Country Brunch w/ Vaden Landers & C.Albert Blomquist
– FREE SHOW!!! – ALL AGES – LIMITED SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED Country Brunch at The Grey Eagle – a music series for early birds. Country Brunch showcases a goldmine of local country bands that can usually only be found playing late nights in local and regional venues, and brings them out into the light of day for lovers of an early matinee show. The series runs monthly with a different band each month. FREE SHOW!! Show runs 11am-1pm. Food and drink available from The Grey Eagle Taqueria. Family friendly show! Come fill your Sunday day with food, drink, fun and some of the best live music Asheville has to offer – all in one place.
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. As an added element of the Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase, a guest songwriter will join the performers on stage for an interactive, on-the-spot, feedback session for a portion of the show. The performers will spend most of the evening sharing finished songs with the audience, but for these special feedback rounds, they will share new songs that have not been performed on stage. The entire house will get to experience what it’s like at one of the Asheville Songwriters Association’s “Roller Derby Songwriting Meetings” where the layers of creativity are peeled back, revealing what works with the songs and what doesn’t. 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 first Derby will be: Thomas Kozak Ben Mackel Evan Veasey Alex Krug
COVERFEST V: Benefit Concert for Asheville Middle School
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY NET TICKET PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ASHEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL’S 8TH GRADE CAPSTONE TRIP Asheville’s favorite night of live music and community spirit, Coverfest, is back for its fifth spectacular year! Coverfest V: A Benefit for Asheville Middle School will take over the Grey Eagle on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 5:00–11:00 PM, bringing together top local and regional musicians for an unforgettable evening of cover songs—all for a great cause. Over the past several years, Coverfest has become a beloved fixture in Asheville’s music scene, raising thousands of dollars to ensure every Asheville Middle School 8th grader can participate in their annual capstone trip. The event is as much about community as it is about music, creating a space where families, students, and music fans can celebrate collaboration, creativity, and giving back. The Grey Eagle, a longstanding champion of local arts and community initiatives, has been instrumental in making Coverfest V possible. Known for supporting charitable events, youth programs, and live music, the venue provides a stage where both up-and-coming and established artists can shine while helping meaningful causes. This year, 10 incredible local and regional artists (and one student band) will take the stage for 30-minute mini-sets of your favorite cover songs, guaranteeing a night full of energy, nostalgia, and musical surprises. Performers (in alphabetical order): Andrew Thelston Band Blue Dragons Call the Next Witness Longest Distance Relationship Lower Peaks PINKEYE Rockabilly Roy & the Kopy Kats Santiago y Los Gatos Stephen Evans and the True Grits The Corporation (student band) “This trip is one of the most important experiences our students will have during their middle school years,” said Joe Hooten, organizer, performer, and Asheville City Schools teacher. “Our staff has vowed to not let any child stay behind due to their financial situation. This community’s support ensures that promise becomes a reality.” Tickets for Coverfest V are available online through The Grey Eagle’s website and at the door on the night of the event. All proceeds go directly to funding Asheville Middle School’s 8th grade capstone trip, helping ensure every student can participate regardless of financial need.
DIRTY FRENCH BROADS: Kate’s Dirty 30 Birthday Boondoggle (2nd Annual)
ALL AGESLIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE DIRTY FRENCH BROADS 50% Broads • 100% Dirty • 0% French The Dirty French Broads aren’t from France and they’re not all “broads,” but they are dirty — at least by Asheville standards. Named after the famously funky (and deeply beloved) French Broad River that winds through their hometown — this spirited Appalachian band blends Americana grass with an infectious rowdiness, and a dash of storytelling that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. In a world of big box stores and oatmeal raisin cookies, their authenticity and charisma make their shows feel like a front porch party where everyone’s invited, nobody’s judging, and someone definitely brought buffalo chicken dip. Fueled by moonshine, dragon fire, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting, The Dirty French Broads are as fun as they are endearing. Their songs are catchy enough to get stuck in your head for days, and raw enough to remind you why live music still matters. Tearing holes in floorboards and filling them in hearts – they’re the kind of people who make you throw your crocs into sport mode and spill wine on your favorite shirt. The kind of people who connect you to a room full of strangers and reconnect you to the one in your chest. Rambunctious but never rude, tender but never tragic — they’re a damn good time wrapped in southern charm, glitter, and just the right amount of weird. The kind of dirty that keeps you coming back for more (but you can still invite your mom to). still not a burlesque troupe CACTUS KATE AND THE PRICKS Cactus Kate and the Pricks is an Asheville based country-Americana band whose heartfelt original songs range from sentimental to witty dive bar country. Their music features vocal harmonies, fiddle solos, and plenty of small town gossip. Core members include singer-songwriter/fiddler Kate Leigh Bryant, cellist/bassist Ashlee Booth, guitarist Curtis Killian, and drummer Scott Voloshin.
