Jul 14

Jul 14 This Week in Asheville: July 13-19

Asheville’s wealth of live music, theater, and comedy 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.

American Football

Since Cap'n Jazz disbanded in 1995, the members of the heavily influential Midwest emo group have played in seemingly an endless number of bands, often with one another. Of them all, this Mike Kinsella-led project is the most beloved. His combination of mathy guitars and heart-on-the-sleeve vocals hits as deep in 2026 as it did on the band’s 1999 debut. —Jonny Leather

w/ Ian Sweet
at The Orange Peel
Wednesday, July 15
Doors: 7pm /Show: 8pm
[indie rock, alternative, emo]
more info

Band of Horses + Dinosaur Jr.

The first-ever show at The Orange Peel's new outdoor venue, Hellbender, promises to kick things off right. The co-headlining indie rock mainstays each perform arguably their most iconic album — Band of Horses plays Everything All the Time, Dinosaur Jr. plays Where You Been. —JL

at Hellbender
Friday, July 17
Doors: 5:30pm /Show: 7pm
[indie rock, folk rock]
more info

James Austin Johnson

A master of impressions, the Nashville-born comedian has secured a steady role on Saturday Night Live in recent years. His hilarity stretches well beyond imitating the current president, but he's not getting off stage Friday night without at least one quick impression of the orange menace. —JL

at The Orange Peel
Friday, July 17
Doors: 7pm /Show: 8pm
[stand-up comedy]
more info

Watchhouse + Fruit Bats

Opening weekend at the city’s newest music space rolls on with a slightly more laid back vibe than the night before, though count on Eric D. Johnson cranking up the energy during his middle set. Fruit Bats’ excellent new album The Landfill should sound phenomenal with a full band, giving way to Watchhouse’s more subdued but no less engaging Americana stylings to close out the night. —Edwin Arnaudin

w/ Two Runner
at Hellbender
Saturday, July 18
Doors: 5pm /Show: 6pm
[indie rock, folk rock]
more info

Kurt Vile

Along with his good friend and former War on Drugs bandmate Adam Granduciel, the impeccably chill singer/songwriter from Philadelphia played a central role in the resurgence of Neil Young-worshipping folk rock in the late aughts. His new album Philadelphia's Been Good to Me doesn't mess too much with the formula that's made Vile a bit of a cult hero, and that's a good thing. As an added bonus, garage power pop trio Being Dead will bring plenty of energy before things mellow out for the headliner. —JL

w/ Being Dead
at The Orange Peel
Sunday, July 19
Doors: 7pm /Show: 8pm
[indie rock]
more info

Jason Isbell

The beloved singer/songwriter loves playing in Asheville, but it’s pretty much always been with his band The 400 Unit. The chance to see him solo in Brevard on the open-air Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium stage is too good an opportunity to pass up. —EA

at Brevard Music Center
Sunday, July 19
Show: 7:30pm
[alt-country, folk rock]
more info