Music scene · Asheville

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville's music identity is woven from Appalachian folk traditions and a bohemian arts culture. The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, and Isis Music Hall host everything from bluegrass to electronic, with the River Arts District and West Asheville providing fertile ground for indie rock and Americana. The sound here is earthy, experimental, and unapologetically mountain.

Asheville's identity is rooted in ballad-singing traditions of the Southern Appalachians, documented by folk collector Cecil Sharp in Madison County over a century ago. The three-finger banjo style of Earl Scruggs, born in nearby Caldwell County, revolutionized bluegrass. Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the Minstrel of the Appalachians, collected hundreds of mountain songs now in the Library of Congress.

The Orange Peel, a historic music hall downtown, hosts national touring acts in a spacious standing-room setting. The Grey Eagle offers intimate performances focused on roots and Americana. Isis Music Hall in West Asheville provides a historic dinner-show setting. The Salvage Station along the French Broad River combines outdoor music with scenery, while Jack of the Wood hosts old-time jams.

Asheville is home to Steep Canyon Rangers, the Grammy-winning bluegrass band that has collaborated with Steve Martin. Artists such as River Whyless and Tyler Ramsey represent the city's folk-rock output. The town has also nurtured Brushfire Stankgrass and the duo Zoe and Cloyd.

Musicians new to Asheville should attend the weekly bluegrass jam at Isis Music Hall and the old-time sessions at Jack of the Wood. The Shindig on the Green, at Pack Square Park through the summer, offers free access to Appalachian music and dance. The Asheville Area Arts Council provides resources for connecting with the region's heritage.