Twen
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY TWEN Twen is a van-lifeing rock band that emerged onto the east coast music scene in 2017 with their distinct blend of shoegaze, indie rock, and post-punk influences. Though the band was formed in 2016 by lead vocalist Jane Fitzimmons and guitarist Ian Rollins Jones, their emergence post-pandemic has marked the beginning of what is essentially an entirely new project; save for their keeping the name “Twen”. This latest chapter is marked by the band booking their own tours, designing and screen printing their own merch, directing and editing their own music videos, and producing and mixing their own albums; all to a degree which would seem impossible to believe, if you didn’t know that they also built their own mobile-home from scratch and have been living in it, traversing the North American continent for the past 3 years. The duo-led 5 piece are readying their 3rd LP to be released in 2024, but have already debuted lead single ‘SeaStar’; an early 00’s throwback to Southern California beach anthems that finds the band further evolving from the coy, shoegaze aesthetics of ‘Awestruck’ (2019) – to a modern classicism; characterized on their 2nd LP ‘One Stop Shop’ (2022) by political (yet hopeful) lyrics, indelible hooks and a home-grown sonic mix that rewards the listener with each subsequent spin. With over 350 shows under their belt across North America and Europe, including arena appearances supporting Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Wet Leg, Whitney, Tacocat, & White Reaper, Twen’s live show exhibits their all-around relevance as a DIY rock band thriving in the digital age. MONSOON Don’t worry, it’s not the kind of indie rock where the reverb pedal stays on as I stare blankly at the fretboard of an unscathed guitar, standing still enough for my own drool to make a perfect pool of slobber onto my shirt. We both wear black, so you’d never even see it. And THAT’S a trade secret.If we’ve got anything, it’s that Joey and I spent 5 years creating Ghost Party and wanted to make our live show as attractive as we think our album is. It’s not easy to do that, especially when it’s 2 people running everything. I work on shows and make sure we have an unhealthy amount of touring scheduled so that we don’t ever have to go back to our real jobs. And he’s the Chris Angel mastermind freak behind our light show, speaker boxes, general stage production, AND is the mechanic to our beloved Honda Odyssey named Tony, which doubles as our mobile home on the road. We can’t afford a Mercedes Sprinter van or hotels, nor do either one of us have many friends across America (as we don’t typically like people). So not many floors to crash on between the two of us. Sleeping/living in the minivan is how we make everything work financially and continue to be the great American DIY rock band that we are today. Since you asked.
FREE PATIO SHOW: Stephen Evans & The True Grits
– FREE SHOW- ALL AGES – LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE 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
[CANCELED] ARIEL PINK: With You Every Night Tour 2025
Tonight’s Ariel Pink show has been canceled. The band’s tour bus broke down en route to Asheville and they will not be able to make it to town in time. Ticket holders will be contacted regarding refunds. We apologize for the inconvenience. ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY ARIEL PINK DAVID STAGNO Guitar / KeysSHAGS CHAMBERLAIN BassALAN CONNOR DrumsARIEL PINK Vocals David, Shags and Alan were childhood friends. Alan loved Led Zeppelin, David loved Milli Vanilli, so they formed a band inspired by their love of Zeppelin and Milli Vanilli. Ariel audiMoned to sing last minute.
