For two years, it was called AVLFest. In 2025, organizers opted to take the year off to regroup, in part due to the devastation left by Tropical Storm Helene. On Thursday, Aug. 6, it re-emerges as AVL Sounds Fest — for the most part, the same fest with a new name.

Carved in the likeness of multi-venue music festivals such as SXSW, CMJ, Hopscotch, and Savannah Stopover, AVL Sounds Fest sends showgoers running all around the city on a treasure hunt, searching for new favorite bands. Any given weekend in this town is loaded with show options, but the single all-encompassing pass pressures show-goers to overindulge to get their money's worth. Like most festivals, if you don't pace yourself, it can be an exhausting experience akin to gorging at an all-you-can-eat buffet. But it can be equally rewarding with a measured approach and a bit of guidance.

I appreciate the intention behind highlighting the Asheville music scene, and I recognize how difficult it is to showcase the full range of what's happening in a region this chock-full of musicians. Still, I can't help but feel this year's lineup is missing a sizable chunk of what excites me about the current state of local music. The old guard and folkier contingents are heavily favored over the vital avant-garde scene and the wealth of inventive young acts populating bills at Static Age Records, Fleetwood's, and elsewhere any given week. But at least — I think — there's only one Grateful Dead tribute band.

My own preferences aside, there are a lot of worthwhile local acts on this bill. There are also some solid headliners, including a now-rare Dr. Dog tour date and a double dose of New Orleans legends in Big Freedia and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

If you've got a ticket and you're feeling some paralysis of choice, you could just play the showgoing version of Russian roulette. But we at Asheville Stages are also here to help, with picks for every single time slot.

Thursday, Aug. 6

6:00pm
Gabrielknowseverything at Third Room

It all begins here, and this decision will likely set the tone for the rest of the night. In a festival loaded with rootsy music, why not kick things off with some hip-hop?

7:30pm
Madder Max at Fleetwood’s

If you're already at Third Room, you can't be faulted for sticking around for genre-bending local rockers Beekeepers (featuring members of Natural Born Leaders and Papadosio), who are sure to deliver an excellent, energetic set. But you're unlikely to find a wilder show all weekend than when Mad Max-themed post-apocalyptic hardcore band Madder Max tears apart Fleetwood's.

9:00pm
Improvement Movement at The Orange Peel

Packing big harmonies and catchy melodies, this Atlanta quartet is a throwback to the progressive pop sounds of 1970s groups like 10cc and Supertramp. With a new album due out on ATO later this month, the band could be destined for bigger things soon.

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

The sax player/flautist may have made his name as a sideman for rock powerhouses Lenny Kravitz and The Rolling Stones, but his own band is a mighty, seasoned funk-rock machine built to bring the right kind of energy to close out the night.

Friday, Aug. 7

2:00pm
Paper Pills at Eulogy

If you're bravely starting your day early, you're going to need a good, strong shot of adrenaline. This fiery young local quintet, with a new album dropping later this month, should provide a potent emotional gut-punch to wake you up. Sadly, another personal favorite, post-hardcore band Fantømex, is performing during the same block (at Asheville Music Hall), making this a difficult choice.

3:30pm
Cheeks at Fleetwood’s

Word of mouth has been spreading quickly about one of Asheville's newer post-punk bands. Cheeks are the real deal, and bound to bring it at their punk-rock chapel home base.

5:00pm
Spaceman Jones & The Motherships at Revival

It's a rare opportunity to catch one of Asheville's finest MCs — paired with one of its best producers, Cliff B. "Mother Hood" Worsham — on one of the city’s best stages.

6:30pm
Toubab Krewe at Asheville Yards

Drawing heavy influence from the polyrhythmic sounds of Mali and fusing it with jammy American rock sensibilities, the quintet has grown into one of Asheville's most reputable exports — which unfortunately means they're usually away from home and on the road.

8:00pm
Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Asheville Yards

It won’t be as magical as seeing the group in its historic home venue — very few things are — but don’t let that stop you from catching the legendary jazz outfit for a healthy dose of NOLA, before Big Freedia takes over the stage.

9:30pm
The Hypos at The Orange Peel

Dr. Dog isn't just headlining AVL Sounds Fest — several members are also showcasing side projects over the weekend, effectively making it Dr. Dog Fest. First up is current Asheville resident Scott McMicken. A collaboration with Greg Cartwright (Oblivians; Reigning Sound), this band features both songwriters at the top of their games.

10:00pm
Big Freedia at Asheville Yards

You're not gonna see anything else like Big Freedia during AVL Sounds Fest. One of the marquee names of bounce music — a subgenre of hip-hop infused with the colorful musical DNA of New Orleans — the rapper may just inspire showgoers to twerk en masse.

