Robert Lester Folsom
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY ROBERT LESTER FOLSOM Robert Lester Folsom is a Georgia-born singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music blends soft psych, Americana, and sun-faded AM gold into a sound unmistakably his own. First self-released in 1976, his cult-classic LP Music and Dreams quietly circulated in the Southeast before slipping into obscurity—until crate diggers and reissue labels revived his recordings in the 2010s. The album was re-released in 2014 by Anthology Recordings (a Mexican Summer imprint), bringing Folsom’s homegrown vision to a new generation of listeners. Following that rediscovery, Folsom’s previously unheard material was brought to light through Ode to a Rainy Day: Archives 1972–1975 and Sunshine Only Sometimes: Archives Vol. 2—two acclaimed compilations of heartfelt demos that deepened his reputation as a lost master of homespun pop. A wave of younger fans has discovered Folsom’s music through Instagram, TikTok, and sync placements in hit shows like Outer Banks and Gossip Girl. After only a handful of rare appearances over the years, he’s now riding that resurgence—actively touring and performing to packed rooms nationwide, including a sold-out night at The Troubadour and a celebrated set at Newport Folk Festival. Folsom’s latest archival single, “Sitting on the Moon,” is out now as part of Mexican Summer’s latest eponymous compilation, offering yet another lost gem from this storied vault. A third full-length collection of archival material, Archives Vol. 3, is slated for release in 2026.
Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM + SEATING, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED SONGWRITERS ROLLER DERBY SHOWCASE The Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase, presented by the Asheville Songwriters Association, is a quarterly music show with no roller skates included – just four performers “rollin’ out the songs, elbows-n-all.” Curated and hosted by Jodi John Pippin and Thomas Kozak, each “Derby Night” at The Grey Eagle will showcase the craft of songwriting in an intimate and welcoming setting. Spending an evening getting folky in “the rink” is a good thing to do. The performers for this first Derby will be: Thomas Kozak Ben Mackel Evan Veasey Alex Krug
PATIO: Jodi John & Todd Hoke
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE JODI JOHN & TODD HOKE Longtime friends and fellow songwriters, Jodi John and Todd Hoke (JoJo ToHo for short), will share the stage and swap songs for any and all Grey Eagle patio-loungers on a beautiful fall evening in North Carolina. With the combination of Todd’s wit and Jodi’s appreciation of Todd’s wit, smiles and good times are expected. (See bios for more information). Jodi John discovered the joy of songwriting as a teenager, listening to hip hop in Central and South Florida. “It’s Tricky” by Run DMC inspired her to write rap songs, eventually leading her to write folk songs after receiving her first guitar as a high school graduation gift. Now based out of Asheville, NC, Jodi leads the Asheville Songwriters Association, whose mission is to nurture the art and craft of songwriting in Western North Carolina and beyond. When things line up, Jodi tries to write at least one song per month, actively participating in local songwriting events, workshops and inspirational opportunities. Her backlog of original songs stands at over 250 written. However, Sybelia is Jodi’s first published EP. Most of Jodi’s songs reflect a narrative lyric style on top of strong melodies. She believes that stories lead us to understanding others and ourselves alike, both when we tell them and when we hear them. Todd Hoke waded into the songwriting pool while he and his wife were living in Austin and was quickly welcomed into the lively community of pickers, poets, and singers. He wrote about big skies, desert prophets and the slippery passing of time (a recurring theme for Todd, that last one). When Todd and Mrs. Hoke moved to WNC in 2005, his writing took on a more southern- fried tone – kudzu and catfish, anyone? In performance, Todd seeks to connect and entertain (or vice-versa) as a soloist or with his beloved Hendersonville-based trio, Possum Royale. Todd is currently working on his 6th album with Chris Rosser steering the ship. Todd’s mother cannot wait to hear it. More stuff and things/thangs about Todd and his music at toddhokemusic.com.
PATIO: ZG Smith
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE ZG SMITHThe son of an English professor mother and a shipwreck diver/underwater archaeologist father, indie-folk singer-songwriter, artist, and LA native ZG Smith has called Nashville home for a decade. Before moving to Tennessee, he spent his youth surfing, dialing in complex percussion routines on an award-winning high school drumline, experimenting with various elicit substances, and eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in Ethnomusicology, with a focus on Brazilian percussion, from UCLA. Since moving to Music City in his mid-twenties, he’s racked up a formidable cache of musical successes including touring extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, being frontman, primary songwriter, and founding member of Americana duo Smooth Hound Smith, and sharing stages with acts like The Chicks, Trombone Shorty, Collective Soul, and Devon Gilfillian. His poignant and ethereal debut solo EP, Nighttime Animal, was released in February of 2023 and has garnered airplay and attention from musical curators and press outlets alike, not the least of which include Minneapolis’s The Current, NPR’s World Cafe, Nashville’s Lightning 100, PopMatters, The Bluegrass Situation, NashvilleSCENE, UnderTheRadar, and more. He is currently touring selectively and working on new music.
