For the past few months, Denis Coleman has been settling in after moving to Hendersonville. Part of his settling in was playing local bars, breweries, wineries and other locations in and around Hendersonville. He tells me that singing and playing guitar is not his full-time job; It’s more of a “hobby”. It’s cool: you have to have a passion for music if you want to be good at it. I haven’t personally heard Denis, but his promotions usually describe his music as “classic rock, soft, a little country and a few surprises.” Let’s ask Denis nine questions so we all know a little more about the man from Jersey.
Question: Denis, give us a short biography of yourself, anything you want the local community to know about you. Things like where are you from, when and why you moved here, your family, your day job, your musical training, etc.
Responnse: My wife Maggie and I (and our dog Molly) moved here from New Jersey in May of last year. I am semi-retired (emphasis on the retired part) from the media industry in New York. We looked at a lot of places to retire but kept coming back here. It’s beautiful here at WNC, and we’ve met a lot of great people. As for musical training, practically none. I’m self-taught and had the chance to play with a lot of great players who were kind enough to guide me along the way.
Q: Tell us about your music. You sing and play the guitar. You seem to like classic rock, soft music and country. If someone has never heard you, what should they expect? Do you only play covers? Are you a songwriter?
A: I’m an Allman Brothers Band fanatic, so it all comes from there for me — blues, rock, country, ballads. After that, the music of Jerry Garcia, Jorma Kaukonen and Mark Knopfler are some of my strongest influences. Generally, if someone comes to hear me, they’ll hear the Eagles, The Beatles, The Band, Tom Petty, The Stones, etc., and of course the aforementioned Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and Dire Straits. I try to keep a wide catalog so a lot depends on the audience and the place. Soft tunes, blues, country all suit me. Great songs are in all categories. Currently, I only do covers. I’ve worked on a few instrumentals in the past but never had the time (or the courage) to really develop and release them. Maybe one day.
Q: How did music become a “passion” for you?
A: I have always loved music. In high school, I had a friend whose older brother was a great guitarist. He pointed us to the Allman Brothers At Fillmore East and Eat a Peach. I wish I had been more diligent in devoting time to the guitar over the years, but life gets in the way. So I didn’t really start getting into it seriously until I was 30.
Q: What are your musical hopes and dreams?
A: Apart from around the world? I’m just looking to find cool places to play around Hendersonville. If people leave at the end and say they had a great time there and “that guy played some great music” that works for me.
Q: How have you been received by local music lovers and venues?
A: It was awesome. As a newcomer to town, it’s not always easy to get opportunities. But the folks at Burntshirt and Sawyer Springs gave me a shot early on, and the response was good. I also met a lot of musicians, and they were both welcoming and encouraging.
Q: What is your opinion of the local music scene?
A: There is an incredible amount of talent playing all around this “small” town! Take a seat like Act 2. There’s a Round Robin open mic every Wednesday, and you hear a number of people with great originals, as well as great players and singers. I’ve only been here a few months and haven’t visited as many places as I would like. But I’ve heard from people like Eric Congdon, Myron Hyman, 3 Shades of Grey, Roots & Dore, Letters to Abigail, and it can be a little intimidating. The musicians and audience have all been very supportive here.
Q: What inspires you?
A: When people come to compliment you on your playing/singing or the variety of the setlist that is inspiring.
Q: Apart from the music, what makes you vibrate?
A: I loved doing photography, I loved classic movies and I would like to start traveling again.
Q: Tell us what you mean…
A: I’m really grateful for all the goodwill we’ve experienced since we arrived here and I’m so glad we did. Looking forward to discovering more WNC. Other than that, head to St. Paul Mountain Vineyards on Sunday afternoons. It’s my first chance to play there, and I’m really looking forward to it.
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305 Lounge & Restaurant
305 Main Street N., Hendersonville
Friday, January 21, 5 to 7 p.m., Geriatric Jukebox, husband and wife playing and singing familiar tunes, 60s and 70s
Appalachian Ridge Craft Hard Cider
749 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville
Sunday January 23, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Ken Morgan & Nicole Ray, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana
Bold hard rock cider
72 School House Road, Mills River
Friday, January 21, 5 p.m., Ben Phantom, singer, songwriter, guitarist, covers, originals inspired by travels around the world
Saturday, January 22, 6 p.m., Soundz So Fine, band, classic tunes from iconic artists, rock, country
Burntshirt Vineyards
2695 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville
Saturday January 22, 2-5 p.m., Rory Jagdeo, soloist, singer, guitarist, harmonica player, Americana, covers, originals
Sunday January 23, 2pm-5pm, The Everydays, Americana with an indie twist, covers, originals, based on Black Mountain
Continuous ART
147 Suite C, 1st Ave E., Hendersonville
Thursday, January 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m., open mike by the singer-songwriter
D9 Hendersonville Brewery
425 Main Street N., Hendersonville
Friday January 21, 7-10 p.m., BadRabbit & Nick Mac, five-piece alt-rock/country band
Dry Falls Brewery
425 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville
Friday, January 21, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Licensed 2 Chill, David Payne and Falls Harris Jr., covers, classic rock, pop, country
Saturday January 22, 7-10 p.m., Mojomatic, “funk-a-fied rockin’ blues”
Handlebar Brewing Co.
