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.





Asheville Citizen-Times Article

Musicians pony up for White Horse Black Mountain music venue
by Tony Kiss
The Asheville Citizen-Times
White Horse Black Mountain
owners Bob Hinkle and Kim Hughes.
(Rebecca D'Angelo/
SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN-TIMES)
April 7, 2010

It was a tough winter around the mountains, and the pain was extreme at the White Horse Black Mountain music venue in downtown Black Mountain.

The cozy music hall, which opened 18 months ago, was reeling after winter storms canceled several big shows. Owners Bob Hinkle and his wife Kim Hughes strongly considered shutting down. “I didn’t know if we were crazy to go on,” said Hinkle. “It was a real question mark.”

Then, local musicians stepped forward and announced a benefit for the venue that had previously booked many of them.

Pony Up for White Horse, Saturday and Sunday, will feature such stars Grammy-winner David Holt, singer-songwriter Malcolm Holcombe, Chris Rosser, Whitewater Bluegrass Company, Peggy Ratusz, Ashley Chambliss and more.

White Horse “has really become an important part of the Black Mountain community,’’ said Don Talley, editor of the Black Mountain Music Scene electronic newsletter, who organized the event. “I suggested that at some point, they should let their friends do something for them. And they always brushed it off.”

But the financial picture had become grim at White Horse, which features a wide variety of shows, from singer-songwriters to rock and blues. “This just makes me more determined to continue” said Hinkle, a show business veteran who once managed the late singer Harry Chapin, as well as English pop star Manfred Mann, and the J. Geils Band among many other acts.

White Horse has hosted many benefits for others, including well-attended fundraisers for Haitian earthquake relief, and a show to support public radio station WNCW-FM/88.7, after it lost key state financial support. Hinkle and Hughes “came through during WNCW’s darkest hour,” said Dana Whitehair, the station’s general manager.

White Horse reached out to area musician Chris Kew to assist in medical bills after his brain surgery. “They barely knew me, but they devoted a Saturday night to helping me deal with the most difficult time in my life,” Kew said.

Hinkle, said he and Hughes were greatly touched by the benefit. “It is so moving to me,” he said. “There wasn’t a dry eye between the two of us.”

Additional Facts
If you go
- What: Pony Up For White Horse benefit for White Horse Black Mountain music room.
- When: 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, 2-7 p.m. Sunday.
- Where: White Horse Black Mountain, 105 C Montreat Road, Black Mountain.
- Tickets: $12 each day, $20 both days, all money raised goes to helping keep the club open.
- More info: 669-0816 or www.whitehorseblackmountain.com