asheville music

Vision Quest: Traveling the Depths with Samuel Paradise

Samuel Paradise celebrates the release of his new album, Vision Quest, this Saturday at the Altamont Theatre in downtown Asheville, with support from Futexture and EmE. Read our album review here.

Submission Deadline Extended for Underground Sound: The Path to Music Video Asheville (11/15)

We have extended the submission deadline for our Underground Sound: The Path to Music Video Asheville contest until 11/15

Frazey Ford at the Mothlight: Show Review

Singer-songwriter Frazey Ford brought her soulful sound to West Asheville's Mothlight on June 15th. Ford, a founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, is touring in support of her sophomore record, Indian Ocean.

Black Mountain @ The Grey Eagle << Thursday, 6/23

Black Mountain's heavy edges and psychedelia-infused sound make them a unique listening experience. They head to Asheville's Grey Eagle on Thursday, June 23rd for a show with Majeure.

WAXAHATCHEE @ MOTHLIGHT << 6/7

Waxahatchee is coming to The Mothlight on Tuesday, June 7th at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $12; what are you waiting for?

Big Chief Juan Pardo & the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians. Source: YouTube

Beer City Festival Pairs Great Beer With a Funk-Filled Music Lineup

This year's music lineup at the Beer City Festival, happening May 28th at McGuire Green in downtown Asheville, will have you shaking your booty to the sweet sounds of New Orleans jazz, soul, R&B, gypsy funk, and more. Tickets are on sale now for this all day beer + music event.

Free Range Asheville Presents Roomful of Teeth

This Thursday, 4/28 at the Masonic Temple, Free Range Asheville presents the experimental, boundary-pushing, and strangely beautiful a cappella group Roomful of Teeth. The show starts at 7 pm.

Benefit Concert for Asheville Music School << Thursday 4/21 @ Isis

This Thursday, 4/21, Asheville Music School and Isis are pairing up to bring you Sound Effects, the 4th annual benefit for AMS.

Small Black @ The Mothlight Ticket Giveaway!

Indie dream-rockers Small Black hit Asheville's Mothlight on Monday, 4/18, with Bayonne.

Plankeye Peggy Release Debut Album 'Let's See What We Have Here'

Local four piece vaudevillian outfit Plankeye Peggy will release their debut Album 'Let's See What We Have Here' March 18th at the Mothlight.

All That Jazz: An Interview with Pianist Andrew Fletcher

Jazz pianist Andrew Fletcher talks music history, silent film, and the Asheville music scene.

Ty Segall Never Stops...

He may be the hardest working indie darling in rock, which is pretty impressive considering he is only 28.

Bass 4 Bernie: A Bernie Sanders Benefit at New Mountain (SATURDAY)

This Saturday night, join the revelers at New Mountain Asheville for a night of music to benefit the Bernie Sanders campaign. This event was rescheduled from its original date because of Snowmageddon 2016) to this Saturday, February 27th!

World Premiere: Midnight Snack << "Turning Into a Rock"

The Grit-exclusive world premiere of "Turning Into a Rock," from Midnight Snack + filmmaker Bradlee Hicks.

Yek Koo + Heavy Hymns + Shane Parish @ DBN 2/6

This Saturday, Downtown Books & News hosts three more experimental musicians in their space on Lexington Ave.

Track of the (Snow) Day: "Ten Till a Hundred"

Hip-hop artist Musashi Xero and producer Brucey B just dropped their new track, "Ten Till a Hundred."

An Evening of Experimental Music + Books @ Downtown Books and News (1/13)

An evening of experimental music and art awaits you this Wednesday, 1/13, at Downtown Books and News.

Aligning Minds Recordings Launch Party @ The Orange Peel | Saturday, 12/19

Aligning Minds Recordings hosts its launch party this Saturday, 12/19, at the Orange Peel. Headliner and AMR artist A Path Untold headlines, with support from Futexture, Aligning Minds, and BomBassic, as well as a plethora of multimedia artists.

