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.
Bill Kirchen and the Two Turtle Doves: Honky Tonk Holiday Show
ALL AGES SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE Honky Tonk Holiday Show! Bill Kirchen and The Two Turtle Doves (Jack Saunders and Rick Richards) will make a stop on their annual Honky Tonk Holiday Tour at The Grey Eagle on December 13! Forget the Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah. For a real taste of seasonal cheer, nothing says joy to the world like Bill Kirchen singing Daddy’s Drinkin’ Up Our Christmas. Featured is a sleigh-full of rarely heard holiday numbers from the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and honky tonk bags: Silent Surfin’ Night, Truckin’ Trees for Christmas, Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy and many more. But be ye not afraid, there’ll be so much more than holiday songs of questionable taste; you can count on a truckload of dieselbilly classics to take the edge off the holiday fuss. Bill will be touring with his all-star Texas band The Silent Knights (Jack Saunders on bass and Rick Richards on drums). BILL KIRCHEN Grammy nominated guitarist, singer and songwriter Bill Kirchen first gained national recognition as a founding father of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. His trademark guitar licks drove their Hot Rod Lincoln cut into the Top Ten in 1972. He has released over a dozen albums under his own name, and played guitar live or on record with a who’s who of Americana and Roots Rock’N’ Roll, among them Gene Vincent, Link Wray, Bo Diddley, Hazel Dickens, Doug Sahm, Hoyt Axton, Emmylou Harris, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. His latest recording “Cat out of the Bag” was released May 22, 2026 on Last Music Company, and hit number one on the Alt Country Specialty chart in July.
Patio Show: Lochlann Kilburn
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVELochlann Kilburn North Carolina duo blending Lochlann Kilburn’s haunting vocals with Kevin Plant’s multi-instrumental mastery. A soulful fusion of Americana, Celtic, Rock, and Jam. Authentic, versatile music for the heart and soul.
Celebrating John Prine with Gill Francis and Friends
– ALL AGES – PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW Celebrating John Prine with Gill Francis & Friends, will take place at The Grey Eagle on October 10th for a special evening honoring the songs, stories, humor, and heart of one of America’s most beloved songwriters. Gill Francis will be joined by an incredible lineup of special guests: Jeff Sipe, Claude Coleman, Quinn Sternberg, Thommy Knoles, Marcus White, Ashley Heath, Brock Butler, and Julianna Jade — coming together to celebrate the timeless music and unmistakable spirit of John Prine. Come sing along to the songs we love and celebrate the legacy of a true American original.
Patio Show: Sean Tobin
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVESean Tobin Born and raised on the New Jersey shore, Sean Tobin was influenced by folk-singing troubadours and high-energy rockers alike. His high-energy performances and rock-tinged releases are due mostly in part to his upbringing in the Jersey shore bar scene. Tobin honed his craft playing countless shows in dives, clubs and basements, as well as during his time busking on the streets of Galway, Ireland throughout 2015 and 2017. He has performed at such festivals as SXSW, Americanafest, North2Shore, and Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings, and has opened for the likes of Jason Isbell, Rhett Miller, and many more. His seventh albumwill be recorded Fall 2026
PATIO SHOW: Kyley Byrd w/ The High Mountain Flyers
ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEFREE SHOW: Kyley Byrd and the High Mountain Flyers Kyley Byrd is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist familiar to the Asheville music scene for two decades. Her sultry voice delivers a variety of musical styles with honest and heartfelt energy. Kyley is joined by the High Mountain Flyers (the “High MF’ers”). On guitar, Mark Fuller, lead, and Mark Chester on rhythm guitar. Joined by JD Smith on electric bass. All three MF’ers are vocalists and songwriters as well. With pleasant harmonies and a laid back approach, Kyley and the band perform a mix of original songs and cover songs with their own unique style and personality.
The 2026 Christmas YARN Ball
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY YARN You might expect a band that calls itself Yarn to, naturally, tend to spin a yarn or two. “That’s what we do, we tell stories, live and in the studio, truth and fiction”,singer/songwriter Blake Christiana insists. “We don’t always opt for consistency. There’s a different vibe onstage from what comes through in our recordings. There’s a difference in every show as well, you never know what you’re going to get.” Yarn’s ability to persevere ought to come as no great surprise, especially for a band that spent two years honing their chops during a Monday night residency at the famed Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. In effect, it allowed them to rehearse onstage, mostly in front of audiences that often ranged in size from five to a hundred people on any given night. 10 studio albums followed — Yarn (2007), Empty Pockets (2008), Leftovers Part One (2009), Come On In (2010), Leftovers Part 2 (2011), Almost Home (2012), Shine the Light On (2013), This Is The Year (2016), and Lucky 13 parts 1 & 2 (2019). The band then took to the road, playing upwards of 170 shows a year and sharing stages with such superstars as Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Railroad Earth, Marty Stuart, Allison Krauss, Leon Russell, Jim Lauderdale, Leftover Salmon, Amos Lee, The Lumineers and many more. They’ve driven nonstop, made countless radio station appearances, driven broken-down RVs and watched as their van caught fire. They’ve paid their dues and then some, looking forward even as they were forced to glance behind. It’s proof positive that the Brooklyn and Raleigh based band have made their mark, and in dealing with their emotions, scars and circumstances, they find themselves in a position to share those experiences with others who have juggled similar sentiments.