UNC Asheville will celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April with two cultural programs. Events are free and open to the public.

Indian musician K. Sridhar will perform a concert of traditional North Indian music at 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, in UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

Sridhar, who the San Diego Star-News calls "a truly mind-blowing musician," is considered one of the world's top sarod players. A sarod is a traditional Indian instrument that features 25 strings, a fretless fingerboard and allows for a great diversity of sound. Sridhar is a descendent of 14 generations of temple musicians and has performed in India and worldwide for more than 45 years. He has released more than 12 albums and is composer of a number of soundtracks for film.

Asian-American stereotypes and misconceptions will be turned upside down when the "Slanty Eyed Mama Music Show" takes center stage at UNC Asheville at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 26, in UNC Asheville's Humanities Lecture Hall.

Slanty Eyed Mama is a trip-hop group that explores contemporary Asian American identity with rapping by Kate Riggs and music by Lyris Hung. The variety show also features standup and satirical song parodies. The San Francisco Bay Guardian call's Rigg's writing "razor sharp, pouncing on every uneasy multicultural detail and invariably getting it right." Slanty Eyed Mama has performed worldwide and has been featured in National Lampoon's International Comedy DVD and on the Public Broadcasting Service's special "Race is the Place."

For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Multicultural Student Programs Office at 828/232-5110.