11:00pm
Marley Carroll at Asheville Music Hall

There’s really no following Big Freedia, but if you’re not ready to call it a night, a dance party with Asheville’s beloved DJ is more likely to give your night the necessary closure after a long day than any other option.

Saturday, Aug. 8

2:00pm
Nest of Singing Birds at Funkatorium

This cooperative of singers, centered on Sheila Kay Adams and her second cousin Donna Ray Norton, beautifully carries forward the tradition of the Appalachian folk ballad with deep reverence.

3:30pm
Day & Dream at One World West

It may be a bit early in the day for some hazy dream pop, but the duo hasn't been playing out much, so it's best to catch them while you can.

5:00pm
Black Twig Pickers at The Orange Peel

Mike Gangloff, Nathan Bowles, Isak Howell, and Sally Anne Morgan perform old-time Appalachian folk with all the soot and sweat that transports you to a hootenanny where the moonshine is plentiful, so this should be an easy choice. But festival schedules are cruel and force showgoers to make tough decisions: over at The Mule, a special edition of the monthly series Golden Folk Sessions could see some incredible surprise drop-ins.

6:30pm
Doc Aquatic at The Grey Eagle

Although the hazy indie rock quartet may be local, they don’t play out all too often, so it’s best to catch them when you can. Sure, Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel may be playing over at The Orange Peel, but you’ll probably be seeing them at Hellbender on Sunday anyway.

8:00pm
JD Pinkus & Tall Tall Trees at The Orange Peel

It was a match made in weirdo heaven when the two psychedelic banjo-pluckers teamed up while Mike Savino (aka Tall Tall Trees) was still based in Asheville. This will be a rare opportunity to see them perform together. Unfortunately, set conflicts are plentiful during this block: Dr. Dog drummer Eric Slick will be over at The Grey Eagle with his beloved long-running solo project, while local psych rockers Impending Joy will be melting faces at Fleetwood's.

9:30pm
Fancy Gap at Revival

They may not be a recognizable name, so many may be overlooking this show entirely — especially with local favorites such as River Whyless, Andrew Scotchie, and Ashley Heath & Her Heathens all playing at the same time. The group is the latest project of Stuart McLamb, who long fronted the excellent Raleigh-based indie-rock group The Love Language, which released several top-notch albums on indie standard-bearer Merge Records.

10:00pm
C. Shreve The Professor’s Hip Hop Showcase at Asheville Music Hall

As one of the top MCs of the Asheville scene, Shreve is as tuned in to the local hip-hop underground as anyone. His showcase in 2024 was memorable, and this promises to be just as good.

11:15pm
dd Toby Leaman Trio at The Grey Eagle

Sharing songwriting and lead-vocal duties with Scott McMicken, the eponymous artist has been in Dr. Dog since the beginning, over two decades ago. His solo project taps into a similar bouncy, psych-tinged power-pop space that should instantly appeal to longtime Dr. Dog fans.

Sunday, Aug. 9

1:00pm
Asheville Rock Academy at Highland Brewing Co.

Support the kids. They usually rock harder than most adults.

2:00pm
Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel at Hellbender

The longtime friends teamed up earlier this year on Celestun, a heartfelt collection of folk tunes that recall Neil Young’s most delicate moments. It’s the kind of music that works well with lying on a blanket outdoors, soaking up some Sunday sun.

3:45pm
Floating Action at Hellbender

The long-running project of Black Mountain-based Seth Kauffman released its first several albums on Park The Van, the same small indie label that was home to Dr. Dog. So it's only appropriate that the longtime friends will share the biggest stage on the final day of the festival.

5:00pm
Cam Girl at Eulogy

If you're one of those folks unwilling to trudge out to Hellbender for the biggest name of the festival, you've got one hell of an alternate option. The local queer glam-metal rockers rarely play a room with a top-notch sound system, generally opting for the divier punk rooms. This promises to be one of the most exhilarating sets of the entire festival.

5:30pm
Dr. Dog at Hellbender

Merging the melody-driven pop-rock sounds of the 1960s with the lo-fi indie sensibilities of bands like Guided by Voices and Beat Happening, Philly's Dr. Dog carved out a path for itself in the early aughts, gradually building a huge, devoted following. Recently, the band has more or less gone on hiatus from the grueling grind of touring, opting to play just a couple of rare dates per year. Fortunately, with founding member Scott McMicken now calling Asheville home, AVL Sounds Fest was able to convince the band to make one of its rare live appearances as the grand finale of a long weekend of shows.