Aug 7

Aug 7 AVL Sounds Fest 2026: Day 1

Edwin Arnaudin

Songs from the Road Band (Photo by Olivia Thomas)

6pm @ Revival — Songs from the Road Band

The local bluegrass ensemble’s energy set the precedent for this weekend’s talent-filled event. —Olivia Thomas

6pm @ Eulogy — Dylan Walshe

With a multitude of options to start off the AVL Sounds Fest experience, my choice to head to Eulogy for a more relaxed vibe proved rewarding. Originally from Ireland but currently based in Black Mountain, Dylan Walshe kicked things off with a resonant batch of folk tunes. His Irish brogue and fingerstyle picking seemed to put a spell over the humble crowd. An ode to area legend Malcolm Holcombe added to the emotional impact of the set. —Jonny Leather

6pm @ Asheville Music Hall — Nerd Alert

Despite enjoying Walshe's set, I was feeling restless, so I ran over to Asheville Music Hall, where I was immediately met with the startling whiplash of hearing what's essentially the musical opposite of Walshe's rustic simplicity. The electro-funk duo Nerd Alert was already mid-set, with the full crowd dancing along to contemporary disco. While their recordings border on sounding like the result of an AI prompt, the duo's live instrumentation (guitar, drums, keys) helped to provide a much-needed human element. A cover of Disturbed's "Down with the Sickness" brought a jarring conclusion to the set. —JL

7:30pm @ Fleetwood’s — Madder Max

Adorned in post-apocalyptic costumes, the energetic local punk rockers provided a memorable start to the festival’s opening day. —Bryce Lafoon

7:30pm @ Asheville Music Hall — Lavender Blue

Continuing with the theme of musical whiplash, slowcore quartet Lavender Blue directly followed Nerd Alert on the Asheville Music Hall stage. The band is more directly in line with my personal tastes, but clearly not as much so with festivalgoers. Following Nerd Alert, the vast majority of the crowd abandoned Asheville Music Hall, leaving a near-empty void before the start of the dreamy indie-rock sounds. Fortunately, folks slowly trickled in as the quartet showcased some tunes from an upcoming EP. In the spirit of restlessness, I trickled out halfway through to cram in another set… —JL

Cactus Kate & The Pricks (Photo by Rey Castillo)

7:30pm @ Revival — Cactus Kate & The Pricks

The local country/swing band delivered an engaging set that blended heartfelt songwriting, storytelling, humor, and a little bit of grit. The performance felt intimate, with frontwoman Kate Leigh Bryant creating a genuine connection with the audience between songs by sharing personal stories and inviting everyone into the inspiration behind the music. —Rey Castillo

7:30pm @ Third Room — Beekeepers

The rap rock outfit comprised of members of Papadosio and Natural Born Leaders was rocking out hard when I arrived to Third Room. Adding to the major mood shift, the venue was oddly brightly lit for a rock show — possibly a result of the full scale projections, but unusual nonetheless. The combination of hip hop, funk and hard rock has had rough history, marred by some of the bad nü metal of the late 90s, but Beekeepers are more a reflection of the good stuff like Living Color, Rage Against The Machine and the unfortunately mostly forgotten Follow For Now that preceded abominations like Trapt and Papa Roach. —JL

7:30pm @ Funkatorium — Gypsy Reviere

I only caught the final song of this set, but it was enough to leave a positive impression. Before closing, the band shared a few laughs with the audience, inviting everyone to join their email list with tongue-in-cheek promises of "lots of spam" and even joking about a free Jenga starter kit featuring recordings and videos inspired by Django Reinhardt and gypsy jazz. Their playful stage banter created an easygoing, welcoming atmosphere that had the crowd smiling. —RC

9pm @ Highland Brewing Co. — Tina & Her Pony

Strong vocals and richly textured guitars propelled a warm, engaging set by Tina & Her Pony on the opening night of AVL Sounds Fest. Led by singer Tina Collins, the local folk group delivered a strong collection of originals alongside a handful of well-chosen covers, including a smashing rendition of Waxahatchee’s “Right Back to It.”

Guest appearances from several fellow AVL Sounds Fest performers added another layer to the set, with Alex Krug — who takes the stage at the Funkatorium on Aug. 7 — providing a particular highlight. Altogether, Tina & Her Pony offered a terrific showcase of Asheville’s homegrown talent and a fitting cap to the opening-night bill at Highland Brewing. —Micah Rogers

Improvement Movement (Photo by Jonny Leather)

9pm @ The Orange Peel — Improvement Movement

The Atlanta band created an intimate atmosphere despite the festival setting, drawing listeners into deeply personal stories of love lost, friendship, and perseverance. Honest stage banter and heartfelt delivery made the performance feel genuine rather than rehearsed, while their dynamic musicianship balanced delicate moments with bursts of driving energy. —RC

One of the few non-local artists performing on the first day of AVL Sounds Fest, the soft rock / prog-pop quartet out of Atlanta, GA won over the crowd at Orange Peel pretty instantly with its airtight harmonies. It’s no surprise that they found a home at ATO Records. Although I couldn’t help but want the band to take some weirder turns like 1970s greats 10cc, it was hard not to be impressed by the groups technical prowess and lush sound. —JL

9pm @ Eulogy — Drunken Prayer

If you were needing a counter to the squeaky clean aesthetic of Improvement Movement, you couldn’t have found a better option than Drunken Prayer, whose set of fiery hybrid of honky tonk and old fashioned rock & roll contained the appropriate layer of grit to satisfy a Southern biker gang. —JL

9pm @ Third Room — Lactones

Bring us back home and take us far away again! Atmospherically signatured as “drip noise,” this psychedelic, funky, bluesy, jazzy collective found a golden pairing in this Wall Street space. —Kevin Evans

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

10:30pm @ The Orange Peel — Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

Karl Denson and his stellar band had the entire Orange Peel dancing during Thursday night's headlining performance at AVL Sounds Fest. The acclaimed, road-tested frontman set the tone with a fiery saxophone solo before the band shifted into high gear, unleashing its signature blend of funk, jazz, blues, and hip-hop.

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Photo by Micah Rogers)

A playful medley that wove in Cold War Kids' "Hang Me Up to Dry" proved to be one of the evening's standout moments, while a few throwback tracks and stories from Denson's days performing as Sexual Chocolate were also a delight. The infectious grooves never let up, and the enthusiastic crowd responded in kind, with smiles stretching across the packed room. —MR

(Photo of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe by Bryce Lafoon)