PATIO: Alex Williams
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE ALEX WILLIAMS When Alex Williams debuted with 2017’s Better Than Myself, his big, booming baritone and southern storytelling seemed to channel the country outlaws who came before him. The album made him a hero of modern-day American roots music, and when he returned in 2022, it was with Waging Peace, an eclectic and reflective record that showcased just how broad his definition of Americana could be. Three years later, he widens that sound once again with Space Brain, an unexpected covers album inspired by his longtime love of 1980s metal. Here, he reinterprets the songs of Judas Priest, Cinderella, Motley Crue, and others as a collection of backwoods ballads, campfire sing-alongs, and roadhouse roots-rockers. The result is an album that shows just how expansive and eclectic Williams’ interpretation of country music can be. He’s always planted his flag outside of the mainstream, but he’s never sounded more like an outlaw than on Space Brain, paying tribute to the music that shaped his childhood along the way.
PATIO: Blue Cactus
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BLUE CACTUS Rooted in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Having released three records to critical acclaim, they have grown a cult following in the South and beyond, their introspective lyricism and blistering guitar techniques making the band potent in the studio and on stage. Their songs are currently featured in NPR Live Sessions and Billboard with albums reviewed in Paste, American Songwriter, and No Depression who praised their ability to paint “beautiful pictures of limitless possibility” in roots music. Their third studio album, Believer, is out now via Sleepy Cat Records.
AJ Lee & Blue Summit + East Nash Grass
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY Bluegrass is hot, and AJ Lee & Blue Summit and East Nash Grass are two of the hottest collections of young bluegrass talent you’ll find anywhere in America. Part of bluegrass’ fourth wave, these are musicians who’ve grown up at the feet of the bluegrass masters, but see the genre through a wider lens, incorporating not just Americana and stringband sensibilities, but rock, pop, R&B, and other flavors that take their music far beyond traditional bluegrass fare, without losing the essence of what gives bluegrass its heart. Best of all, when you put two groups like this together on the road, you can be sure they’ll cook up something special for every show — musicians of this caliber just can’t help but be inspired by each other. Might as well start getting excited now. AJ LEE & BLUE SUMMIT AJ Lee & Blue Summit are an award-winning, energetic, charming, and technically jaw-dropping band — and one of the most exciting and fast-rising Bluegrass / Americana bands on the scene today. Based in the California Bay Area, the group met as teenagers, picking and jamming together as kids at local bluegrass festivals. Currently made up of AJ Lee on mandolin, fi ddler Jan Purat, guitarists Scott Gates and Sullivan Tuttle (younger brother of Molly Tuttle), and bassist Sean Newman, the band still carries that youthful, festival-parking-lot energy with them, yet there’s a genuine ease and confi dence to their music making. A breakout year for the band, 2024 saw them release their critically acclaimed album, “City of Glass,” their fi rst label release on Signature Sounds recordings, combined with becoming one of the most in-demand bands in the Bluegrass scene. In 2025, the band continues to pack major venues around the country, along with major festival plays, and the release of “Cover to Cover V1,” an EP of cover songs being released throughout the year. EAST NASH GRASSEast Nash Grass exemplifi es the best of what bluegrass has to off er — as being named the 2024 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) New Artist of the Year would suggest. But their talent as singers, instrumentalists, and composers is just the beginning. The secret to East Nash Grass lies in their unfl inching ability to be themselves. It certainly helps that they are a veritable supergroup of award-winners who have been performing longer than some might guess they’ve been alive, with experience working with Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, Sierra Hull, and Rhonda Vincent, as just a start. After hundreds of sets (and countless late-night jams) in Nashville, East Nash Grass has coalesced into the hair-raising ensemble of Harry Clark (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), James Kee (guitar), Maddie Denton (fi ddle), and Jeff Partin (bass/dobro). Their love of both bluegrass and the absurd can be felt in both their live shows and on their new album “All God’s Children” (Mountain Fever, 2025), which keep listeners on the edge of their seats, marveling at irrefutable mastery and wondering just what might come next.
PATIO: 81 Drifters
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE 81 DRIFTERS Hailing from the scenic mountain landscapes along Highway 81, the 81 Drifters weave a tapestry of sounds ranging from fearlessly raw singer-songwriter originals to western swing, jamgrass, blues, and Appalachian folk. They captivate audiences with their infectious energy, lyrical depth, and powerful harmonies that take listeners on a journey that transcends time and tradition. The band exudes a remarkable chemistry that brings the songs to life as they improvise around each other, exploring melodies in new ways with each performance.The band features multi-instrumentalists and songwriters Nick Colavito (Guitar/Banjo/Harmonica), Kristina Miller (Fiddle) and Hunter Andrus (Guitar).
