Sometimes, you just have to go with something sight unseen, or in the case of the East Flat Rockers, sound unheard. I readily admit, I’ve never heard the first note from this local band, and oddly, I don’t recall seeing their name appear in this column before. But then, if it’s not on the computer screen in front of me, I don’t recall nothing no more.
When I typed in the name "East Flat Rockers" this week because they will be playing at The Brandy Bar Saturday night, I was intrigued. I loved the name, which certainly pegs them as being local to the Hendo community. Then I saw the band plays, among other things, “honky-tonk.” Now there’s a word and style of music you don't hear much anymore.
The East Flat Rockers are Allan Duncan (drums),Gene Robeson (lead guitar), Doug Kilgo (12-string rhythm guitar), David White (vocals, mandolin), Mark Price (bass), Mike Williams (fiddle, harmonica), Mark Flasch (piano), and Lorna Festa (vocals).
Words cannot do music justice, however. With any luck, I’ll be at the Friday night performance (sipping top-shelf brandy), waiting to hear their version of honky-tonk music.
“The East Flat Rockers are happy to be back at one of our favorite venus The Brandy Bar,” White said. “The 100-year-old wood and brick at The Brandy Bar gives our band that aged in oak smoothness of good cognac. We are playing a lot of songs from our upcoming album. We are definitlely an Americana band playing music ranging from blues to bluegrass.
"We are about as local as local gets. Two members graduated from East Henderson High School, one is an Asheville native, and the other has had a woodworking shop in downtown East Flat Rock.”
Cheers to youth lost in honky-tonks and aging to perfection in Hendersonville.
The Brandy Bar
504 Seventh Ave. E., Hendersonville
Saturday, 7 p.m., East Flat Rockers (8-piece band, honky-tonk, rock, country, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly)
305 Lounge & Eatery
305 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Friday, 7-9:30 p.m., Eric Congdon (acoustic, blue, Americana, world)
Black Bear Coffee Espresso Bar and Cafe
318 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Every Saturday, live music
Blue Ghost Brewing Co.
125 Underwood Road, Fletcher
Saturday, 7-9 p.m., Scott Bianchi (singer, songwriter, southern gothic folk, NC songsmiths)
Bold Rock Hard Cider
72 School House Road, Mills River
Friday, 6 p.m., Mojomatic (funk-a-fied rockin’ blues)
Saturday, 6 p.m., The Stardusters (jazz)
Sunday, noon-3 p.m., The Bull Moose Party (bluegrass
Burntshirt Vineyards
2695 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville
Saturday, 2-5 p.m., Hope Griffin
Sunday, 2-5 p.m,. Ben Phan
Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room & Bistro
438 Main St., Chimney Rock
Saturday, 2-5 p.m., Carrie Morrison
Sunday, 2-5 p.m., Jordan Okrend
Cask & Wine
536 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Friday, 6 p.m., Hester & Franklin (melodic jazz duo, classics, covers, originals)
Saturday, 6 p.m., Ellen Trnka (singer, songwriter, guitarist, folk, Americana)
Sunday, 11 a.m., Hester & Franklin (melodic jazz duo, classics, covers, originals)
Dry Falls Brewing
425 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville
Friday, 8 p.m., Citizen Mojo (4-piece band, funk, soul, blues, jazz)
Saturday, 8-10 p.m., 28 Pages (5-member rock band)
Feed and Seed
3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher
Friday, Skyward Blue (traditional bluegrass, gospel)
Saturday, Lynn Goldsmith & Jeter Mountain Band (bluegrass, blues, country, rock, gospel)
Flat Rock Playhouse (Mainstage, Musicals)
2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock
Wednesday through Sunday, various times, Country Royalty (music of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline)
Clarinet & Friends
Freeburg Pianos, 2314-D Asheville Highway, Hendersonville
Saturday, 2-3:30 p.m., Trios Three Ways (Aaron Lipsky (clarinet), Aaron Chen (cello) and Christopher Tavernier (piano) play classical works by Beethoven, Faure and Muczynski)
Green River Brew Pub
26 Church St., Saluda
Thursday, 7-10 p.m., Izzi Hughes (eclectic)
Friday, 7 p.m., Paul Edelman
Saturday, 6 p.m., Izzi Hughes (eclectic)
Guidon Brewing Co.
