Cole Chaney
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY COLE CHANEY When it comes to his latest album, In the Shadow of the Mountain, 25-year-old singer-songwriter Cole Chaney is pretty candid and blunt about who he is and what kind of music he wants to make — the result of which, this stunning offering from an artist wise beyond his age. “There’s a yin to every yang,” Chaney says. “I want nothing more than for people to be creatively fulfilled, and to do what they want. But, for me to preach that? I have to practice it.” That attitude resides at the core of the record, where the trajectory of the songs seemingly — more so purposely — shoot off in the opposite direction of many of his contemporaries in the Americana, country and folk music scenes. In truth? Chaney is summoning his rock roots. “I’m not concerned with being labeled as ‘country’.“There’s not a lot of music being released right now that is doing anything for me. I made something that I would want to listen to.” Pointing to his lifelong admiration for 1990s rock — specifically Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots — as a vital influence on the sonic landscape of the album, Chaney aimed to find a melodic balance between that raw and real rock sound and the bluegrass and folk music of his native Kentucky. “I wanted to make something that sounded like Ralph Stanley went in and got backed up by Soundgarden,” Chaney jokes. “I write what I listen to. And whatever I listen to is going to come out in my music.” In the Shadow of the Mountain was captured by famed producer Duane Lundy at his legendary studio in Lexington, Kentucky. While talking at-length about the possible collaboration, Lundy spoke of his love for Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. “I know plenty of bluegrass guys that could have recorded this for me,” Chaney says. “But, I wanted to take that string band and folk sound and bring it to a rock producer, to bring that big sound out of these acoustic instruments — [Duane] was about to do that.” The album was also co-produced by guitarist Zachary Hamilton, a close friend of Chaney, who is also the brother and bandmate of rising Lexington singer-songwriter Abby Hamilton. “[Zach] has that ability to fill a room with his guitar, his voicings, and all the choices he goes for down the neck of the guitar,” Chaney says. “When Abby was opening for us, I got to sit there and watch him play every night. I knew when I was going to do another album, he needed to be involved in some capacity.” Heading into the recording sessions, Chaney brought along his band, which included Ella Webster (fiddle), Kyle Kleinman (mandolin), Joel Murtaugh (upright bass) and James Gooding (drums). Acclaimed Kentucky musician (and former bandmate) Aaron Bibelhauser also makes an appearance. With this pivot in his tone and intent compared to his 2021 debut album, Mercy, Chaney sees this current path as more in-tune with what he’s not only wanted to do all along, but has slowly shifted towards in recent years amid endless touring and performing.
Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase
ALL AGES SEATED SHOW 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 Thomas Kozak and Jodi John Pippin, each “Derby Night” at The Grey Eagle will showcase the craft of songwriting in an intimate and welcoming setting. As an added element of the Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase, a surprise guest will join the performers on stage for interactive, on-the-spot commentary ~ a “look under the hood of the songwriting process” of sorts. The audience will have a chance to share comments as well, if they are inspired to do so. For most of the evening, the songwriters will perform finished songs, but they will also each share a brand new song that has not yet been performed on stage. Come support the songwriters as they show their vulnerable side and help nurture the art and craft of songwriting in the region and beyond. The performers for this 3rd Derby are:Chuck BrodskyChuck Brodsky is a storytelling, songwriting, modern-day troubadour, whose genuine warmth and quirky, finely-crafted songs touch hearts, funny bones, and a nerve or two. With irony and wit, his 13 CDs celebrate the eccentric, holy, courageous, inspiring, and the beautiful, while poking fun at what needs poking. Over the past 33 years he’s played concerts all across the USA and in eleven countries. Several of his songs have appeared in movies and on tv, and 22 of his Baseball story songs have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame’s sound recording library.Claire WhallClaire Whall is a songwriter who creates from the shadow realm of a 3 am mental breakdown and balances it out with the hope and certainty of a morning sunrise. She blends folk, grunge, and indie genres and has no concept of lyrical stoicism. There is nothing emotionally reserved in her work, all the cards are on the table, all the mirrors are pointed outward.Sun BrotherSun Brother is the musical moniker for Asheville based Billy Toulson. His songs are moments in life, captured in three minute durations. A personal tale here. An observation there. It’s all grist for the mill and an opportunity to create meaning.Michael FlynnMichael Flynn is an Americana-adjacent singer/songwriter from Saluda. His songs have been featured on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and he’s won a few awards for his songwriting, most recently the Newsong Music Grand Prize in 2021. He mostly releases music under the name Slow Runner and has a new album called ‘Dog Years’ coming July 2026.
