Rock Academy – Hindsight Is 2023 Tour
-ALL AGES-STANDING ROOM ONLY- TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOORRock Academy students perform rock songs of various genres, including blues, classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, and more.
OUTPOST: Pocket Strange
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Pocket StrangeAsheville-based Pocket Strange explores the chaotic balance that lies between solace and jubilance. A half-hearted “we should start a band” conversation during a 2019 road trip became a reality with the release of their first song, Carmel by the Sea – a track recorded in Haydon Welsh’s bedroom in Charlotte when the band was existing as a long distance duo, with Porter Watson making the trip from Asheville up I-26 to finish their first track in April of 2021. Since then, Pocket Strange has focused on songwriting and comradery – with founding members Welsh (Guitar, Vocals) and Watson (Bass, Vocals) tapping into a spiritual journey to a South Carolina farm to work on new material in July of 2021. Returning with a stronger creative connection and a handful of songs, it became apparent that they needed to grow their sound. A sonic evolution came to fruition with the addition of Harrison Sytz (Guitar, Vocals) and Pierce Deason (Pedal Steel, Percussion) in early 2022, aiding in expanding the types of music they can explore, and fighting the lines drawn by the definitions of genre.Pocket Strange’s music will transport you somewhere between the tie-dyed side of southern rock and psych-rock indie… with a polite splash of spacy jamming that ties together the loose ends that exist outside the constructs of their songs. They’ve decided to be undecided on where they expect the music to land – and in that realm of the unknown, they are able to connect and float in the “Strange” space that leads the band’s exploration and development.Drew FoustA natural soul singer and blues musician, Drew Foust’s music sounds like it’s made between the bleary hours of a rock bar’s last call and a southern preacher’s early morning prayer. Hand made, self-made and arranged in dramatic structure, the music is lyrical and rhythm driven, always pushing a feeling forward. His latest release, “Good Thing,” released by Charlie Hunter’s label side hustle records, is inspired by the Memphis soul scene from the 60’s and 70’s.
OUTPOST: Wits End Brass Band
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEWit’s End Brass Band is an expanding and contracting community of 25-ish musicians gathered and guided by multi-instrumentalist Shaye Cohn in the city of New Orleans. Originally founded in 2012 as a marching band for the underground queer festival “Endless Gaycation,” Wit’s End has spent more than a decade playing events, protests, and parades large and small. Song choices span eras across the globe ranging from contemporary covers to South American folk music, Turkish psyche, modern jazz, New Orleans originals and of course, plenty of Cumbia! They are a portable party of tradition and experimentation, skill and whimsy, love, camaraderie and music.
OUTPOST: The 40, 20, 10’s
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEThe 40,20,10sare an Americana band out of Asheville, NC. The members consist of Galen Holland, Springs Wade, Donny Brazil, and Didier Rubio and they’ve been hittin the scene 3 years strong now. They bring a mix of country, blues and rock into a spooky western sound that would fit perfectly into your favorite road trip out west. Their latest release, POLVO, is out on all the streaming platforms, along with ESCENAS, their first EP.Julia Sanders and Kevin FullerAmericana artist Julia Sanders’ new album Morning Star—produced by John James Tourville of New West Records band The Deslondes—unfolds a meticulously arranged musical landscape anchored by transfixing vocals and a compact but thoughtful narrative style that calls to mind forebearers like Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. On Morning Star, Sanders explores the complexities of transitions: from woman to mother, partners to parents, and freewheelin’ musician to an adult with roots and responsibilities. The album is a poetic, often dark, yet silver-lined portrait of transformation and growth. With each track, Sanders explores a different facet—a career, a partner, a child—and the range of emotions they carry with them, from joy and pleasure to struggle, loneliness and self-doubt. Unafraid to address the complexities that walk hand in hand with the bliss of having children—such as the loss of autonomy and the fracturing of identity—Morning Star provides a much-needed soundtrack to the experience of matrescence—the physical, emotional and social transition to motherhood
Laid Back Country Picker