415 Eighth Ave. E., Hendersonville
Friday, 7 p.m., Laura Boswell (singer, songwriter, folk)
Saturday, 7 p.m., Vaden Landers (country, blues, singer, songwriter)
Harper Eatery & Pub
10 Oak St., Tryon
Saturday, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Paul Bowman (finger-style guitar)
Highland Lake Inn & Resort
86 Lily Pad Lane, Flat Rock
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Bruce Lang
Huckleberry’s
62 N. Trade St., Tryon
Friday, 7 p.m., Susie Kocher (singer)
Saturday, 7 p.m., Rockin’ Randall (acoustic, country, rock, folk, originals)
Sunday, noon, Gary Lockaby (Spanish guitarist)
Lavender Bistro
82 N. Trade St., Tryon
Thursday, 6-8:30 p.m., Paul Bowman (finger-style guitar)
McGourty’s Pub
74 N. Trade St., Tryon
Friday, 8:30 p.m., Karaoke with Kevin
Saturday, 8 p.m., Marshall Ballew
Sunday, 5 p.m., David Giles
Mountain Brook Vineyards
731 Phillips Dairy Road, Tryon
Saturday, 4-7 p.m., The Long View (hipdelic blues rock)
Parker-Binns Vineyard and Winery
7382 N. Carolina 108, Mill Spring
Sunday, 2 p.m., Eric Congdon
Point Lookout Vineyards
408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville
Sunday, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Sunlight Drive Duo (Americana, blues, folk, classic rock)
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville
Friday, 5:45-10 p.m., Sound Investment
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyard in Flat Rock
2698 C Greenville Highway, East Flat Rock
Saturday, 3 p.m., Me & Dave
Saluda Outfitters
Green River Eddy’s Tap Room, 435 Main St., Saluda
Fridays, 6-9 p.m., open mic
Saturday, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Michael Cash (’60s-’70s classics)
Sanctuary Brewing Company
147 1st Ave. E., Hendersonville
Thursday, 7 p.m., Hope Griffin (singer, songwriter, acoustic, folk, ballads, Americana)
Friday, 8 p.m., New Rustics (four-piece band, folk, rock, jam)
Saturday, 8 p.m., Further to Fly acoustic, electric)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Peggy Ratusz (blues, jazz, soul, R&B)
Sierra Nevada/Taproom & Restaurant
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
Saturday, 2-5 p.m., Lauren Anderson (soulful rocker); 7 p.m., Scott Moss Band (singer, songwriter)
Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Brother Smith (6-piece band, country, funk, soul)
South Rock Sports Grille
830 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville
Saturday, 8 p.m., Fine Line (classic rock)
Southern Appalachian Brewery
822 Locust St., Hendersonville
Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m., Peggy Ratusz Duo (blues)
Friday, 8-10 p.m., Vintage Vinyl (’60s and ’70s rock)
Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Zydeco Ya Ya during Crawfish Boil (zydeco, cajun); 8-10 p.m., The Connor Law Quartet (jazz)
Sunday, noon-3 p.m., Hillbilly Brunch with Michael Carver, Todd Hoke, Paul McIntire, Ben Scales (Mother's Day special)
Sunset Amphitheater Series
Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon
Thursday, 6:30 p.m, HotPoint Trio (gypsy jazz); opening act Ary (acoustic, singer, songwriter)
Symphony at Sunset
The Gathering Place Amphitheatre, 109 Terrace Dr, Chimney Rock Village
Saturday, 6:30-8 p.m., Symphony of Rutherford County (part of 10th Anniversary SpringGo Celebration)
The Dugout Sports Bar Grill & Taphouse
430 N. Main St., Hendersonville
Open Jam Night every Thursday, 8 p.m.-midnight
Friday, 9-11 p.m., 415 In Progress (Americana)
Saturday, 9 p.m., Flashback Sally (dance band, classic rock)
The Garage on 25
3461 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher
Every Thursday, open mic with John Norwood
The Greenhouse Moto Cafe
4021 Haywood Road (Highway 191) Mills River
Saturday, 7 p.m., Soldado (blues, rock)
Sunday, 3 p.m., Tools on Stools (jazz, blues, rock, fusion)
The Old Home Place
4060 North Mills River Road, Mills River
Friday, Sara Bird & Whole Hearted
Saturday, Moccasin Creek
The Purple Onion
16 Main St., Saluda
Thursday, Fayssoux McLean & Brandon Turner (eclectic)
Saturday, Gigi Dover & Big Love (gypsy, jaz, blues, funk, world)
Triskelion Brewing Co.
340 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville
Thursday, 6 p.m., open mic
Friday, 8-10, Joel Cornes (singer, songwriter)
Saturday, 8-10 p.m., Daddy Rabbit (hardcore blues and rock)
Tryon International Equestrian Center
25 International Blvd., Mill Spring
Fright, 8-11 p.m., Steven Poteat in Silo Bar (one-man band, classic rock, pop, Americana)
Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Ashley Martin, Saturday Night Lights series (pop country)
Zeke's Greenside Tavern
470 Brickyard Road, Etowah
Thursday, 6-9 p.m., Howie Johnson (acoustic blues guitar)
Saturday, 6-9 p.m., Marc Keller (guitarist)
Want to be included in “Live Music?” Send your information via email to Steve Wong at Just4Wong@Gmail.com by Monday at 8 a.m. for the coming Thursday-Sunday. Don’t forget to send details on your performing artist along with a good high-resolution photo.