From Staff Reports

The 31st season of Asheville’s Downtown After 5 concert series will begin with the Eric Gales Band  from 5 to 9 p.m. May 17.

As for Gales, a DA5 press release stated, “Hailed as a child prodigy and frequently compared to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Gales has recorded 18 albums. His 2017 album, ‘Middle of the Road,’ featured Gary Clark Jr and Lauren Hill and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart. Gales’ unique hybrid blues/rock sound has put him on many top guitarist lists. In fact, Carlos Santana, Dave Navarro and Joe Bonamassa consider Gales a favorite.”

The DA5 series, held on the third Friday of the month from May through September, is based on North Lexington Avenue near the I-240 overpass. 

Events are free and open to the public.

Following is the 2019 DA5 lineup:

• May 17 — Eric Gales Band, headliner; Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory, opener.

June 21 — Tameca Jones, headliner; Secret B-Sides, opener.

July 19 — Shamarr Allen (of Galactic and The Underdawgs), headliner; April B. & the Cool, support; Natural Born Leaders, opener.

Aug. 16 — The Artisanals, headliner; The National Reserve, opener.

Sept. 20 — Asheville All Stars, headliner; Asheville Rock Academy, opener.

Regarding DA5, a press release noted, “Each summer the Asheville Downtown Association partners with five local nonprofits to sell wristbands at the event. Each group receives a grant of $2,000. The ADA has given more than $200,000 to area nonprofits through this program. (The) 2019 partners are: Asheville GreenWorks, Children First, Food Connection, Open Hearts Center and REACH (a fund of Homeward Bound).

“Lots of local beers (are) on tap, including: Pisgah Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Hi-Wire Brewing, Asheville Brewing Company, Catawba Brewing, French Broad Brewing, Green Man Brewery and Bold Rock Cider, as well as beers from Western North Carolina and regional and national brands. Wine, soda, water and locally crafted Devil’s Foot beverages are also available for purchase.

“We’re serving up plenty of local yumminess with food vendors: Delia’s Tea Time, D.O.G.S., El Kimchi, FroZen Monkey, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Kernel Mike’s Kettle Corn, Moe’s Original BBQ and Sunshine Sammies,” the release stated.