This Week in Asheville: AVLFest Edition
Asheville’s wealth of live music offerings can leave concertgoers feeling overwhelmed when it comes to picking which shows to attend. But have no fear! The Asheville Stages staff is here to help with insights on the week’s most appealing options.
Lonnie Walker
No, free agent NBA shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV is not performing a set at Fleetwood’s. But trust me when I say that you’ll still want to kickstart your AVLFest at the West Asheville bar early on Thursday evening. Injecting a fair amount of twang into an indie rock sound, and playing with an energetic vitality, this long running Raleigh-based quartet may be the best under-the-radar act coming to town this week. —Jonny Leather
at Fleetwood’s
Thursday, August 1
Set time: 7:00 PM
[indie rock]
Jessica Pratt
The LA-based singer/songwriter has a dreamlike folk pop sound that would not be out of place in a David Lynch film. Combining catchy ’60s pop melodies, elegant atmospheric production, and a little of the off-beat folk aesthetic of the early-aughts, Pratt has been a consistent source of bewitching tunes since her eponymous 2012 debut album. Her latest record, Here in the Pitch, is one of this year’s best, so AVLFest attendees should be in store for something special on the festival’s opening night. —JL
at The Orange Peel
Thursday, August 1
Set time: 10:45 PM
[folk]
Zoe & Cloyd
What happens when a classically trained fiddler who descended from jazz and klezmer musicians meets a twelfth generation North Carolinian bluegrass multi-instrumentalist and grandson of the fiddling legend Jim Schumate? We get “Klezgrass,” an innovative hybrid that celebrates the musical heritage of this exceptionally talented husband-wife duo. Since they began playing together 19 years ago, Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller have entranced audiences with their soaring harmonies and emotive songwriting. Catch them with bassist Kevin Kehberg for their AVLFest performance. —Beth Keefauver
at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, August 2
Set time: 3:30 PM
[bluegrass/klezmer]
Doc Aquatic
These local faves have laid low in recent years, prioritizing writing and recording over playing live, so their primetime set is a rare chance to catch their shimmery, synthy shoegaze-pop in the flesh. The quartet promises to preview songs from their forthcoming album, Blue Hour Yawn, tracked at the band’s Marshall studio and rehearsal space, alongside selections from their decade-plus catalog of cuts that bathe frontman J.C. Hayes’ languid melodies in a woozy, Foals-meets-Slowdive wall of sound. —Jay Moye
at The Grey Eagle
Saturday, August 3
Set time: 8:00 PM
[indie rock]
Wayne Robbins & the Hellsayers
Imagine the lyrical genius of Bob Dylan channeled through the ethereal vocals of the Flaming Lips and hammered out with the intensity of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. You don’t want to miss the rare bird sighting of this group, one of Asheville’s millennial OG indie bands on Saturday. With three studio albums since their 2007 debut, The Lonesome Sea, the Hellsayers promise a fourth album is on the horizon. To see them live is to witness ekphrastic poetry set to cathartic indie rock. —BK
at The Outpost
Saturday, August 3
Set time: 3:30 PM
[indie rock]
C. Shreve the Professor’s Hip-hop Showcase
The Deep Gap-based MC (and former Virginia Tech starting wide receiver) is an honorary member of the Asheville hip-hop scene and one of the most vibrant lyricists and performers in North Carolina over the past decade plus. AVLFest organizers put their trust in his wide knowledge of and connections with that network and he’s rewarded it with a carefully curated lineup that includes full-length sets from OC from NC, B Squared, JooseLord, Bryan Colston, and Shreve himself, as well as the phenomenal DJ Jet. If you love hip-hop, this is the ticket. —Edwin Arnaudin
at Eulogy
Saturday, August 3
Set time: 9:30 PM
[hip-hop]
Beachwood Sparks