PATIO: Sunnyside Duo
– ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE SUNNYSIDE DUO Sunnyside is a musical enchantment hosted by singer-songwriter Sunnie Rae. This Florida-born songstress is making her new home in the musical mountains and heart of Appalachia of Asheville, NC. Feel the depths of every song with Sunnie Rae’s intrinsic voice that will take you on a timeless journey as she weaves through the rhythms of old souls and stories with a new light. Infusing genres of Americana, Blues, Folk-Grass, Country and Indie in her sound to harness a swampy distinctive tone of her very own. Sunnie Rae gathers inspirations from artist such as Gillian Welch, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Peter Rowan, Doc Watson, John Prine, Janis Joplin, Patsy Cline, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Old & In The Way, The Grateful Dead and many more. This so called ‘Spirit of Suwannee’ has shared stages and bills with many of her heroes including Keller Williams, Larry Keel, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Yonder Mountain Stringband, Railroad Earth, Donna The Buffalo, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Grass Is Dead, John Kadlecik, and many more while touring the festival circuit with her former band Free Range Strange. As she nestles into the Appalachia, she now intertwines her original songs of old and new with a breath of fresh mountain air performing solo, duo or with her up and coming string band. Featuring Jackson Weldon in this Duo performance on The Grey Eagle patio, with roots in south Mississippi and a home base in Asheville, Jackson Weldon has built a career as a versatile sideman and multi-instrumentalist. For over 15 years, he has performed on mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, mandolin, guitar, and banjo with bands throughout the Southeast. His musicianship is defined by adaptability, collaboration, and a love for live performance.
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.
The Cheeksters + Doss Church and the Unholy Noise
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY THE CHEEKSTERS The Cheeksters were formed in 1990 soon after Mark and Shannon met by chance on a train in London, England. Mark hails from the UK, while Shannon was born and raised in Tennessee. They started performing music together as a duo with Mark on guitar and vocals and Shannon playing bass guitar. They soon released their debut album “ Stranger Things Have Happened “ in 1992, followed by “ Hey, What’s Your Style ? “ in 1994. The couple relocated to Nashville in 1996 and began working with producer Brent Little at his all analog studio Cream Puff Recorders. So far they have recorded four critically acclaimed albums at Cream Puff – “ Skating On The Cusp “ ( 1999 ) , “ Nineteen Sixty Five “ ( 2005 ) , “ Movers and Shakers “ ( 2007 ) , “ The Golden Birds “ ( 2011 ) – and are currently hard at work on a new record. Over the years The Cheeksters have performed extensively in the SouthEast US, as well as showcasing their talents in NYC and London. Their songs have been recently placed with the NFL and Coca-Cola for commercial use, gaining them wide exposure and new fans. The Cheeksters combine the best of what made music great in the 1960’s with a winning, fresh pop approach that delights audiences. In the studio the group has produced six albums of timeless, tuneful, terrific pop that has real staying power. Onstage the versatile four-piece band turns out its straightforward catchy pop confections, bringing to mind a swirling variety of influences : Memphis soul, Carnaby Street pop, swampy rhythm and blues, and more. They somehow manage to channel Burt Bacharach / Hal David pop, Dusty Springfield’s diva soul, T-Rex’s manic boogie and the pomp of David Bowie often in the same song without sounding derivative. The current line-up has performed together for the past seven years and is made up of Mark Casson ( vocals, guitar, piano ) , Shannon Hines Casson ( vocals, bass guitar ) , Jay Moye ( piano, guitar ) and Mike Baker ( drums ). DOSS CHURCH AND THE UNHOLY NOISE Doss Church & the Unholy Noise is an Asheville-based Americana Rock & Roll band that plays a mix of originals written by singer/songwriter Doss Church, along with a wide range of crowd-pleasing cover songs. Doss Church is a seasoned songwriter who fuses soulful, heartfelt vocals with warm, expressive acoustic guitar. His deeply storied, personal lyrics are filled with hope found and love lost. The Unholy Noise combines Americana, Country, and Folk Rock influences that range from the 60’s to today and delivers a sound that feels both new and old at the same time. The honest songwriting, veteran musicianship, and electric stage presence of the entire group make for a truly moving live performance.
