Invitation to Inspiration from Bardos & Live Music

I’ve heard there’s some good music over at Silver’s Edge, but haven’t gotten myself over there to hear it yet. I suppose I’m not unlike many people who need to be invited to a place before showing up there myself. Occasionally I’ll seek out something new and different, but it’s usually the pull of friends and acquaintances that gets me moving in a new direction. That’s why when I find an artist I enjoy I’ll spread the word to invite people to join me in visiting something inspiring and fun. However, there is always more going on in one weekend than I ever have time to see and hear and do, so it’s hard to say where my adventurous feet might take me.

This weekend, if you don’t blink, you might catch me poking my head into Gallery 1 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center on Friday evening. Tryon Painters and Sculptors will be hosting an opening reception from 5-7pm for the Bonnie Joy Bardos exhibit “Out of the Blue” which will be up through February 4th. I have seen a few of her paintings at places like Your Art’s Desire in Saluda and find myself drawn to their lush imagery and spiritual depth. My eyes can attest to the fact that, for this viewer, she reaches her aim of “creating a feeling of light and transcendence of spirit” in her work. I’m curious to see how she’s used Jungian symbols with acrylics and mixed media in some of her new work for this show. However, don’t be surprised if I fail to stick around and chat, but dash out again after letting my eyes take in the show.

There’s a good chance you’ll catch me running up to Jack of the Wood in Asheville on Friday evening. It’s a delicious familiar combination for me of the place my North Carolinian employers took me to eat when I first arrived here back in 1997 and my favorite home-town band. Chad is still tending the bar and remembers my name, and the food and drink are as good as ever. As for the music, well my toes can’t stop moving to the Firecracker Jazz Band once they crank it up at 9:30pm. Named top local jazz/blues band by the Mountain Xpress readers’ poll for the past three years in a row, this band knows how to get the crowd dancing. I was smitten with the sound the first time I heard their pianist tearing it up at the Gallery Coffeehouse in Tryon five years ago and have been a fan ever since.

If I wasn’t pulled by friends and familiar faces to that show, I might just take a tour of the local venues on Friday to finally hear Bruce over at Silver’s Edge in Tryon. I would even explore Shaeffer’s Restaurant in Saluda to hear the Green River Boys again. This fine gospel bluegrass band of fellows thoroughly entertained me at Coon Dog Day last year and will be serving up music starting at 6pm. Friday or Saturday my adventure might even include Elmo’s in Tryon, the live country music at the new Carolina Thunder in Campobello, or The Hare and the Hound in Landrum to see what kind of musical surprise may be in store. However, Saturday night I know that if I still need a dancing fix, I’m sure to give my legs a workout at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree from 8-11pm with shag-worthy tunes of Sound Factory. This band offers up a fun mix of rhythm & blues, Carolina Beach music, and other joyously danceable party favorites.