PATIO: Stephen Evans & The True Grits
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE STEPHEN EVANS & THE TRUE GRITS After many years of vacillating between being a professional musician and building a stable nest in Asheville, NC, Stephen Evans finally asked his friends, Brian Shoemaker (bass), Sam Hess (drums), and Woodstock (mandolin), to form the True Grits and make some music together in 2015. They recently just celebrated their 10th Anniversary as a band in 2025. Stephen Evans & the True Grits released their first LP “Something to Bleed”. Inspired to release more music, they followed two years later with their EP “Under the Bridge.” Both records received local and regional praise for their passion and creativity. Stephen’s strong melodic songwriting style is a blend of vivid imagery, darkness, and hopeful optimism. There’s no denying the feeling that shines through with his evocative vocals and lyrics. Songs like ‘Estefania’, ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘The Garden’, ‘Cherokee Hills’, and ‘Buzz of Bees’ are beacons of his folk rock song craft. With radio play on Western North Carolina radio stations, as well as shows around the region, Stephen Evans & the True Grits have been a local favorite. “Buzz of Bees” is their latest album, released in December of 2022, of folk rock with some songs dipping their toes into other styles like Americana, Latin Folk, and Vaudeville. Singles from the LP, ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘Winning the Day’, and ‘Estefania’, received radioplay on local stations as well as national online radio and music podcasts. Look for Stephen Evans & the True Grits playing live shows all around the area to support this beautiful album. “…overall, I highly recommend this album for those who enjoy folk rock, poetic lyricism, and an engaging sense of fun. The album is a journey through different stages of life, confusion, heartbreak, revelation, and acceptance.” – Alison Price of WNC Original Music Podcast
PATIO: Chris Wilhelm
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE CHRIS WILHELM Chris Wilhelm is known for bringing positive vibes and an uplifting message to his audience. He plays Americana, folk rock originals that are infectious and insightful, and sprinkles in covers too. Worldwide airplay brought his latest album “This Too Shall Pass” to be one of the Top 100 Alt-Country Albums of 2020, and it spent several months on the national folk charts as well. Chris Wilhelm is a songcatcher and live performer. He made guitars out of cardboard before getting his first one at 13. Born in Hudson, NY, he later moved to Albany, NY, then Boston, and currently lives in Asheville, NC. He has released nine records and played thousands of shows. He has performed in theaters, concert venues, festivals, clubs, bars, libraries, retirement homes, subways, performed on the street and even played at a marathon. He played over 200 shows a year for several years.
PATIO: Josh Rennie-Hynes
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE JOSH RENNIE-HYNES Josh Rennie-Hynes has a way of crafting songs that stay with you, blending personal storytelling with universal themes. His music fuses elements of folk, indie rock, dream pop to create a sound that is both timeless and distinctively his own. Often compared to iconic artists like Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Paul Kelly, as well as modern greats like The War on Drugs and Fleet Foxes, his work resonates deeply with fans around the world. His music encapsulates both the storytelling traditions of his roots and the rich musical heritage of his adopted home. Since relocating to the US in 2018 after receiving the prestigious Australian Arts Council’s Nashville Songwriters Residency, Rennie-Hynes has immersed himself in East Nashville’s vibrant music scene. He has released four full-length albums: Patterns (2019), Day Rage (2022), LIGHT/SHADE (2023), and Fragile Like a Bomb (2023), adding to an already impressive catalog that includes Self-titled (2012), February (2014), and Furthermore (2016). A prolific songwriter and performer, Rennie-Hynes has toured extensively across Australia, New Zealand, and the US, captivating audiences with his live performances. His music has been featured on prominent TV shows, including Netflix’s global hit series Virgin River, where he was the most-placed artist in a recent season. In 2020, he further cemented his place in the industry by signing a publishing deal with Urband and Lazar, a company representing artists like The Kooks and Lil Wayne. In the fall of 2025 he is set to release his newest album called ‘Stars in the Southern Sky’ The title pays homage to his homeland of Australia and his adopted home in the US south. The first single to be taken from it is called ‘In Good Time’ and is out now. Whether performing live, crafting songs in his East Nashville home, Josh Rennie-Hynes continues to push boundaries, creating music that is deeply authentic and profoundly moving.