When Gram Parsons described the genre of his music as “cosmic country,” little did he know that Beachwood Sparks would eventually form and make music that reaches into parts of the cosmos unknown in Parsons’ time. The band released two albums in quick succession at the dawn of the 21st century, split up for a while, released another in 2012 and, after another long break, returned in 2024 with Across the River of Stars. Catch them while they tour the galaxy during AVLFest. —Scott Bunn
at The Outpost
Saturday, August 3
Set time: 9:45 PM
[cosmic country]
ADDITIONAL SHOWS HAPPENING THIS WEEK
July 30: Fiddlehead at The Grey Eagle
July 30: Chevelle / Tigercub at Rabbit Rabbit
July 31: River & Rail / Thomas Kozak & Liliana Hudgens at Grey Eagle
July 31: Team Awesome at The One Stop
July 31: 16th Annual Asheville Music Video Awards at Salvage Station
July 31: Druid Stone / Divorce Papers vs. Cultleader.global / An Invitation / Curbside Lovese at at Static Age Records
July 31: Cabaret at Flat Rock Playhouse 🎭
Aug. 1: Kuh-Leeb / Cold Pizza / Kyle 34k / Salt / Natural Blk Invention at Static Age Records
Aug. 1: Cabaret at Flat Rock Playhouse 🎭
Aug. 2: Whip Appeal at Static Age Records
Aug. 2: Cabaret at Flat Rock Playhouse 🎭
Aug. 3: GABBER RAVE w/ DJ Digital Spliff / Debt Grips / Ebony Red / Celestexches / Charlie Conway at Static Age Records
Aug. 3: Cabaret at Flat Rock Playhouse 🎭
Aug. 4: Alex Falcone at Catawba Brewing 🎤
Aug. 4: Starfruit / BangX7 at Static Age Records
AVL FEST
Aug. 1: AVLFest - In Flight / Spiro Nicolopolus Blues Apocalypse! / The Feels / The Big Hungry at Asheville Music Hall
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Cpt. Hyperdrive / Santiago Y Los Gatos / Sounding Arrow / Slow Packer at Eulogy
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Jesus Casino / Monster Wave / Lonnie Walker / The Deathbots at Fleetwood’s
Aug. 1: AVLFest - DJ Molly Parti / Goldie & The Screamers / Joshua Carpenter / McKinney at French Broad River Brewery
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Lyric / Emanuel Wynter / Tina & Her Pony at Funkatorium
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Isaac Hadden Organ Trio / Red Clay Revival / Mama & The Ruckus / Ashley Heath & Her Heathens at The Grey Eagle
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Hearts Gone South / Pick Your Switch The Long Distance Relationship at Highland Brewing
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Drew Matulich’s Bluegrass Jam at Jack of the Wood
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Shadowcloak / US Christmas / Temptation’s Wings / Sunbearer at The Odd
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Peter Townsend / Paper Crowns Duo at The One Stop
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Shed Bugs / Dancing Fleas / Kid Billy / Magenta Sunshine at One World Brewing
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Jessica Pratt / Victoria Victoria / Ashes & Arrows / @ at Orange Peel
Aug. 1: AVLFest - SG Goodman / Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters / Justin Wells at The Outpost
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Joselyn & The Sweet Compression / Boulevards / Random Animals / Fresh Buzz at Salvage Station
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Dirty Dead at Shiloh & Gaines
Aug. 1: AVLFest - Peter & The Poet / 40 Boyz / Eaze Dogg / The Z-Man Experience at The Social
Aug. 1: AVLFest - The Billy Sea / Pierce Edens / Whitney Monge / Miriam Allen at Sovereign Kava
Aug. 1: AVLFest - The John Henrys / Unspoken Tradition / Fancy & The Gentlemen at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Natalie Brooke / Florenicia & The Feeling / Pink Mercury / Daydream Creatures / Sister Ivy / Smooth Goose / Lavender Blue at Asheville Music Hall
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Para Gozar / Russ Wilson & His Famous Orchestra at The Cellar
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Modelface Comedy / Lo Wolf / Liner Notes at Citizen Vinyl 🎤
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Cold Choir / Pink Beds / Fantomex / Ska City / We Have Ignition / The Beard Cult / Polly Panic at Eulogy
