm and Brews series celebrated its 12th year and the 7th annual Music on Main in Weaverville brought out the crowds again in June. We look forward to next year’s Black Mountain Blues Festival, because based on the first two years, this fledgling fest promises to become a prestigious and beloved tradition.

I’d like to take this space to shine the proverbial “Local Music Makers” spotlight on the numerous gifted, goofy, kind, spirited and committed 80 plus players I had the pleasure to work with this past year.

As I enter my 69th year on the planet and my 51st year as a professional singer, their support and contributions and especially their friendship, means more to me that words can possibly express.

Below is the magical roster of players I worked with in 2025. As I typed each of their names, the memories of the sounds we created together this year came flooding back to me.

Most of the stalwarts on the list I hired to fulfill my calendar of gigs and shows. A few of these musicians I was fortunate to make music with, were within productions curated by others.

The Guitarists/Vocalists:

Jeff Anders (songwriter, artist, producer, guitarist, vocalist)

Wyndam Baird (guitarist, vocalist)

Eddie Barber (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Laura Blackley (songwriter, band leader, guitarist, vocalist)

Josh Blake (sound engineer, leader, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Mare Carmody (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Anne Coombs (teacher, mentor, entrepreneur, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Josh Graham (live sound engineer, guitarist, vocalist)

Isaac Hadden (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Ashley Heath (teacher, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Ryan Holgerson (band leader, guitarist, vocalist)

David Irvine (band leader, guitarist, vocalist)

Howie Johnson (guitarist, vocalist)

Kelly Jones (teacher, arranger, guitarist, vocalist)

Melissa McKinney (teacher, curator, songwriter, band leader, guitarist, vocalist)

Mr. Jimmy (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Nicole Nicolopoulos (songwriter, band leader, guitarist, vocalist)

Rebecca O’Quinn (aka Fancy Marie: band leader, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Jonathan Pearlman (songwriter, arranger, producer, guitarist, vocalist)

Adam Rose (teacher, songwriter, arranger, guitarist, vocalist)

Lillie Syracuse (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Rebekah Todd (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist)

Ellen Trnka (guitarist, vocalist)

The Multi-instrumentalists:

Jeff Benedict (songwriter, guitarist, mandolin, banjo, vocalist)

Hank Bones (songwriter, producer, sound engineer, all of the instruments, vocalist)

Jenny Bradley (teacher, producer, songwriter, keyboard/piano player, guitarist, vocalist)

Jason DeCristofaro (professor, mentor, producer, vibes/drums/piano/keys)

Paula Hanke (vocalist, flute player, piano/keys, vocalist, songwriter)

Matt Williams (songwriter, band leader, producer, guitar/violin, mandolin, vocalist)

The Drummers:

Nancy Asch

Bill Berg

Robin Borthwick

David Cohen

Amanda Hollifield

Jay Hoots

Logan Jayne

James Kylen

Jeff Sipe

Vic Stafford

Micah Thomas

Justin Watt

Russ Wilson (music historian, conductor, vocalist)

The Bass Players:

Amy Benedict (string bass)

Ben Bjorlie (he also plays drums!)

Kim Butler

Janet Del-Real (string bass/percussionist)

Pete Falbo

Rob Geisler

Daniel Iannucci (he also plays drums)

Ryan Kijanka

Zack Page

Jon Price

Derek Sandlin

Bob Songster

The Keyboard/Piano Players:

Beth Heinberg (vocalist)

Mark McLaughlin (vocalist)

Carrie Morrison (teacher, mentor, songwriter, vocalist)

Taylor Pierson (composer, producer, leader)

Aaron Price (songwriter, producer, sound engineer, teacher, conductor, vocalist)

Kevin Sanders (vocalist, leader)

Marcus White (vocalist)

Horn Players/Harmonica Players/Violinists/Vocalists/Misc:

Kate Barber (flute, vocalist)

Marty Friedman (trumpet)

Mike Fore (harmonica)

Dylan Hannon (saxophone)

Reggie Headen (teacher, mentor, vocalist)

Mara Johnson (vocalist)

Jonathan Lloyd (trombone)

Bill Mattocks (harmonica/vocalist)

Paul McIntire (violin)

John Rijoff (harmonica/vocalist)

David Robbins (saxophone)

Frank Southecorvo (saxophone)

Linda Wolf (Sax/Electric Violin)

As I pause to think about each of these phonemes and friends as individual, sovereign beings, I can’t help but be proud of each of them and proud of myself.

We share a desire to connect through making music together. For it is one of the most worthy endeavors any of us could ever hope to do in our lives.

The songs beckon us, as we answer the same clarion call.