Badger Breaks Ground in Asheville’s Experimental Scene

The improvisational, all-instrumental group Badger, made up of members of Asheville's Papadosio, Asian Teacher Factory, and 2ppm, will make their debut this Wednesday, 12/9, at Asheville Music Hall.

Meeting the Shadow: An Interview with Xero God

An interview with Xero God about their new self-titled album. All photos: Sarah Carballo. Album design: Kent Hernandez. Logo: Mariano Oreamuno.

FUZZ Now // FUZZ Forever + Charlie Megira “hate to see you go” show

Bathe in the heat wave that is Fuzz, playing the Grey Eagle Thursday, November 12.

Allen Stone Brings His Neo Soul to the Orange Peel

Spend your Friday night moving + grooving to Allen Stone at the Orange Peel.

Chilean Activist + Folk Virtuoso Nano Stern Comes to Asheville

Sunday, November 1st, Asheville will be visited by award-winning Chilean singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Nano Stern.

Steve Martin to Join Steep Canyon Rangers @ The Orange Peel

The band that encapsulates what North Carolina sounds like will play Asheville in January with a very special guest.

Michal Menert + The Pretty Fantastics @ New Mountain 10/15

Pretty Lights co-founder Michal Menert brings his brand of electro-soul back to Asheville with a new album and a new band, The Pretty Fantastics. And they are.

A Path Untold Releases Secret Subtle Light on Aligning Minds Recordings

The latest solo project from Daniel Merril is a lush, expressive record that’s ethereal, psychedelic, and atmospheric in a way that the best dreams often are.

Heavy Dreaming: KYLESA Celebrates 'Exhausting Fire' @ New Mountain > 10/10

Savannah-based KYLESA just dropped a new album and are bringing their unique, dark, "dream rock" / metal to New Mountain.

Thinking Machines > Autechre at the Orange Peel 10/8

Massively influential electronic duo Autechre are gracing The Orange Peel with their conceptual, abstract, and always enthralling sounds Thursday, October 8. The duo shift the way we think about what music is, how it’s made, and where it’s headed.

This Month’s BEAT LIFE > Hosted by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective Sept 25

This month’s BEAT LIFE, hosted by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective at the Mothlight, brings an eclectic mix of performers to the stage on Friday, September 25. It’s going to be literally impossible not to dance your face off.

Ne-Hi Brings Their Fresh Blend of Summer Rock to the Mothlight

Chicago four-piece Ne-Hi’s songs bubble with energy not unlike those of the Paisley Underground or R.E.M., but mixed with the jangle-punk of the early Flying Nun scene.

Water Seed to Play Free Show @ One Stop

New Orleans born, neo-soul band Water Seed will be making an Asheville appearance at the One Stop for a free show this Thursday, July 30.

Vibe on Michael Rault > Sunday July 19 @ Tiger Mountain

Michael Raul is bringing his era-defying mischievousness of jukebox R'n'B and acid psych to Asheville at Tiger Mountain this weekend. We were lucky enough to catch this mellow out Canuck for a short call before hitting the road.

RBTS WIN Likely to Win My Heart @ Isis July 11

The sonic lovechild of Javier Bolea and Cliff B. Worsham, RBTS WIN, formed in 2008 and soon found a groove that reflected both their shared musical interests as well as their distinctive origins. They bring their electro-soul back home when they play Isis on July 11.

Michael Franti + Spearhead @ New Mountain Friday 6/26

Michael Franti and Spearhead's infectious sound, based in roots-rock rhythms and swelling, immersive chords, is an expression of the absolute joy of being alive – even when taking on darker subjects.

BomBassic Headlines BEAT LIFE @ the Mothlight June 27

BomBassic headlines this month’s BEAT LIFE show at The Mothlight, happening on June 27. The evening promises to be another experience to remember brought to you by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective, a group of artists and producers who are at the forefront of innovation in sound.

