Bobby Hughes, better known as Bobby Sax can be seen busking around downtown Asheville with a variety of saxophones (pictured here with an alto, and below a tenor). I first met him on the sidewalk just outside the civic center. I was dropping off a book in the library's return box and heard beautiful music in the distance. I wanted to know more. "You sound great, are you on any records," I ask. Bobby began to tell me about his experiences trying to make in the music industry in the 1970's, playing with various soul acts in D.C., Baltimore and Detroit. He begins to rattle off big names he's preformed with: Marvin Gaye, George Clinton, The Floaters. With how good he sounds, I have no reason to doubt him. He tells me to listen to Taste of Soul which was produced by Baltimore-based soul record label Ru-Jac (you can find it on youtube). I later found someone who sells Detroit soul records online and bought one of his 45s from back in the day. Sax was grew up in Monroe, North Carolina before leaving for D.C. to pursue music. In the 1990's he made it back to North Carolina to care for his mother. He as called Asheville home for the past 25 years.
I met Blueshat (John Donald) while he was Busking outside of Whole Foods on Tunnel Road in Asheville. Blueshat is an extremely talented guitar player from Black Mountain specializing in blues and psychedelic rock. He grew up in the south and spent some time out west before making it to Western North Carolina. He busks and plays gigs in the area.
Jackson is a bit of a mystery to me. I'm afraid to learn more as that will ruin his mystique. I often refer to him as the "snake guy" in conversation. If you've spent any time in downtown Asheville you've seen him with a female ball python (her name is something in Russain, that I can't pronounce) around his neck. A busker of sorts, he will allow you take photos with the snake; a tip is implied.
Brass Your Heart describes themselves as a radical marching band. You can find them at political protests and union organizing actions. The above photo was taken on 28 January, 2026 at a vigil for Alex Pretti held in Pritchard Park in Asheville. A cold day that grew even colder as night fell.
This photo is the first time I met Mitch. He pointed at a skateboard he painted as if to ask me for a photo. Mitch Capps, or the "doodle dude," is an artist who develops doodles into full fledged abstract artwork. He paints on everything from traditional canvas to sneakers and skateboards.
Looking for a miracle, a jam band fan points his finger indicating that he's after 1 ticket to see Billy Strings.
While hanging out downtown one Saturday I met Freddie McCeldon and his band handing out flyers to their show at the Grey Eagle. I should note this is not Freddie, but rather his supporting guitarist, who I failed to write down his name. Unbeknownst to me until I googled his name, McCeldon was an American Idol contestant. Adding to further fame, the strange circumstances surrounding the death of McCeldon's father was featured on the true crime show 48 Hours
This past month (May 2026) Asheville lost a beloved member of it's community. Rorey Hips was an avid skateboarder, a celebration of life event was held at Foundation Skatepark. It was a joyful celebration with hundreds of people, however there were tears and hugs as his family delivered a speech and asked for a moment of silence.