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Zillicoah / Powder Horns / Spill Mill / Janx Spirit / Dark City Kings / Roamck / Rond at Fleetwood’s
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Earthcry / Electrochemical / The Lactones / The Snozzberries / Pleasantly Wild / Beekeepers / Fresh Buzz / Budagraph Spaceship / Boat Command at French Broad River Brewery
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Hustle Souls / Lua Flora / Hannah Kaminer & The Wistfuls / Drunken Prayer / Sugar Bomb / Big Fur at Funkatorium
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Dr Bacon / Larry Keel Experience / Brushfire Stankgrass / Supatight / Chess Club / Bucko / Carolina Sage at The Grey Eagle
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Abby Bryant / Kevin Daniel & The Bottom Line / The Judy Chops / Maggie Valley Band / Vince Junior Band at Highland Brewing
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Phibian / Taylor Martin Trio / Chris McGinnis / Kellin Watson / Dan Johnston / Jim Swayzee / Aaron Lane at Jack of the Wood
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Quinn Sternberg’s Mind Beach / Jacob Rodriguez Group / Planefolk / David Sneed / Katie Oates at Little Jumbo
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Chill Paxton / The Old Futures / Billingsley at New Belgium
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Pinkeye / Cam Girl / Serrate / DSHK / Tiny TVs / On The Block / Blistering Dissonance at The Odd
Aug. 2: AVLFest - DJ Lil Meow Moew / Pixel Vision / Time Sawyer / Free Dead Friday at The One Stop
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Chikomo Marimba / Aunt Vicki / Hype Machine / A. Lee Edwards / Ovadya / Bloom’s Bread & Circus / Chris Jamison at One World Brewing
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Terminator X / The Motherhips / Floating Action / Gyasi / Sensational Barnes Brothers / The High Divers / Melissa McKinney at Orange Peel
Aug. 2: AVLFest - New Pornographers / Tyler Ramsey / Town Mountain / Jon Stickley Trio / The Greenliners / Joshua Quimby at The Outpost
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Sufi Brothers at Salvage Station
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Unihorn / Lazybirds / Bootleg Sinners at Shiloh & Gaines
Aug. 2: AVLFest - The Squealers / The Tallboys / Appalachian Renegades / Arnold Hill / David Earl / Color Machine at The Social
Aug. 2: AVLFest - Pretty Little Goat / Adama / Po’Folk / Virtuous / Laura Blackley / Julianna Jade at Sovereign Kava
Aug. 2: AVLFest - The Juan Benavides Group / The Dirty French Broads / Ismay / Viv & Riley / Zoe & Cloyd / Millie Palmer at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Pocket Strange / Secret B-Sides / Pleasantly Wild / Harvey Street / After Ours / Double Love & The Trouble / Lazrluvr at Asheville Music Hall
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Russ Wilson & His Famous Orchestra / Queen Bee & The Honeylovers at The Cellar
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Modelface Comedy / Jon Charles Dwyer / Liner Notes at Citizen Vinyl 🎤
Aug. 3: AVLFest - C Shreve Hip Hop Showcase / Wagging / Emily Easterly / Silver Doors / Doss Church & Unholy Noise / Shorty Can’t Eat Books at Eulogy
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Tight / Basement Healer / Jesse Velvet / Call The Next Witness / Indelible Sauce / Yesterday’s Clothes / Drowning Leo at Fleetwood’s
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Sanctum Sally / Brett Dennen / Richard Barrett & Friends / Langhorne Slim / Shake Rag / Dangermuffin / Holler Choir / Paul McDonald & The Mourning Doves / Amanda Neil & The Blue Roses at French Broad River Brewery
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Pleasure Chest / The Knotty G’s String Band / Life Like Water / Magenta Sunshine / Dylan Walshe / Keturah Allgood at Funkatorium
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Hank West & The Smokin’ Hots / Firecracker Jazz Band / Doc Aquatic / Colby T Helms & The Virginia Creepers / Lew Card / Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band / Many A Ship at The Grey Eagle