CUSSES to Rock The Odditorium June 14

CUSSES is a trio of musicians with one main goal; to play really loud music. This Georgia based band brings their bold mix of metal and grunge to The Odditorium on June 14. Get ready to rock your face off.

Beach Goth @ New Mountain: An Evening with the Growlers June 10

The psychedelic sounds of the Growlers, purveyors of “Beach Goth,” are coming your way on June 10th to New Mountain AVL. The band’s music melds darkly poetic lyrics with the jangly guitar of surf-rock. It’s a midnight bonfire on a haunted beach, and you’re invited.

Vaski w/Marley Carroll + Lucidea @ New Mountain May 21

Dubstep may be a dirty word, but Minneapolis-based Vaski assures us it can stay fresh with careful craftsmanship and a sonic sensitivity that ranges from chilled, melodic electro to high-energy party bass. He's been crushing the scene since he was a teenager.

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk + Portastatic Plays Mothlight 5/22

Mac McCaughan, an American musician based in North Carolina, is perhaps best known for being in Superchunk and Portastatic and will be playing the Mothlight on Friday, May 22 along with Flesh Wounds and Impossible Vacation.

Music Video Asheville Was Everything I Expected and Couldn't Have Even Imagined

Backstage Sass heads to Music Video Asheville 2015. Silliness ensues. Check out a review of the night of music and mingling and a full list of winners. Here's to next year.

See Dave Rawlings Machine w/ Gillian Welch at The Orange Peel

The Dave Rawlings Machine will be performing at The Orange Peel on April 24 with Gillian Welch, his partner in life and music for 20 years. They have played sold-out shows to appreciative audiences in Asheville over the past few years and return this week.

MarchFourth! Storms the Orange Peel April 16

This marching band and circus act hybrid brings the funk and full on theatrics to the Orange Peel Thursday April 16. Learn more about this 30-piece band, their influences, and enter for a chance to win tickets to see this not to be missed show.

Asheville Weekend Grit Picks

It seems as though we blinked and the last week of March was upon us. But no worries, the weekend is here and we've got you covered with our picks of just some of the best events going on around town. So, get up and go have some fun, Asheville.

The Apache Relay Returns to The Grey Eagle

The Apache Relay, a folksy pop band from Nashville and Western North Carolina return to the Grey Eagle on March 28 where they once again expect to be welcomed with warm, open, Asheville arms.

Looking For the After Party? BomBassic Knows Where It's At

Is anyone throwing "official" after parties for local electronic shows? BomBassic’s increasingly popular After Hours are the only ones I'm hearing about and attending. Let's make these guys official, for goodness' sake.

Steve Gunn Makes an Appearance at The Mothlight

Sometimes the best friends you’ll ever make are the ones who knew you when you weren’t someone yet. For Steve Gunn, the guys at Harvest Records are the ones who helped him build such a reputation in Asheville and much of Western North Carolina.

Luzius Stone's Album Release Show @ The Mothlight > Friday March 20

Self-described “mountain boy” and “electronic art rock”-er Luzius Stone is finally unleashing his long-awaited album at his album release party this Friday at the Mothlight.

Moon Duo’s Lunar Dreamscapes > The Mothlight | March 12

Moon Duo’s music, flavored by the surreal and the psychedelic, dreamy and still rough around the edges, will fill Asheville’s Mothlight on Thursday, March 12th.

Opposite Box Comes to Asheville Music Hall

On Thursday March 5, Opposite Box is coming to the Asheville Music Hall to serve up a healthy dose of their unusual blend of "belligerent jungle funk" along with headliners Main Squeeze. Who wants the Funk?

Lotus Returned to The Orange Peel for its Gilded Age Tour

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of their breakout album, Lotus returned recently to The Orange Peel where they played a sold out show. I was able to chat with guitarist and keyboardist Luke Miller as well as some fans about their unique and enduring style.