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.
Let Her Fly…honoring the life of Dolly Parton
– ALL AGES – STANDING ROOM ONLY LET HER FLY…HONORING THE LIFE OF DOLLY PARTONw/ No Man’s Band, Underhill Rose, Whitney Mongé, Rebekah Todd, Reggie Headen, Fancy, Ménage, and Abigail Lipscomb. Curated by Melissa McKinney
Patio Show: Jackson Slater & The Revelators
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEJackson Slater & The Revelators Like a moonshine-fueled fire in a 100-watt amplifier cabinet, Jackson Slater’s explosive debut ushers in a new era of heavy rock from the Southland. The new album, Holy Water Inn, includes seven original tracks, interlacing Jackson’s emotionally raw vocals and lightning guitar with soaring melodies and thundering rhythms. It’s a sonic tapestry woven from generations of hard rock, high-octane country, and drop-tuned bass. Yet, the sound is unique, unflagging, unstoppable. Jackson’s band, the Revelators, features three of the Carolinas’ most kick-ass musicians, all talented multi-instrumentalists. Hammering the drums with a fury known to occasionally knock them off risers, Brennan Walsh anchors the group with complex, driving syncopations. On bass, Justin Garcia lays down deep, fist-pounding grooves with old-school swagger. Finally, paying tribute to the history of country music, Max Jacobson completes the orchestration with blazing Telecastin’ A live show will leave you breathless.
Patio Show: Trilby
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVETrilbyTrilby is an alternative rock artist currently based in Asheville, North Carolina. While it’s hard to pinpoint her exact origin, it is safe to say that Trilby grew up here, there, and everywhere along the East Coast, and if you look close enough, you might find strands of green hair in your own local town. Trilby has been writing music since she was fourteen. She just released her new single, “Cities,” and has recorded her debut album.
Teso Ellis & Friends
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY TESO ELLIS & FRIENDSTeso Ellis is an Indie singer songwriter out of Asheville, North Carolina With a genre, bending sound nostalgic of 90s alternative rock and classic soul, driven by folky tones and Lofi hip-hop grooves. A vibe that is completely unique but somehow familiar. He released a renegade album called “the end” with a band called chilltonic and this album is nearly impossible to get your hands on, unless you come out to one of his shows and ask him for it personally! That’s the definition of independent art.
Patio Show: Dr Funky Squirrel
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEDr Funky SquirrelDr. Funky Squirrel is a student rock and funk band organized through the Asheville Music School in Asheville, North Carolina. The band consists of young local musicians participating in the school’s Sound Education Outreach program.
Patio Show: Music In Common
– ALL AGES – PATIO IS LIMITED SEATING FIRST COME FIRST SERVEMusic in CommonPerforming in a range of configurations from acoustic duo to eight piece band, Music in Common is genre-bending collective that creatively blends Americana, Hip-Hop, and Soul. Since 2005, MIC performances have been creating impactful communities of connection between artist and audience and audience with each other. From house concerts to colleges, performing arts centers, and large festival stages, Music in Common has performed for thousands of people in hundreds of communities worldwide. Also a nonprofit, Music in Common was honored as 2022 CNN Champions for Change for their impactful bridge-building work.
Patio Show: Flora Fauna
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEFlora FaunaFlora Fauna is an Appalachian folk music project by the singer-songwriter sibling duo Emeline Scales and Charlie Scales, based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Deeply embedded in Appalachian bluegrass, porch music, and traditional Irish folk sounds with a folk / pop edge.
Patio Show: 5J Barrow
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE 5J Barrow Inspiration seeped through the windows of apartment 5J on Barrow Street looking out over the Hudson River in NYC’s Greenwich Village, where singer-songwriters and Broadway performers, Eryn Murman and Jason Hite, soaked up the energy and passion of musicians, painters, poets and writers who created the Village vibe. Together, they paid tribute to those creative spirits and named their band 5j Barrow, writing music and lyrics with a unique folk/rock sound, touring as a duo, and often picking up Drew Jones on bass and Gerard Canonico on drums. The band has inspired audiences with soulful music, evocative imagery, and lyrics that touch the heart, from the historic Apollo Theater to the open air of Washington Square Park, from the streets of New Orleans to the Rocky Mountains, from California wine country to New England forests.
25th Annual NewSong Music Competition
ALL AGES SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE NEWSONG MUSIC COMPETITION Join us for the 25th anniversary NewSong Music Competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl! The program’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.Eight finalists (to be named on September 13) selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to receive a fully funded six-song EP, plus 300 vinyl records of the grand prize project pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
 Past NewSong winners include Crys Matthews (Nashville, TN), Jobi Riccio (Nashville, TN), AC Sapphire {Portland, OR), and Slow Runner (Saluda, NC). The 2025 Grand Prize Winner was Susan Anderson (Asheville, NC).