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYLAID BACK COUNTRY PICKER The night Laid Back’s high school classmates went on their senior trip, he played his first professional bar gig. It was not his first show, as he had played bass in local bluegrass bands, but it opened the door to smoky bars and honky-tonk survival. Over the years he went on perform and record with many well-known artist, often uncredited, as was the Nashville way. He has played with everyone from the Georgia Satellites to the Kentucky Headhunters. Opening for Thin Lizzy and The Guess Who, recording at Johnny Cash’s studio as well as the now defunct Butcher Shoppe in Nashville (owned by John Prince and Sturgill Simpson) Laid Back has seen some things. LB served as a mentor to a young Tyler Childers, who now has Laid Back signed on his Hickman Holler label. Mr. Childers has made several films with LB and included him in his music videos, as well as having him open a CD release show in New York City and open his sets at the Ryman Auditorium and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Over the years Laid Back has honed his craft and played simply for the love of the music. His no rules approach to musical performance flies in the face of those who prefer their music to fit neatly into category. Equal parts Led Zeppelin, Waylon Jennings, Stanley Brothers, David Bowie and Motorhead, and that’s just the beginning. Laid Back is a product of the 1970s when lines were often blurred. He doesn’t care what you call it, he just wants you to feel it. Attentive to the audience and ready for conversation, a Laid Back show is an interactive lesson on music, pop culture and whatever else is on his mind that day. Whether he is playing with his full band or grinding out heavy guitar riffs with his companion Honey on drums in the White Stirpes inspired duo, you leave the concert knowing you have seen a show. There will be a meet and greet and Laid Back will stand and talk until everyone is satisfied. Because it’s not just about playing songs to an audience, it’s about a shared experience with his fellow man. Laid Back’s mantra is “playing country music and treating people right”. He strives to uphold that pledge every night.GRAYSON JENKINSGrayson Jenkins is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Muhlenberg County, KY on a small farm in the heart of coal country. Now residing in Nashville, by way of Lexington, KY, Jenkins has dedicated the past several years to the craft of songwriting and performing his brand of Country/Folk music around the U.S. and Canada. Like fellow Kentuckians, Sturgill Simpson and Keith Whitley, Grayson has carved out his own corner in country music through the release of four independent records. His releases have garnered the attention of American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, and more.With a hopeful resignation and canny insight into the ways of the world, Jenkins delivers songs influenced by his own life experiences, cross-country travels, and turns of phrases found in the rich storytelling communities across Kentucky and beyond. ERIC BOLANDER Eric Bolander’s flavor of Americana/folk music offers soulful vocal tone with thoughtful melodies that have staying power. Lyrically driven by life experiences, Eric’s songs will give you a glimpse into his life and a realization that happiness can be perpetuated through pain.
HELLCRAB: Contemporary Jazz Octet
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEHELLCRABHELLCRAB is an acronym, as well as the name of a contemporary jazz collective, composed of the initials of its members’ last names: Dylan Hannan (woodwinds), Joe Enright (drums), Connor Law (bass), Andrew Lawniczak (trumpet), Jason Chrisman (tenor sax and EWI), Johnathan Reilly (alto sax), Steven Alvarez (guitar), and Jacob Bruner (keys).The group began in Asheville in the summer of 2022 as an informal jam session by 8 like-minded musicians. Playing mostly original compositions and on the spot arrangements of jazz standards, they realized that the resulting musical interplay was too special to not share with a wider audience.Fronted by a four-piece horn section, and backed by a four-piece rhythm section, HELLCRAB is capable of running the gamut of musical expression and intensity. The group strives to push their own understanding of jazz music and anyone willing to take the journey with them is sure to be entertained.
PATIO: Dissimilar South
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDDISSIMILAR SOUTHBased in Durham, North Carolina, Dissimilar South has been likened to both Indigo Girls and Boygenius, locating them in the abundant space between folk and indie rock. Their refreshing sound is characterized by honest lyrics, luscious harmonies and exciting instrumental ideas. Though the full band is a four piece, Dissimilar South’s core is the musical relationship between Carter Hodge and Maddie Fisher, now a six year affair. Following their debut EP in 2019, the band enjoyed a successful release of Tricky Things (full album) in 2022, produced by the Grammy nominated Jason Richmond. Fisher and Hodge bring their songs to life with robust support from some of the best instrumentalists in North Carolina, including Joseph Terrell (Mipso), Alex Bingham (Hiss Golden Messenger), Joe Westerlund (Sylvan Esso, Watchhouse) and Joe McPhail.