Tank and The Bangas: The Last Balloon Tour
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY TANK AND THE BANGAS For Tank and the Bangas, music is a vessel for unbridled joy and transcendent connection—forces as integral to their essence as their wildly original sound. On their new album The Last Balloon, the New Orleans-bred outfit channel those impulses into something celebratory yet profoundly human, exploring themes of frustration, resilience, and self-realization with equal parts raw emotionality and playful exuberance. A shapeshifting collective helmed by lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball and multi-instrumentalist Norman Spence II, the globally beloved group completed the LP after winning a GRAMMY for 2024’s spoken-word powerhouse The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, moving from incendiary poetry to a euphoric collision of soul and hip-hop and forward-thinking R&B. As the final installment in a trilogy of albums that began with 2019’s Green Balloon (a critical triumph that earned them a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist), The Last Balloon ultimately solidifies Tank and the Bangas’ legacy as one of modern music’s most steadfast voices of sublime exhilaration. Executive-produced by their frequent collaborator Austin Brown (Jamila Woods, Masego), The Last Balloon offers up a suite of songs designed to thrive in Tank and the Bangas’ rapturous live set, where unified movement becomes crucial to the show itself. “We’re known for a very interactive experience, so I wanted to get the fans more involved and have even more fun with the crowd,” says Ball. “There’s lots of gang vocals, handclaps, all these intentional moments to let everyone know, ‘This is my part, but your part’s coming up next—so get ready.’” A highly collaborative band whose past work has featured luminaries like Big Freedia, Questlove, and Jill Scott, Tank and the Bangas created The Last Balloon with the help of Iman Omari (a multifaceted musician who’s worked with Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller), pianist/producer Tane Runo (Brittany Howard, JID), esteemed soul singers Ledisi and Jelly Joseph, and many more. The result: a party-ready extravaganza that provides both ecstatic catharsis and communal elevation. ARIEL J. Ariel J. is an artist and former church musician born and raised in Mississippi, whose music blends poetic storytelling, soulful melodies, and forward-thinking production to create a sound that teels both timeless and futuristic. She began singing and learning instruments as a child and started to perform at the age of five. At seventeen, Ariel began writing songs and teaching herself to engineer her own music. Rooted in R&B yet unbound by genre, her work explores themes of resilience, human connection, and wonder in the face of rapid technological and cultural change. With every release, Ariel J. seeks to spark reflection and empowerment, inviting listeners into a world where creativity, truth, and hope lead the way. More than just music, Ariel J’s mission is to remind people of their own power to imagine, build, and sustain a better future.
FREE PATIO SHOW: Osprey Orchestra
– FREE SHOW- ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE OSPREY ORCHESTRA Osprey Orchestra is a three-piece bluegrass trio from the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, made up of lifelong friends who have been making music together for over a decade. Rooted in Appalachian tradition, their sound blends bluegrass with jam-inspired improvisation and laid-back reggae rhythms to create something both familiar and fresh. Known for rich harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and genre-blurring performances, they invite listeners into a musical space where tradition meets exploration.
4/20 with Jerry’s Dead
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY JERRY’S DEAD A tribute to Jerry Garcia featuring songs from The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band. Starting off the night with an acoustic first set and wrapping it up with an electric second set!