415 8th Avenue East, Hendersonville
Saturday, January 22, 6-8 p.m., Paul Edelman, singer, songwriter, Asheville-based, roots rock, folk, Americana
Mills River Brewing Co.
336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River
Saturday, January 22, 2-5 p.m., Stephen Evans, folk rock, singer, guitarist, originals, based in Asheville
Oklawaha Brewing Company
147 1st Ave E. Hendersonville
Thursday January 20, 7-9pm, Kid Billy, Billy Litz, Asheville-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, roots, blues, ragtime, songwriter
Friday January 21, 8-11 p.m., The Last Full Measure, Jamie Gorsuch (singer, guitarist) and Karen Corn (singer), folk, blues, covers, originals, steeped in southern tradition
Saturday January 22, 8-11 p.m., High Flying Criminals, funk, groove, soul, five-man orchestra
Sunday, January 23, 4 p.m., Jason Lyles, singer, songwriter, upbeat, powerpop, alternative, Americana, roots-rock, guitarist, Chattanooga-based
Point Lookout Vineyards
408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville
Sunday January 23, 2-5 p.m., Two Lane Road, Dan Lane, multi-instrumentalist, American, classic rock, country, acoustic, eclectic
Vineyards of the Saint-Paul mountain
588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville
Saturday January 22, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Folkadelic 3, trio, socially responsible folk rock originals, covers, (Jeff Michels, Jim Robertson, Steve Kirkland)
Sunday Jan 23, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Denis Coleman, singer, guitarist, classic rock, mellow, country, eclectic
Sierra Nevada Mills River
100 Sierra Nevada Road, Mills River
Saturday, January 22, 2 p.m., Koostic Duo, eclectic, covers, originals, specializing in low-volume performances
Sunday January 23, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Jukebox Jumpers, country blues, African-American vernacular, southern soul, old rock, guitar/bass, drums, violin, harmonica
Southern Appalachian Brewery
822 Locust Street, Ste. 100 Hendersonville
Friday January 21, 6-8 p.m., Letters to Abigail, duo, acoustic Americana
Saturday January 22, 6-8 p.m., Trio de Janeiro, rock trio based in Hendo
Sunday January 23, 3pm-5pm, Carver, Carmody & McIntire, based on WNC, acoustic, blues, country, covers, originals
South Rock Sports Grills
830 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville
Saturday January 22, 8 p.m. to midnight, Twisted Trail, rock, country, blues, southern rock group, original music
The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar
101 E. Allen St., Hendersonville
Thursday January 20, 7-9pm, The John Henrys, gypsy jazz, alt-country, americana, rock, based in Asheville
Friday January 21, 7-9 p.m., Andrew Thelston & Carrie Morrison, singers, piano, guitar, originals, eclectic rock and soul
Saturday January 22, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Jason Whitaker, guitarist, acoustic, Americana, blues, country, rock, based in Asheville
The Dugout Sports Bar & Taphouse
430 Main St. N., Hendersonville
Friday, January 21, 8 p.m., Fine Line, rock band
Saturday, January 22, 8 p.m., Ricky Gunter Band, singer, songwriter, country
The Loft Cafe & Pub
111 Joel Wright Drive, Hendersonville
Friday, January 21, 6-9 p.m., Craig “Edwin” St. John, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, 60s-90s covers, country, show tunes
Saturday Jan 22, 6-8 p.m., Paul Liford, acoustic
The old house
4060 N Mills River Road, Mills River
Saturday January 22, 7-10 p.m., Highway 8 Band, country, old-school rock, dance
The Poe House
105 1st Ave. W., Hendersonville
Friday January 21, 7-10 p.m., Howie Johnson, singer, guitarist, rocker, based in Hendo
Saturday January 22, 7-10 p.m., Bill Altman, blues, rock
Triskelion Brewery
340 7th Avenue East, Hendersonville
Thursday January 20, 7-9pm, Seth and Sara, husband and wife, strings and percussion, originals, covers, roots, Americana
Want to be included in “Live Music?” Email your information to Steve Wong at [email protected] by 8 a.m. Monday for the upcoming Thursday-Sunday. Don’t forget to send details of your performers along with a good high resolution photo.
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