RATBOYS: When the Sun Explodes Tour 2026
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY RATBOYS Despite its title, Ratboys’ new album “Singin’ to an Empty Chair” is not defined by what’s missing. Rather, it’s the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one vocalist Julia Steiner finds herself estranged from. The music on the band’s sixth studio album – its first for New West Records – fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing Ratboys at the peak of their powers — twangy, effervescent, as confident as they’ve ever been, and perhaps more emotionally interrogative than ever before. The four-piece Chicago band followed up 2023’s highly acclaimed “The Window” by reconvening with co-producer Chris Walla to begin tracking at a rural Wisconsin cabin before taking the songs to Steve Albini’s famed Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and later to Rosebud Studio in Evanston, Illinois. The results veer from bubbly power-pop on “Anywhere” to irresistible post-country on “Penny in the Lake,” along with heart-piercing ballads like “Just Want You to Know the Truth” and an exhilarating detour into the extraterrestrial on “Light Night Mountains All That,” which Steiner dubs the band’s mammoth “wormhole jam.” “Singin’ to an Empty Chair” also marks the first Ratboys album written since Steiner began therapy, which the singer/lyricist credits for the clarity found across the album’s unflinching examinations of relationship and self. Fittingly, as the album begins by extending a hand into the void, it concludes with a scene of serenity – all while weaving candid honesty, humor, chaos, and whimsy along the way. “It’s not all doom and gloom,” Steiner says. “The experience of making this record definitely gives me hope for whatever happens next.” FLORRY For ‘Sounds Like…’ Florry’s sophomore effort as a fully realized band, Francie Medosch and Co. decamped to Drop of Sun studios in the nest of the Blue Ridge Mountains to record with Asheville wunderkind Colin Miller, a critical voice behind the records of MJ Lenderman, Wednesday and Merce Lemon and a powerful songwriter in his own right. Three powerhouse days in late 2023 solidifi ed writing work done by the band earlier that summer in the now defunct Haw Creek compound under Miller’s guiding suggestion. The result is a portrait of a ripping band cresting towards the height of their powers, uniquely equipped to capture a wildly loving, barn-burning camcorder clip of a turbulent trip with your best friends, without dipping into nostalgia bait. Lyrically, Medosch’s utterances are both careful and excessive, the product of sifting through the rubble of classic good-time media, and fi nding what works for both her and her community to reach the heights of abandon.“The Jackass theme song was actually a really big influence on the new album.”
JD McPHERSON – SOCKS: A ROCK N ROLL CHRISTMAS TOUR
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY JD McPHERSON Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician JD McPherson will embark on his fifth-annual “SOCKS: A Rock n’ Roll Christmas Tour” this December with confirmed stops at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom, Nashville’s Basement East, & Minneapolis’s First Avenue, among several others. Tickets are available now via www.jdmcpherson.com/tour. These performances celebrate McPherson’s breakthrough debut Christmas album, SOCKS, which was released in 2018 on New West Records. The album features 11 all-original Christmas songs, the album has been the best-reviewed holiday record receiving overwhelming critical praise. MELISSA CARPER “I don’t think you can get this sound unless it’s borned in ya,” said bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, when asked about what he called “old-time mountain music.” When Melissa Carper heard those words, something jumped inside her. While staying in the country with a friend, she found an old DVD of Down From the Mountain, the documentary and concert film of the “O, Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack that featured this particular Stanley interview. She immediately jotted down “borned in ya” on a piece of paper. “I knew I had to write that song,” she recalls. In the Spring of 2023, Carper went back to East Nashville’s Bomb Shelter – the same “analog wonderland” where she’d recorded Ramblin’ Soul and its predecessor, Daddy’s Country Gold, and enlisted the help of her trusted co-producers – Dennis Crouch and Andrija Tokic. “Borned In Ya” would become the title track of the new album, out July 19th via Mae Music/Thirty Tigers.
DAIKAIJU
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY DAIKAIJU “This is what you need to know about Daikaiju: They’re loud. They’re all instrumental (duh). And they’re the band to see if you want to experience surf rock at its most offensive.” – Kelly Weidman, The Informer Daikaiju is a mysterious chimera of sound and imagery that was first sighted in the winter of 1999. Entities of sonic mayhem, Daikaiju takes the sound of waves crashing and shrieking atomic lizards and makes it rock in a way that instills shock and awe in all who experience their shows-a highly interactive and confrontational performance that literally draws the audience into the massive vortex of sound generated by the band. Concealed behind masks, this troupe of mystery people create a mutant style of epic, high energy instrumental rock that seamlessly incorporates a wide variety of musical styles including surf, punk, noise, metal, psychedelic and progressive rock. Like its namesake, the music of Daikaiju is a great, mysterious beast. Compelling melodies, hard-hitting riffs and shifting dynamics fuse together to create songs that dare the listener to experience the secret history of the universe-a fantastic reality of giant monsters, super humans, and extraterrestrial invasions that unfolds like the soundtrack of the greatest monster movie never made. BAD FIDELITY IMPENDING JOY The absolutely unfettered energy of Asheville’s psych/garage band Impending Joy begs to be heard live. The driving surf punk-esque sound has to be enjoyed communally. It has the unifying spirit that solidifies what it means to be young or young at heart. It gleefully slams the point home, it rocks no matter what sub-genre you want to call it, somewhere between Surf Curse and OSEES is close enough.
