Happy Transfigurations, Harvest Records!

Storied N.C. record store celebrates its 5^th with 3-day, 3-venue blowout in August. On the bill: Akron/Family, Bonnie Prince Billy, Budos Band, Books, Mount Eerie, Coathangers and more.

By Fred Mills

So, is everyone recovered from Record Store Day yet? Everyone making their plans to hit Chapel Hill next month for Merge Records' 20^th anniversary celebration? Gotcha - so now, make sure you mark your calendars for August 13, 14 and 15. That's when Asheville, NC, indie record shop/label/concert promoter Harvest Records will be celebrating their fifth year of existence with a three-day, three-venue festival they're calling "Transfigurations."

Among the artists already signed up to perform: Akron/Family, Bonnie Prince Billy, The Books, Budos Band, Circulatory System, Mount Eerie, Espers, War on Drugs, Brightblack Morning Light, Kurt Vile, Ice Cream, Jonathan Kane, Coathangers, Villages, and Steve Gunn. And in addition to live music, we are advised by the organizers, the even "will present a panel discussion and films from three record label heads who, through their own unique methods, are at the forefront of documenting musics, new and old, from the United States & around the world."

"The gathering," says Harvest co-owner Mark Capon, "is a culmination of our [his and the other owner, Matt Schnable] sharing a mutual love for creating a space dedicated to the discovery of music in a supportive community. Transfigurations brings together the spirits of the musicians that we have brought to this city, the artists who have displayed on our walls, the sounds people have found in our shop and the togetherness that we have attempted to breathe into the community...hour by hour, day by day."

In their five years as Asheville's premiere indie shop - and by any measure, one of the country's finest (trust me, I've seen plenty in my day, and worked in a few as well) - Harvest has always found a way to champion the independent and underground music community. "You may have been in a small, independent record store, but we feel Harvest Records is unique and we want everyone who walks through the door to have a satisfying exchange and an inclusive experience," says Schnable. "That fresh perspective has kept us going every day, and that same attitude of sharing a love of music and creativity is what we are bringing to Transfigurations."

Harvest has further supported the music community by promoting concerts, some at local clubs, some at art galleries and in their own tiny-but-torrid retail space, all with an eye (and ear) for cutting-edge sounds. And that's what you'll get during that weekend in August. Tickets are on sale now: regular weekend passes ("Regafigurations") are limited, and special weekend  passes ("Megafigurations" ) are extremely limited.

We can't wait - you can bet your ass that the southern bureau of BLURT will be on hand. Watch this space for further details later on, or for more information: http://www.harvest-records.com/transfigurations.php (email: transfigurationsasheville@gmail.com).

[Pictured below: Akron/Family, Bonnie Prince Billy, Books, Budos Band]