Chatham County Line: “Winter Wilder” Holiday Tour 2026
ALL AGES PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW (seating and standing room options available at checkout) CHATHAM COUNTY LINE For 20 years now, Chatham County Line has undertaken a special tour in December to mark the holiday season and the close of another year. A long set celebrating the 10 albums of original music that the audience requests is followed by a set of covers that celebrate the AM Gold that first dropped instruments in their hands. Always a good time and always special, this is a CCL show not to be missed.Special Guests to be announced in November, get your tickets now!
James McMurtry and the Martial Law Review
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY JAMES McMURTRY AND THE MARTIAL LAW REVIEW “James McMurtry may be the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation” – Stephen King James McMurtry released The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy on June 20 via New West Records. The 10-song collection was co-produced by McMurtry & Don Dixon (R.E.M., The Smithereens) and is his first album in four years. It follows his 2021 acclaimed New West debut, The Horses and the Hounds, which Uncut Magazine said “lifts storytelling-in-song to meticulous new levels” and Pitchfork awarded an 8.0, saying “James McMurtry stands out even among the Lone Star State’s finest songwriters…” The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy features appearances by Sarah Jarosz, Charlie Sexton, Bonnie Whitmore, Bukka Allen, and more alongside his trusted backing band—BettySoo on accordion & backing vocals, Cornbread on bass, Tim Holt on guitar, and Daren Hess on drums. As varied as they are, McMurtry’s new story-songs find inspiration in scraps from his family’s past: a rough pencil sketch by Ken Kesey that serves as the album cover, the hallucinations experienced by his father, the legendary writer Larry McMurtry, an old poem by a family friend. A supremely insightful and inventive storyteller, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, setting them to arrangements that have the elements of Americana but sound too sly and smart for such a general category. Funny and sad often in the same breath, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy adds a new chapter to a long career that has enjoyed a resurgence as young songwriters like Sarah Jarosz and Jason Isbell (who is namechecked on the new album) cite him as a formative influence. BettySoo It’s the voice that gets you first. “BettySoo may well have the most gorgeous voice in Texas …if not in all contemporary folk – its purity and strength can be downright devastating.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR BettySoo’s vocal prowess is a thing of wonder. A world-class instrument of deft phrasing and purity, a voice that knows when to hold back and when to dive in. At her own live shows, taking a verse onstage with friends or singing harmonies in sessions with Austin’s finest, BettySoo sings with consummate loveliness and self-assurance. A voice that knows the roots of American music inside and out; coming from a most unexpected place – a diminutive Korean-American with a deceptively girl-next-door demeanor. Then the performance reels you in. “Truly remarkable. BettySoo’s sharp, often self-deprecating humor skillfully wove the songs together. Her clear, evocative voice and poignant lyrics recall Patty Griffin and Joni Mitchell, and did I mention she’s a hell of a guitar player?” – NO DEPRESSION, live concert review
14th Annual Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration
– ALL AGES – PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW (guaranteed seating and standing room only options are available at checkout) – “BAR ROOM SESSIONS” AND DOORS OPEN AT 7PM DJANGO JAZZ FEST Django Jazz Fest, hosted by Michael Joseph Harris and Hot Club of Baltimore, brings a stellar lineup of top musicians to perform music inspired by legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt from the 1930’s and 40’s swing era in Paris. The legacy of Django Reinhardt has spawned a worldwide community of acoustic musicians who strive to play with the same level of virtuosity, self-expression, rhythmic complexity, and harmonic sophistication. The style of music came to be known as Gypsy Jazz with its soulful, deep grooving swing feel and unmistakable bluesy sound that characterized the era. Musicians from rock, jazz, bluegrass, classical and folk genres have gravitated to the Gypsy jazz style because it demands great skill but in the spirit of fun and showmanship while including a vast repertoire spanning early swing music, musette waltzes, romantic classical music, Latin, Brazilian, and many forms of folk music across Europe. The result is an extremely entertaining, diverse and relatable music for listeners of all ages and a music which unites acoustic musicians from all genres in the common goal of reaching the top of their virtuosity as improvisers. The lifeline that runs through everything we do is about community and family as witnessed each year in France at Samois sur seine where musicians from all over the world gather every summer to play 24/7 at the campsite near where Django Reinhardt spent his final years. The aesthetic is about providing pure entertainment while maintaining a strong emotional connection to the music and bringing audiences into that feeling. The consummate Gypsy jazz artist strives for technical prowess as a musician through diligence and practice, learning the repertoire of songs, and developing a sophisticated harmonic palette for improvisation by playing with others and being inspired and challenged every day.
