AVL Sounds Fest 2026: Day 2

Dead Eggs (Photo by Jonny Leather)

2pm @ Fleetwood's — Dead Eggs

The early afternoon Friday start time may not have been ideal for everyone, but it gave me a good excuse to cut out of work a little early and catch Dead Eggs. The punk trio only made its live debut a month ago opening for Daikaiju, but it'd be hard to tell they were a new band.

It doesn't hurt that singer/guitarist Joe Hooten and bassist Chad Nance also perform together in Pinkeye, and that they've got a veteran powerhouse drummer in Joel Suttles — a member of '80s Athens band Mercyland, which was fronted by David Barbe of Sugar. The new trio was a throwback to the raw sound of 1980s American independent rock, with flashes of Minutemen, Hüsker Dü, and Wipers coming through in the performance. —Jonny Leather

3:30pm @ Funkatorium — Slow Packer

The local indie rock/pop outfit delivered a brilliant, intimate set during their afternoon slot. Equal parts catchy and captivating, the band made the most of the cozy setting and proved they’re the real deal. Asheville music fans would be wise to seek them out. —Micah Rogers

Lo Wolf (Photo by Kevin Evans)

3:30pm @ The Mule — Lo Wolf

What a great wake up call washing through the valley! Howling beautifully in originally written songs gathered from punk, folk, country, and even classical wavelengths, Lo has a brilliant way of smacking you in the face, touching you in the heart, and tickling your brain. —Kevin Evans

Cheeks (Photo by Jonny Leather)

3:30pm @ Fleetwood's — Cheeks

The intimate venue filled in a bit more by the time Cheeks hit the stage. The noisy local post-punk quintet wasted little time before launching into a full-on sweaty good time. The lively performance was an intoxicating feast unlike the bulk of the music on display during AVL Sounds Fest. —JL

Cheeks (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

Grace Bowers (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

5pm @ Asheville Yards — Grace Bowers

Boy, can this 20-year-old guitarist shred! She's an unsuspecting presence when she walks on stage — right up until she plays — and she's backed by a band every bit as talented. Rumor has it she's already made an imprint on the Nashville scene, so it's cool that she's sharing it with us. —John Simmonds

Grace Bowers (Photo by John Simmonds)

The singer/songwriter shredded in the late afternoon, playing a rocking set list that left the crowd mesmerized. —Bryce Lafoon

5pm @ Eulogy — Detective Blind

Sisters Montgomery, Andersen, and Kittredge delivered an energetic, impressive alt-rock set that balanced sharp originals with inventive covers. The trio plays with a confidence and technical skill well beyond their years, making it clear that the group won’t be a local secret for long. Keep an eye on these gals—they’re poised to make a serious mark on the Asheville music scene. —MR

Toubab Krewe (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

6:30pm @ Asheville Yards — Toubab Krewe

After a delayed start due to lightning, the skies cleared over Asheville Yards, and Toubab Krewe had the crowd dancing with its unique fusion of West African–influenced psychedelic instrumental rock. These guys have been some of Asheville’s most beloved musical ambassadors for more than 20 years, and their set proved they are still going strong. Their regular drummer — New Orleans killer Terrence Houston — wasn’t on stage, but they were joined by longtime collaborator and local resident Adama Dembele on percussion, whose fast hands on the djembe wowed attendees. —Jake Frankel

Anticipation was high for a magical evening and Toubab Krewe energized the crowd with a lively set that got festival-goers moving and grooving to their unique sound. —BL

Duunes (Photo by John Simmonds)

6:30pm @ Eulogy — DUUNES

The NYC alt-rocker’s set woke me up out of my weekday blues and got the blood pumping — a pop/punk sound with clean vocals, which was exactly what I needed to get moving. It’s a must-see act if they come through your area. —JS

8pm @ Barley’s — Shorty Can't Eat Books

The longtime friends and bandmates of more than 20 years tore through a freewheeling, high-energy set packed with impressive original songs and humorous stand-up bits. The combination was undeniably entertaining, with a packed crowd dancing, shouting, and laughing in equal measure. —MR

Designer (Photo by John Simmonds)

8pm @ Eulogy — Designer

The Asheville band’s punk F-U sound had the whole crowd riled up. They're the kind of act you'd catch here or at Fleetwood's on any random night — and I ran into a few of them later on at Big Freedia. —JS

Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

8pm @ Asheville Yards — Preservation Hall Jazz Band

For its Yards performance, this rotating collective of New Orleans jazz masters featured a young lineup that leaned into uptempo songs to keep the dance party going. —JF

Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Photo by John Simmonds)

After the high-energy bill at Eulogy, a calmer set was in order. Cue Preservation Hall Jazz Band: just what the soul needs at a festival like this. They spiced up the evening with that New Orleans sound and drew a crowd from all walks of life, everybody swaying as they jammed. Felt like being back in NOLA, eating a muffuletta at 3 a.m. with one eye open. —JS

The legendary band performed an upbeat set, closing out with a rousing encore of “When The Saints Go Marching In.” —BF

9:30pm @ Fleetwood’s — Goodgoat

Darkness’ brightest side in full technicolor! Flashing thrashing riffs and rhythms cascading from a three-piece band, the energy cracked the house in the best way. Metal and punk surged from the instruments, making grungy, bluesy, funky babies on stage. —KE

Big Freedia (Photo by Bryce Lafoon)

10pm @ Asheville Yards — Big Freedia

The South didn't stop after Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Shortly after, fellow New Orleans native Big Freedia took the same stage, and the Queen Diva of Bounce twerked through the entire show — my back hurt just watching. She and her crew weren't the only ones shaking, either; she pulled a small crowd up on stage with her, and everyone else had a front-row view of the back-end. —JS

Big Freedia (Photo by John Simmonds)

Backed by just a drummer and three impressively twerking dancers, Big Freedia had everyone at Yards bouncing. One highlight came when she invited brave members of the crowd to join the twerk party on stage. —JF

The most entertaining set of the evening came from rapper Big Freedia, who had arguably the most ass twerkers on any Asheville stage at one time. —BF

Electro Lust (Photo by John Simmonds)

11pm @ Revival — Electrolust

The local supergroup kept the dance party going late into the night with heavy beats, James Bond-style horn lines and big energy. Bonus points to frontwoman Mary Frances, who not only slayed the mic but also brandished a bubble gun, firing it at all the right moments. —JF

I'd bet you haven't seen a brass section, synth, drums, and electronic beats all slapped together like that, but it was exactly what a Friday night called for. There was barely room to move and the crowd still managed to dance like it was 1988. We're lucky they're local, because everyone should see them any chance they get. —JS

11:15pm @ The Orange Peel — Young Gun Silver Fox

This London-based rock group had a distinctly Steely-Dan-esqe vibe that worked well in the late night slot at the Peel. Many of us who were new to the band couldn't help but smile at how much co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee resembled a rock ‘n’ roll Gandalf the Grey. —JF

(Grace Bowers photo by Olivia Thomas)