of Montreal
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY of Montreal Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Barnes, of Montreal have spent nearly three decades redefining pop, with their kaleidoscopic blend of glam rock, psychedelia, funk, and synth-driven indie rock. Emerging from the Elephant 6 Recording Company in the late ’90s, the band quickly built a cult following for their inventive songwriting and wildly theatrical live performances. From the breakthrough brilliance of Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? to a steady run of boundary-pushing releases, of Montreal have remained fearless sonic shapeshifters—equally at home crafting hook-laden anthems as they are exploring surreal, experimental textures. The band’s prolific output has led to numerous late-night TV appearances—including The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon—and brilliant collaborations with artists such as Solange, Janelle Monáe, and Jon Brion. On stage, they transform concerts into immersive spectacles of color, costume, and cathartic energy. The band has performed across the globe, gracing festival stages at Coachella, Primavera, Lollapalooza, Vive Latino among dozens of others and headlining countless marquee venues, while also amassing hundreds of millions of streams worldwide. With a new tour on the horizon, of Montreal continue to celebrate their legacy while pushing boldly forward—delivering a live experience that is as unpredictable and electrifying as ever. CORMAE CorMae is a garage/punk band from ATX that started with a Social Media ad and a dream and is now evolved into a 5-piece super group with members from several other Austin bands. CorMae’s songs discuss love, life, and first-world problems with songs inspired by sounds of early 00s indie rock and late 90s riot girl bands. Follow along, buckle up, and join in on the gripe.
PATIO SHOW: All Night Boogie Band
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEALL NIGHT BOOGIE BAND All Night Boogie Band is an award-winning blues, rock and soul-inspired band that formed in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Since 2021, the experienced quintet (and occasionally octet, with horns) has loudly expressed unique sound full of originality, vigor, and dedication to the resonance of great American music. With 2 full-length LP’s of original music, the semi-finalists of the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis have added a 2023 New England Music Award as a “Rising Star”, a 2025 New England Music Award nomination for “Best Blues Act”, and a 2025 Seven Daysies Award for “Best Blues Group” to their name. Their dynamic and high-energy live shows have been said to be “things of legend”. Their 3rd LP will be released July 2026.
FREE PATIO SHOW: Stephen Evans & The True Grits
– FREE SHOW- ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE- DONATIONS FOR THE ARTISTS ENCOURAGED! VENMO: @STEPHEN-EVANS-56 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
Freddie McClendon
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY FULL BAND SHOW FREDDIE McCLENDON Freddie McClendon is a singer-songwriter from Greenwood, South Carolina. He first fell in love with music as a child living in a retirement home where his dad worked, spending his earliest years dressing up as Elvis and performing for the residents who encouraged him to perform. After his father’s shocking murder in 2023, McClendon turned to writing songs as a way to process his grief. In 2024 he released Present Memories. In 2025 he appeared on Season 23 of American Idol, performing his original song “You Never Loved Him,” which moved Carrie Underwood to tears and prompted Luke Bryan to call him “the next Paul Simon.” McClendon’s songwriting often blends personal history with observations about the South, most notably in his viral single King Henry, which challenges the “Good Ole Boys” system and generational corruption in South Carolina. His live shows have grown steadily, selling out in numerous markets across the southeast. His unreleased tracks “Drinkin’ Crimes,” “Rambler,” and “Lover” have already drawn millions of views ahead of their official release, and he plans to release new music throughout 2026. In early 2026, he will also join SUSTO on their North American tour as a supporting act.
An Evening With Shawn Mullins
ALL AGES SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS SHAWN MULLINS After a series of indie releases and growing buzz in the Atlanta music scene, Shawn Mullins’ critical and commercial breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core shot him to fame on the strength of Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby” followed by AAA/Americana No. 1 hit “Beautiful Wreck” from 2006’s 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor. His song, “Shimmer” was used in promotion of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and was included on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack. His co-write “All in My Head” from 2008’s Honeydew was featured in episode one of the hit TV sitcom “Scrubs.” Mullins also co-wrote the Zac Brown Band’s No. 1 country tune “Toes.” In early 2002, he formed supergroup The Thorns with Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge. “No Blue Sky” from the resulting album, is a modern day classic. For the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough album, Shawn revisited the music of Soul’s Core by recording two new versions of the album. He calls this Soul’s Core Revival. This is not a remix or a remaster of the original, but rather brand new recordings with new arrangements of the songs – one album is stripped down solo performances, some on guitar, some on piano and maybe one a cappella and the second is a new studio recording with his full band, Soul Carnival.