Patio Show: Tom Fenton & the Rhythmic Revolution
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVETom Fenton & The Rhythmic Revolution Tommy Fenton & The Rhythmic Revolution brings a high-energy mix of funk, soul, and rock favorites, built around strong vocals, keys, and deep grooves. Tommy is joined by his brother on keys for a stripped-down, groove-driven set full of familiar songs with plenty of soul.
Patio Show: The 40, 20, 10s
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE The 40,20,10s started in Asheville NC, during the global pandemic after Galen’s first ( and hopefully last) heart attack! With a lot of down time on his hands he thought… you know what!?… life is short….might as well have fun. So in the kitchen of Springs Wade, the two of them worked out some of Galen’s new songs and went looking for musicians that wanted to play some original tunes. In addition to Galen, The band consists of Jayson Tomlin on bass, Marc Horne on drums, Nick Marshall on Keys and Jay Moye on Guitar. Their latest album NEON— recorded at the historic studios at Citizen Vinyl (Ash.NC) with producer Kevin Moloney (U2, Sinéad O’Connor)—is cutting-edge, classic Americana. The songs elicit images in your mind: photographs, landscapes, perhaps something you’ve lived yourself. A sense of nostalgia. If you can, hop in the car, point that thing west, turn on the radio and just keep going. The band was recently signed to Chicken Ranch Records/ Space Factory Media out of Austin TX.
The Travers Brothership Presents: The Last Waltz
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY The Travers Brothers bring The Last Waltz to life at The Grey Eagle in Asheville this Thanksgiving Eve, November 25th, featuring an all-star lineup of musicians from Snarky Puppy, Toubab Krewe, Hustle Souls, and The Marshall Tucker Band. A night celebrating the timeless music of The Band! STARRING: The Travers Brothership, Chris Bullock (Snarky Puppy), Justin Perkins (Toubab Krewe), Billy Litz (Hustle Souls), Shane Pruitt (Marshall Tucker Band), Jack Mascari, Tony Cafiero, Andre Lyles, Ashley Heath, and Marcus White.
Willi Carlisle – The Universal Bubba Tour
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY WILLI CARLISLE With a heavy-duty catalog of new material for a career first double album, The Universal Bubba marks a half dozen releases for folksinger Willi Carlisle and reaches new heights with the added accelerant of first time producer Tyler Childers. In an all-time DIY effort, Childers and his band convened to a makeshift home studio nestled in the Bywater District of New Orleans for two weeks to cut 17 tracks that expand Carlisle’s sonic scrapbook and capture the off-kilter characters living in his songs. “I think this one goes to outer space,” says Carlisle. “I think this is the widest range of influences that I’ve ever had. It touches on funk, it touches on Americana, Cajun, oldtime, and experimental music.” With Childers’ band behind him, Carlisle embraced the freedom to wander across genres both familiar and new, testing out instrumentation and toying with the surreality of traditions being turned on their head. “It feels like getting drunk at the Civil War reenactment, or cruising at the cattle auction, or doing molly at the square dance,” says Carlisle. “It’s the first time I’ve ever used synthesizers and double electric guitars. There’s also more fretless 19th century style banjo on it than any record I’ve ever made.” Exploration aside, Carlisle’s mission as a folksinger largely remains the same – documenting the stories and struggles of the people and balancing the humor and hope of existence. “I want to make a universal folk music. Songs for all kinds of weirdos,” says Carlisle. “With the idea that there is nobody that doesn’t have folk songs and everyone deserves folk songs. I want to write songs that prove the old weird America didn’t go anywhere, that we are living and dying for it everyday. I believe there’s noble work to do in that context. That if we feel despair, we don’t need to because there’s so much good work to do.” A top candidate for encapsulating the energy of The Universal Bubba, “Gas Station” is a driving recollection of life on the road with a sing-along chorus. Created largely on the fly and beginning with Childers’ jokingly referring to a knife-fight, the end result was Carlisle’s only co-write with his producer on the record. “We sat in a circle with pen, paper, instruments,” says Carlisle, “Tyler suggested, ‘goodle days’ instead of ‘good old days.’ We kept shaping verses, agreeing that my choruses were working. Suddenly I realized, this was a co-write! But the red light was already on. We were co-writing and recording at the same time. Wild as hell.” Of the anarchist anthem “The Master’s Hammer”, Childers wanted a pure, essential folk song ringing out with harmonica, banjo and three part harmonies. ”I was trying to boil my ideology down into something I can sing for my friends,” says Carlisle. The title tracks sprawl gloriously in two parts, giving praise to do-it-yourselfers that corral the cosmos into being. Carlisle sings for “booty shaking rock and rollers” and “small town hellraisers” and “unofficial mayors” the world over. Taking on a project of this size with Tyler Childers as debut producer requires hard work, camaraderie and supreme self confidence. Undeterred by the challenge and grounded in his beliefs, Carlisle has proved that it really does “take a Universal Bubba doin’ it for themselves.”
Patio Show: Ashley Heath
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE Ashley Heath With a voice often described as “velvet soul,” Asheville songwriter Ashley Heath has been winning over the hearts of Americana music lovers since she gave up her barista apron in the spring of 2015. Currently on tour in support of her sophomore album “Where Hope Never Dies,” Heath continues to deliver her signature blend of sultry blues and anthemic rock n’ roll arrangements to clubs and festivals nationwide, most recently appearing at acclaimed events including Merlefest, Bonnaroo, Shakori Hills, and more and supporting the likes of Donna The Buffalo, Del McCoury Band, Anders Osborne, Shamarr Allen (of Galactic), and other staples on the scene. Often compared to music influences Bonnie Raitt, Grace Potter, and Susan Tedeschi, Heath still manages to find a voice all her own, and has been recognized across Appalachia for her strong songwriting and vocal abilities, having made the WNCW Top 100 list and Mountain Xpress “Best Of” awards several years in a row. On the heels of a jam-packed year touring throughout the American southeast and northern Europe, and with her band “The Heathens” in tow, Ashley Heath aims to bring her message of hope and resilience to listeners everywhere and show by example that all it takes to achieve your dreams is the belief that you are capable.
Patio Show: Tall Boys AVL duo
ALL AGESLIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE Tall Boys AVL Duo Original tunes focused on harmonies, lyrics & rhythm w/ stellar soloing. Tallboys AVL pour a lifetime of music into every show. The duo features James Fisher and Bill Melanson.
Patio Show: Emily Woodhull w/ Laney Barnett
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEEmily Woodhull & Laney Barnett Emily Woodhull left the rush of city life behind for the quiet charm of a small Virginia town, where she found her voice in the stories and emotions of the Shenandoah Valley. With roots in the valley’s timeless beauty and a touch of alternative country, her music weaves vivid imagery with raw emotion. Whether she’s writing by lamplight or collaborating with Nashville’s finest, Emily crafts songs that feel like snapshots of life—authentic, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Laney Barnett is an alt-country, rock singer/songwriter from Asheville, NC. Laney is a violinist, teacher, and river guide. She has influences of Appalachia and remains true to her inner most voice.