The Reason for the Benefit

Why is it important to keep places like White Horse Black Mountain alive and well?

White Horse Black Mountain makes a difference in the lives of people.

The venue has been a huge asset for the people of Black Mountain and the surrounding areas of Western North Carolina. The venue has been praised by musicians, audience members, and members of the community for it's quality peformances and it's warm and welcoming spirit.

But it goes beyond that. White Horse Black Mountain has demonstrated that it truly cares about people and desires to make a difference in the lives of people; locally, regionally, and around the world.

During early March, White Horse Black Mountain held it's 2nd Help Haiti Heal Benefit event. Asheville resident and friend of White Horse, Lorin Mallorie, was in Haiti at the time and helped arrange and remote Skype broadcast of Haitian musicians who once again had a stage to share their lives and music with the world. Their performance was shown live on the huge screen at White Horse and White Horse arranged to have the performance webcast live ..... so that anyone in the world could see and hear the voices and music of Haiti.

Lorin Mallorie describes the impact of that event as follows:

On Saturday evening we stage a "live" concert via satellite call to White Horse Black Mountain, which is hosting a Haiti benefit. James Vergenau (aka Rebel) of the Haitian reggae band Yizra'el sings an original tune called "Mother Nature"; Jagat accompanies him on the hand drums. The smaller venues here are still closed for reconstruction, and it's Rebel's first performance since the quake two months ago.

They tell me the White Horse audience was in tears. But what stays with me from that night in Kenscoff is the look in Rebel's eyes, alive and inspired to once again be playing the music he loves — this time for a little town in far off America.





Chalwa

Chalwa
www.myspace.com/chalwa


With the release of their new self tiled album Asheville, NC Reggae collective Chalwa takes a step to further the boundaries of the genre. A fusion of music blending high energy improvisation with roots, rock and reggae the release reaches deep into Jamaica to build an identity. Along with a fresh batch of material the release features an intimate look into the actual Jamaica experience offering field recordings made during the band's frequent trips tothe island. The album leaves the listener captivated by the hooks and melodies and transported by the dreamy interludes to a Jamaica that feels very present yet distant at the same time.

Chalwa has been located in the western North Carolina mountain town of Asheville since 2006.

Their sound is heavily influenced by roots they have established through years of family ties to Jamaica. Despite cultural boundaries, Chalwa finds a way to create music that is both progressive and steeped in tradition. Perhaps this is what links Chalwa so closely to the spirit of reggae music in Jamaica; it is the comfort of and understanding of self that allows one to transcend sufferation and stereotypes and create something truly original and powerful. Chalwa brings to the stage"a fusion of sounds all wrapped up in a roots reggae beat that will make all ages dance and have a truly positive experience (Black Mountain News)."