PATIO: Carley Arrowood
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDCARLEY ARROWOODCarley Arrowood is already a veteran when it comes to the bluegrass music scene. Touring for five years with Darin and Brooke Aldridge found her gracing notable stages all over the country, including 13 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, and even overseas for performances in Prague, Czech Republic and Ireland. In 2017 she received one of three Instrumentalist of the Year Momentum Awards given to rising young artists from the IBMA. Now a thriving solo artist, Carley continues to catch ears with her long-awaited debut album from Mountain Home Music Company, “Goin’ Home Comin’ On”, released in April of 2022. She continues to make her mark as a singer, a songwriter, and of course a cutting-edge fiddler, and her forthright delivery of every song shows an uncommon poise for so young an artist. Her music continues to reach new heights as she prepares to release her sophomore album from Mountain Home, another collection of mostly original songs that paint a picture of astounding versatility and musicianship that will enchant listeners everywhere. Be on the lookout for this release later in the summer of 2023.
POSTPONED: PATIO: Amanda Neill
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED**THIS SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED**AMANDA NEILL Originally from Nashville, Amanda Neill grew up with music deeply embedded in the fabric of her life, singing harmony with her three sisters from a young age. Moving to NYC in her late 20s, she spent 8 years singing and playing in the Brooklyn Americana scene, regularly taking the stage at staple venues such as Rockwood Music Hall and Joe’s Pub, most notably with Jamey Hamm and Ivy Beck & Neill. During this time, Amanda and her husband also owned and operated a small coffee shop in Brooklyn, which stood as a thriving hub for local musicians, artists, writers, and poets. After moving to Marshall, NC, in 2019, Amanda co-founded The Greybirds in 2021, quickly making a splash in and around the Asheville area. Amanda’s new project, Amanda Neill and the Blue Roses, retains a lot of the same focus on lyrical songwriting and musical dynamics, while continuing to draw on the influences of American Folk and Rock music from the 1960s and 1970s, as well as more modern singer-songwriter content. The vibe originates from Amanda’s Wurlitzer keyboard and her warm, powerful voice, and the sound is carried forward through vocal harmonies, thoughtful drumming, bass, and an array of guitar tones and sounds, both electric and acoustic. From feel-good rockers to tear-jerking, intimate musical moments, one can always expect melodies that feel familiar, even on first listen. “I intend to live with heart and conviction, asking honest questions through lyric, in quest of fulfilling dreams, one melody at a time.” -Amanda Neill “A voice containing all the ragged edge and electricity of a Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker… Joni Mitchell after a lot of nights at the Tom Waits school of late night blues bars… And while those may seem like very broad strokes of comparison, the more you hear Neill sing the more you’ll hear that same world-weary, raspy husk that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.” – On The Back Edge Of The Beat
PATIO: Strawhouse, Old Weather and Taylor Knighton
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDSTRAWHOUSEA band based out of Asheville, NC that weaves the musicial leanings of Joey Lee Intermingling Folk, Rock, Americana, Country, and Pop writing into a style that catches your ears and sticks with you. Crafting songs starting in the Latter half of 2020, Strawhouse was built upon the prior experience playing in other projects throughout the years. With a thought provoking and soulful vocal style as well as the skillifill guitar playing of Joey Lee , Strawhouse is bringing you our brand of Folk Rock right to you.OLD WEATHER Absolved by time, an instinctive design. Inspired by shape and shade, shadow and line; a boy in a world left to the utterly blind. An unknower of truth and seeker of mind, the unsung story of the gracious sublime.TAYLOR KNIGHTONSinger-songwriter Taylor Knighton grew up on the Gulf Coast but now calls the mountains of Western North Carolina home. Her musical stylings reflect her southern roots, with plenty of twang, a big heartfelt voice, and a sweet pop influence. She likes to incorporate her love of mythology and folk tales into her songwriting, telling timeless stories with a fresh, fun spin.
