PATIO SHOW: Woody Wood & Abe Reid of The Blue Rags
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE WOODY WOOD Asheville’s own Cosmic Appalachian Soul / Musical style that doesn’t fit neatly into any one style but is a genre-bending fusion of rock, blues, and soul. ABE REIDAbe Reid is a North Carolina musician and one of the modern keepers of the Piedmont roots music tradition. Born in Forsyth County and raised in Statesville, Reid began playing guitar at a young age, developing a deep connection to the region’s historic finger-style traditions. His musical education came directly from the source. As a young player, he spent time with legendary Carolina musicians Guitar Gabriel and Cootie Stark, learning not only guitar technique but also the storytelling and spirit behind traditional American music. In the 1990s, Reid immersed himself in the life of a working musician, busking on the streets of New Orleans before returning to North Carolina’s music scene. He later helped form the roots band The Blue Rags, known for energetic performances and traditional sounds. Reid gained international recognition when he won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis—becoming the first solo performer to win the competition. Today, Abe Reid continues to perform, teach, and share the music of the American South, passing on knowledge learned from older musicians and decades on the road.
PATIO SHOW: Woody Wood & Abe Reid of The Blue Rags
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE WOODY WOOD Asheville’s own Cosmic Appalachian Soul / Musical style that doesn’t fit neatly into any one style but is a genre-bending fusion of rock, blues, and soul. ABE REIDAbe Reid is a North Carolina musician and one of the modern keepers of the Piedmont roots music tradition. Born in Forsyth County and raised in Statesville, Reid began playing guitar at a young age, developing a deep connection to the region’s historic finger-style traditions. His musical education came directly from the source. As a young player, he spent time with legendary Carolina musicians Guitar Gabriel and Cootie Stark, learning not only guitar technique but also the storytelling and spirit behind traditional American music. In the 1990s, Reid immersed himself in the life of a working musician, busking on the streets of New Orleans before returning to North Carolina’s music scene. He later helped form the roots band The Blue Rags, known for energetic performances and traditional sounds. Reid gained international recognition when he won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis—becoming the first solo performer to win the competition. Today, Abe Reid continues to perform, teach, and share the music of the American South, passing on knowledge learned from older musicians and decades on the road.
PATIO SHOW: Woody Wood & Abe Reid of The Blue Rags
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE WOODY WOOD Asheville’s own Cosmic Appalachian Soul / Musical style that doesn’t fit neatly into any one style but is a genre-bending fusion of rock, blues, and soul. ABE REIDAbe Reid is a North Carolina musician and one of the modern keepers of the Piedmont roots music tradition. Born in Forsyth County and raised in Statesville, Reid began playing guitar at a young age, developing a deep connection to the region’s historic finger-style traditions. His musical education came directly from the source. As a young player, he spent time with legendary Carolina musicians Guitar Gabriel and Cootie Stark, learning not only guitar technique but also the storytelling and spirit behind traditional American music. In the 1990s, Reid immersed himself in the life of a working musician, busking on the streets of New Orleans before returning to North Carolina’s music scene. He later helped form the roots band The Blue Rags, known for energetic performances and traditional sounds. Reid gained international recognition when he won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis—becoming the first solo performer to win the competition. Today, Abe Reid continues to perform, teach, and share the music of the American South, passing on knowledge learned from older musicians and decades on the road.
PATIO SHOW: Woody Wood & Abe Reid of The Blue Rags
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE WOODY WOOD Asheville’s own Cosmic Appalachian Soul / Musical style that doesn’t fit neatly into any one style but is a genre-bending fusion of rock, blues, and soul. ABE REIDAbe Reid is a North Carolina musician and one of the modern keepers of the Piedmont roots music tradition. Born in Forsyth County and raised in Statesville, Reid began playing guitar at a young age, developing a deep connection to the region’s historic finger-style traditions. His musical education came directly from the source. As a young player, he spent time with legendary Carolina musicians Guitar Gabriel and Cootie Stark, learning not only guitar technique but also the storytelling and spirit behind traditional American music. In the 1990s, Reid immersed himself in the life of a working musician, busking on the streets of New Orleans before returning to North Carolina’s music scene. He later helped form the roots band The Blue Rags, known for energetic performances and traditional sounds. Reid gained international recognition when he won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis—becoming the first solo performer to win the competition. Today, Abe Reid continues to perform, teach, and share the music of the American South, passing on knowledge learned from older musicians and decades on the road.
AVL Sounds Fest
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE FOR THE FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE SCHEDULE 250 ACTS. 17 STAGES. AVL Sounds Fest is a venue-based music festival returning to the Blue Ridge mountains August 6-9, 2026. Presented by Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, AVL Sounds Fest will fill more than 15 area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with a multi-genre lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performances are set to take place throughout the 4-day festival, with wristbands granting pass holders access to more than 200 shows throughout the Asheville area. Committed to supporting local community causes, AVL Sounds Fest is partnering with the WNC Long Haul – Recovery and Resilience Fund. This donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina was created locally to support recovery from Hurricane Helene through strategic focus areas in Culture & Arts, Local Business, and Long-Term Support for individuals impacted or displaced. The fund meets the evolving needs of the community at critical marks post-storm, ensuring resources for ongoing needs at each phase of recovery. In addition to raising awareness for long-term needs throughout the region, the fund will also receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales.
