Hendersonville – The free summer series of established and rising area artists is on third Thursdays, through October, near the south end of Main Street.
The Fritz plays funky, psychedelic soul rock from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on July 18. The opening act, starting at 5:30 p.m., is funky Hendersonville-based rockers The Big Hungry.
The Fritz out of Asheville is an energetic “soul-driven psychedelic funk band,” with a self-described unique danceable sound from an “aggressive approach to funk, soul, and rock” marked by “powerful vocals, climactic solos, and tight grooves.”
The lead singer is Datrian Johnson, from legendary organist John Medeski’s Saint Disruption band. Guitarist Jamie Hendrickson is the main songwriter. Matt Schueler drums. The band describes its newest member, Thomas Knowles, as a rhythmic “funk machine.” The band’s third full album, Take Your Time, is on many streaming platforms.
Big Hungry blends such genres as classic rock, blues, folk, funk, and even reggae.
Vehicular traffic is closed off from the Main Street concert area, which opens to pedestrians 15 minutes ahead of the first act at 5:15 p.m. Patrons can put chairs on the west side of the site, on the lawn between Wells Fargo’s Hendersonville branch and Main Street. Pets and coolers are not allowed.
There are food trucks and several beverage vendors on two blocks along Main Street. The series “Brews” is reflected in the “wine garden” of wine, craft beer, and hard cider. Drink vendors include Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, Flat Rock Cider Co., Bold Rock Hard Cider, Oklawaha Brewing Co., Dry Falls Brewery, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Kid Zone
To expand the experience for families, there are also activities for children. They are in the Hendersonville Kid Zone, and in a cage set up by the Hendersonville Honeycrisps baseball all-star team of local collegians. The Honeycrisps are two-time defending divisional champions.
Horizon Heating & Air Conditioning, based in Henderson County, is the series sponsor. City Downtown Event Coordinator Terrye Jacobs oversees the concert series. The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority helps fund it.
Rhythm & Brews was launched nearly a decade ago, in 2013, by Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, Inc. The non-profit gets all net proceeds from adult beverage sales. It has directly provided downtown businesses with more than $35,000, such as through grants. The group’s mission is to “identify, preserve and enhance the key factors that contribute to the authentic small town urban character of historic Downtown Hendersonville.”
Brassy in August
Popular Empire Strikes Brass unleashes its horns on Aug. 15, for funky rock blends. The opener is Zydeco Ya Ya.
The series shifts to country blues with Vaden Landers on Sept. 19. Blues-rock The Mattocks-Johnson Band opens. The series finale, on Oct. 17, features Darren Nicholson performing bluegrass. His opener, The Wilder Flower, plays Americana and bluegrass.
The series opener, on June 20, had Queen Bee and the Honeylovers playing swing music, with bluesy Peggy Ratusz and Daddy LongLegs opening.
The closest paid parking lot to the concert venue is at Barnwell and Main. It is accessible only from King Street. There is limited free on-street parking outside of Church and King streets that flank Main Street.
Sponsors for the various concerts include Norm’s Minit Mart, We Sell WNC, Parks Ford, Van Winkle Law Firm, BGW CPA, Rock Creek Containers, Yoga and Massage, and also Joyce Windows, Sunrooms & Baths.
For more information about Rhythm & Brews, check downtownhendersonville.org.