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Andrew Scotchie / Gold Rose / Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos / The Freeway Jubilee / The Pearlsnap Prophets at Highland Brewing
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Bam-A-Lam / Julia Sanders / Dirty McHannah Band / Ashley Chambliss / 81 Drifters / 5J Barrow / Strawhouse at Jack of the Wood
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Brian Felix Organ Trio / Kelle Jolly & Will Boyd / Kevin Daniel / Patrick French / Andrew Wakefield at Little Jumbo
Aug. 3: AVLFest - River Whyless / Hot Bread Selectors / Scott McMicken & The Ever Expanding / Rahm Squad / Dulci at New Belgium
Aug. 3: AVLFest - The Odd’s Party Foul at The Odd
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Black Fluff Duo / DJ Mad Mike / Shed Bugs / Chilltonic / Boat Command at The One Stop
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Saturday Sessions / One World Brewing Blues Jam / Stevie Tombstone / Company Swing at One World Brewing
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Washed Out / Sarah Shook & The Disarmers / King Lazy Eye / Randall Bramblett & The Mega-Blasters / Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast / The Local Honeys / Mar & The Marmelaides at Orange Peel
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Beachwood Sparks / Blitzen Trapper / Susto / The Sadies / Wayne Robbins & The Hellsayers / DJ Bobby Sparkles / Alex Krugg Combo at The Outpost
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Crytpowave / Papadosio / Litz / Trap Jazz / Pink Mercury / Toubab Krewe / Pixel Vision / Tumbao! / Krave Amiko at Salvage Station
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Karma Dogs / Fun Size at Shiloh & Gaines
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Sound Lobotomy / The Bins / Fifty Year Flood / John Kirby & The New Seniors / Copperhead / Stephen Evans & The True Grits / Leisure McCorkle at The Social
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Myxed Messyngers / Miami Gold / Moon Bride / Derek Stipe & Stillweather / Kilough / Tin Roof Echo at Sovereign Kava
Aug. 3: AVLFest - Resonant Rogues / Free Planet Radio / Jane Kramer / Robert Thomas Band / Crys Matthews / Jackson Grimm at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Aug. 4: AVLFest - The Snozzberries / Allgorythms / Songs From The Road Band / Saylor Brothers at Asheville Music Hall
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Reasonably Priced Babies / Dave Desmelik / Liner Notes at Citizen Vinyl 🎤
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Bask / Get Right Band / Daikaiju / Andrew Thelston Band at Eulogy
Aug. 4: AVLFest - The Pinkerton Raid / Keep Flying / Josh Stack at Fleetwood’s
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Chalwa at French Broad River Brewery
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Yarn / Palmyra / Ivy Eld / Kevin Rumley at The Grey Eagle
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo / Toybox Theatre / Detective Blind / Rock Academy Showcase at Highland Brewing
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Lurky Skunk / We Are Ants To Them / Local 604 Bottle Shop Asheville Synth Club at The Odd
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Fritz & Co / Cigarettes @ Sunset / Barrett Davis / Alma Russ at One World Brewing
Aug. 4: AVLFest - The Heavy Heavy / Dylan Leblanc / Rainy Eyes / Em & The Innocent Msichief at Orange Peel
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Christina Chandler / Option 22 / McKinney / Derien Blane at The Outpost
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Jeff Sipe Trio / E’lon JD / Josh Clark’s Visible Spectrum / Adam Chase & Friends at Salvage Station
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Carpal Tullar / Nick & Brew / Ryan Taylor Price / Roots & Dore Band at The Social
Aug. 4: AVLFest - East Coast Dirt / Canon Tyler / The Moon & You / Keith Harry at Sovereign Kava
Aug. 4: AVLFest - Malcolm Holcombe Tribute / Darren Nicholson / Jay Sanders Nonet / Peggy Ratuz at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
(Photo of Jessica Pratt by Samuel Hess)