PATIO (FREE): The Nature Boys
– ALL AGES – FREE SHOW- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE NATURE BOYS Nature Boys is a trio of longtime Asheville musicians, featuring some from Town Mountain—Jesse Langlais, Jack Devereux, and Nick DiSebastian. Their sound is rooted in bluegrass among other things. Come enjoy this new Asheville trio!
PATIO: Sullivan Sisters
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE SULLIVAN SISTERS The Sullivan Sisters have dazzled audiences since childhood with their unique blend of fast bluegrass picking and captivating sibling harmonies, with music ranging from lyrical originals to timeless folk classics to blazing instrumentals. Inspired by the bluegrass community in North Carolina where they were born, Soraya and Luciya Sullivan began taking guitar and banjo lessons at ages 8 and 6. Now teens living in the Chicago area, The Sullivan Sisters have toured the country as featured performers at Merlefest, the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum’s Romptober Festival, IBMA’s Bluegrass Live Festival, the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, and the Evanston Folk Festival. Their instrumental talents have garnered them national distinction, including First Prize in Banjo and Third Prize in Guitar at Rockygrass 2023, and Second Prize in the 2024 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention Bluegrass Banjo contest. The sisters have recently formed a five-piece band by joining forces with three phenomenal teen pickers and longtime friends: Oscar Caudell on mandolin, Finn McGuinness on fiddle, and Sammy Mougin on bass. The new band launched its debut to a sold-out, standing room audience at Evanston SPACE in January 2025, and will be featured as Showcase Artists at the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association conference.
East Nash Grass + Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY EAST NASH GRASS East Nash Grass is one of the hottest young bands in Bluegrass, picking up this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Best New Artist and stacked with IBMA Best Instrumentalist winners: Grand Master Fiddle champion and AMA Instrumentalist of the year nominee Maddie Denton, Cory Walker (banjo), and Harry Clark (mandolin). Put them alongside charismatic frontman James Kee and bassist Jeff Partin (Rhonda Vincent, etc.) and you’ve got a powerhouse leader of the next generation in bluegrass excellence. WSLR in Fogartyville calls them “a balance of undeniably hard-driving bluegrass alongside surprisingly introspective songwriting and earnest narration.” They are far more than a group of impressive instrumental technicians. As a group that came together organically via set after set on Nashville’s East Side, playing tiny stages for the love of it between tours backing bigger acts, they have a hard-forged bond that’s reflected in their stage chemistry. Audiences freak out over how much fun these guys have. As they work on the follow up to 2023’s “Last Chance To Win” — look for a release in the spring of 2025 — they now find themselves one of the most in-demand groups in Americana, fanning out well beyond the traditional bluegrass spots. BRONWYN KEITH-HYNES Bronwyn Keith-Hynes has long been renowned as a prolific instrumentalist, earning two IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for her work with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. But on her latest album I Built a World, the Charlottesville native unlocks an impressive new sound: her voice. “This is the first album I’ve ever sung lead on. Singing is something I’d always thought I’d do at some point and in 2020 I had the time and space to finally find my voice,” Bronwyn says. Even as the pandemic halted touring and so much else, vocal lessons kept her focused. “It’s funny,” she jokes of the timing, “you put a mask on me and suddenly I want to sing.” I Built a World marks her first vocal album, but Bronwyn has been a musician since before she can remember. “Apparently, I saw two girls busking on the street playing fiddles when I was three,” she explains with a laugh, “and I pointed to them and said, ‘I will do that.'” As a child, music lessons gradually transitioned into public performances, with a particular emphasis on Irish music after her family relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia. And her lifelong musical education continues to shape her work today. A background in dance makes her a captivating and energetic live performer. An on-stage collaboration with fellow Charlottesville native Dave Matthews taught her how a crowd could feed your energy. And attending Berklee during the early years of its American Roots Music program offered inspiration from classmates like Sierra Hull and Alex Hargreaves—as well as an introduction to Tuttle and most of Bronwyn’s Golden Highway bandmates. “My favorite bluegrass musicians today are the ones who are rooted in traditional music, but don’t really see any boundaries,” she says. “It’s as if they draw from a traditional bluegrass vocabulary, but use it to say what they want to say.”
