in a Blue Ridge Mountain Resort

Asheville Music Guide

On any given night, music will be emanating from various joints on just about every block. The local music scene is so large and diverse that every type of music fan will find something. Many of the bars and restaurants, such as Ed Boudreaux’s, Barley’s and Hannah Flanagan’s have become reliable places to find great rock, folk, bluegrass and reggae. Stella Blue and the Emerald Lounge showcase all those styles and some great indie music. You’ll also be surprised how many aspiring musicians will simply set up on the street corners.

Of course, large national acts also choose Asheville, North Carolina, as a stop on their world tours. The Orange Peel was one of only two venues in the United States (the other being the historic Fillmore in San Francisco) chosen for the 2007 Smashing Pumpkins reunion, and tickets for the nine evening run sold out in less than one hour. The Civic Center, which includes the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, has also hosted everything from pop stars to international orchestras, as well as our own Asheville Symphony.

Downtown Asheville also hosts several music festivals and series:

Bele Chere – The biggest event of the year combines national acts with homegrown bands, and also features arts and crafts booths. It takes place over three days during the last full weekend in July.

Shindig on the Green – Bluegrass fans set up their chairs and picnic blankets on the lawn at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Saturday nights in the summer. Informal jam sessions and clogging add to the authentic atmosphere.

Mountain Dance and Folk Festival – This event showcases the traditional music, dance and storytelling of the Appalachia on the first weekend of every August at the Diana Wortham Theater.

Downtown After Five and Jazz After Five – Jazz in the spring inside the Grove Arcade and rock in the summer at various downtown locations, typically on each third Friday.

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