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY BRONWYN KEITH-HYNES Grammy-winning fiddle virtuoso Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is stepping into the spotlight. After several years of wowing audiences as the fiddler for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, the 2x IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year is striking out on her own – fronting a band for the first time and bringing her voice to the forefront. Known for her fiery fiddle playing and pure, rootsy singing, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes’ debut vocal album ‘I Built A World’ earned her a Grammy nomination this past February, and American Songwriter calls her “a world-class fiddler with a golden voice.” Now, as her own entry in bluegrass history expands from celebrated instrumentalist to bandleader and front woman, Bronwyn isn’t just crafting a career in the image of genre greats like Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas; she’s bringing them along for the ride. Both Bush and Douglas are featured as players on I Built a World, and they’re not the only of Bronwyn’s musically-inclined pals and heroes to make an appearance on this star studded album. Keith-Hynes’ music blends high octane bluegrass sensibilities with the soul of country and American Roots music. Backed by a powerhouse group of Nashville musicians hand picked from her tight-knit community, Keith-Hynes represents the next generation of top tier bluegrass musicians, who will be appreciated for generations to come. With a career that has already spanned collaborations with some of the biggest names in acoustic music, Bronwyn is now forging her own path—bringing her undeniable talent to audiences in a whole new way. ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN BOYS By their name, you know where they are from, and by their sound, you know what they are about. The Asheville Mountain Boys are on a mission to capture not just the style but the spirit of traditional bluegrass. Asheville, NC has long been known for great music and its roots in bluegrass go back to the founding of the genre (Bill Monroe’s first broadcast performance as the Bluegrass Boys was at Asheville radio station WWNC in 1938) A group that firmly stakes its claim to the tradition of the music from the area, The Asheville Mountain Boys spring onto the scene with a thought,” What happened to bluegrass?” It’s not a disparaging one that condemns current styles in the genre but rather asks, “Why do we love this music in the first place” and answers with an approach that is true to the originators of the genre in the sense of both style and philosophy. Bluegrass is raw emotion, excitement, drive, and authenticity. It is not sanitized or compromised but a reflection of the lives of those who play it. It’s storytelling that follows a throughline of tradition. With these priorities in mind, they offer their first in a series of live-recorded singles.
An Evening With Mike Cooley (of Drive-By Truckers)
ALL AGES FULLY SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE MIKE COOLEY Mike Cooley is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known as a member of the Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. The Alabama musical style blends elements of rock, country, and Americana, and he is recognized for his sharp, evocative lyrics and distinctive guitar work. As one of the band’s primary songwriters, Cooley has written numerous iconic tracks for Drive-By Truckers, with his songs often exploring themes of personal introspection, Southern identity, and social commentary. Alongside bandmate Patterson Hood, Cooley has been a driving force behind the band’s evolution since their formation in the late 1990s, contributing to their gritty, honest sound and critical success. In addition to his work with the band, Cooley has pursued a solo career, releasing his debut solo album The Fool on Every Corner in December 2012. The album showcases his storytelling prowess and ability to create poignant, introspective songs with a more stripped-down, intimate sound compared to his work with Drive-By Truckers. Known for his wit and keen observational style, Cooley’s solo work highlights his versatility as an artist, cementing his place as an influential figure in contemporary American roots music.
Jon Spencer
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY JON SPENCER Jon Spencer has been an innovative force in the independent music scene since the mid-80s. An acclaimed live performer, he has toured all the continents except Antarctica and has amassed a dizzying discography as the leader of Pussy Galore, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, and Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, as well as with Boss Hog, The Honeymoon Killers, The Gibson Brothers, and Taxi Girls. His collaborations include (but are not limited to) working with Steve Albini, Add N To X, Nicole Atkins, Beastie Boys, Beck, Bomb The Bass, R.L. Burnside, James Chance, Coldcut, Chuck D, Dan The Automator, Jim Dickinson, DJ Shadow, Einsturzende Neubauten, Guitar Wolf, GZA, David Holmes, Japanese Popstars, Dr. John, Calvin Johnson, Steve Jordan, Khan, Moby, Money Mark, The Muffs, The North Mississippi All Stars, Princess Superstar, Puffy AmiYumi, The Sadies, Nancy Sinatra, Solex, Solomon Burke, Speedball Baby, Rufus Thomas, UNKLE, Unloved, Andre Williams, and Bernie Worrell. His production credits include: Cheater Slicks, Demolition Doll Rods, Experimental Tropic Blues Band, Perrosky, Mike Edison, Jesper Munk, Sunshine & The Rain, The Bobby Lees, and Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton.