AVL Sounds Fest
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE FOR THE FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE SCHEDULE 250 ACTS. 17 STAGES. AVL Sounds Fest is a venue-based music festival returning to the Blue Ridge mountains August 6-9, 2026. Presented by Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, AVL Sounds Fest will fill more than 15 area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with a multi-genre lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performances are set to take place throughout the 4-day festival, with wristbands granting pass holders access to more than 200 shows throughout the Asheville area. Committed to supporting local community causes, AVL Sounds Fest is partnering with the WNC Long Haul – Recovery and Resilience Fund. This donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina was created locally to support recovery from Hurricane Helene through strategic focus areas in Culture & Arts, Local Business, and Long-Term Support for individuals impacted or displaced. The fund meets the evolving needs of the community at critical marks post-storm, ensuring resources for ongoing needs at each phase of recovery. In addition to raising awareness for long-term needs throughout the region, the fund will also receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales.
AVL Sounds Fest
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE FOR THE FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE SCHEDULE 250 ACTS. 17 STAGES. AVL Sounds Fest is a venue-based music festival returning to the Blue Ridge mountains August 6-9, 2026. Presented by Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, AVL Sounds Fest will fill more than 15 area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with a multi-genre lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performances are set to take place throughout the 4-day festival, with wristbands granting pass holders access to more than 200 shows throughout the Asheville area. Committed to supporting local community causes, AVL Sounds Fest is partnering with the WNC Long Haul – Recovery and Resilience Fund. This donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina was created locally to support recovery from Hurricane Helene through strategic focus areas in Culture & Arts, Local Business, and Long-Term Support for individuals impacted or displaced. The fund meets the evolving needs of the community at critical marks post-storm, ensuring resources for ongoing needs at each phase of recovery. In addition to raising awareness for long-term needs throughout the region, the fund will also receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales.
AVL Sounds Fest
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE FOR THE FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE SCHEDULE 250 ACTS. 17 STAGES. AVL Sounds Fest is a venue-based music festival returning to the Blue Ridge mountains August 6-9, 2026. Presented by Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, AVL Sounds Fest will fill more than 15 area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with a multi-genre lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performances are set to take place throughout the 4-day festival, with wristbands granting pass holders access to more than 200 shows throughout the Asheville area. Committed to supporting local community causes, AVL Sounds Fest is partnering with the WNC Long Haul – Recovery and Resilience Fund. This donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina was created locally to support recovery from Hurricane Helene through strategic focus areas in Culture & Arts, Local Business, and Long-Term Support for individuals impacted or displaced. The fund meets the evolving needs of the community at critical marks post-storm, ensuring resources for ongoing needs at each phase of recovery. In addition to raising awareness for long-term needs throughout the region, the fund will also receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales.
Eddie 9V
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY EDDIE 9V Eddie 9V has an endless stockpile of cool stories – and you’ll find twelve of them on his most recent studio album Saratoga, released in November 2024 on the fabled Ruf Records label. A thrilling mix of Southern soul, blues, rock, and funk, Saratoga proved to be a gamechanger: a road trip-ready record filled with razor-sharp observations, vintage textures, and raw humanity. It also marked a major career milestone: Eddie 9V’s soulful sound began reaching hundreds of thousands of new fans across the globe. Now signed to Easy Eye Sound — the Nashville-based label founded by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys — Eddie 9V is preparing to release a brand-new album in 2026. And the momentum keeps growing. Since Saratoga dropped, Eddie’s monthly listeners on Spotify have exploded from 8,000 to peaking at over 800,000.. Songs like “Halo,” “Saratoga” and “Love Moves Slow” have become SiriusXM Spectrum-certified tracks, gaining steady spins and major audience love. But this rise is years in the making. From the day he first slung a guitar on a local Georgia stage, Eddie 9V (born Brooks Mason) has been an artist to watch. First cutting his teeth in cover bands and regional blues circuits, he made the leap to full-time frontman with a name that couldn’t be ignored. “I wanted to start from scratch – and I ain’t never heard of no bluesman named Eddie 9V.” That leap paid off. His early albums Left My Soul In Memphis (2019) and Little Black Flies (2021) turned heads for their wild energy and vintage flair. 2022’s Capricorn was a breakout moment, earning rave reviews from Classic Rock, The Guardian, and more. It debuted at #1 on the blues charts before being dethroned by Bonnie Raitt — “a cool story to be able to say,” Eddie laughs. By the time Saratoga arrived, Eddie 9V had evolved into a full-spectrum songwriter, tapping into deep wells of soul and storytelling alongside his brother and longtime collaborator Lane Kelly. Much of the album was recorded at their Echo Deco Studio in Atlanta, with some sessions at Denver’s Crown Lanes Studio. From the disco-tinged horns of the title track to the fuzzed-out dreamscape of “Delta,” it’s a record that widened the lens without losing the grit. Now with a major label partner, national tours, SiriusXM airplay, and streaming growth that shows no signs of slowing, Eddie 9V is poised for the next chapter. A new album is on the horizon. The band is sharper than ever. And if Saratoga was the ignition, what’s coming next is the open highway. “I’m already writing new songs,” he says. “You never stop.”
Jake Blount
ALL AGES FULLY SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE JAKE BLOUNT Jake Blount is a performer and scholar of Black folk music based in Providence, RI. Initially recognized for his skill as a string band musician, Blount has synthesized his scholarly and artistic pursuits into a diverse performance practice that has taken him to Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and beyond. His albums, released on Free Dirt Records and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, have been featured in best-of lists from NPR, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone. His scholarly publications include “Jail the Zombie: Black Banjoists, Biopolitics, and Archives,” published in Modern American History. He also served as a music consultant for the movie Sinners, and performed on the soundtrack of Ken Burns’s The American Revolution. Blount holds an A.M. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from Brown University, where he is working toward a Ph.D. in the same and a second master’s degree in Anthropology. A new string band record is forthcoming in September 2026.