OUTPOST: The Pinkerton Raid
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Go see a live show with The Pinkerton Raid, and songwriter Jesse James DeConto might share stories about the history and architecture of his native New England, or forest legends from the Nordic region, or Broadway-showtunes-turned-football-fight-songs from Liverpool. It’s all quite beatnik and granola, steeped in the mysticism of STAR WARS and Celtic lore, the existentialism of Kerouac, the naturalism of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Standing Rock and Laurel Canyon, and the liberation politics of Woody Guthrie, Karl Marx and Black Lives Matter. There is a fair number of songs about trees. “A fine blend of Beatles-esque dreamy folk,” says AMERICANA HIGHWAYS. The band has opened for Illiterate Light, The Ballroom Thieves, TopHouse, Eliot Bronson, Driftwood, The Collection and Noah Gundersen. They’ve slotted at festivals like Shakori Hills, Albino Skunk, Beacon Bonfire and AVL Fest with artists such as River Whyless, Sunny War, Watchhouse, Amythyst Kiah and Tall Heights.Opening sets by The High Divers and Julia SandersAmericana artist Julia Sanders’ 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 her most recent album, 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
OUTPOST: Will Overman
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Will Overman is a Virginia singer-songwriter based in Nashville TN, whose music can be best described as Country-Americana, but it’s not your typical Country-Americana sound. Sonically it is restless by nature, always searching for something new, and with Will’s heart-worn lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery, it makes for a memorable mixture that is hard to place but easy to love. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Will began writing songs after picking up the guitar in high school. He quickly built a regional following, forming the Will Overman Band. The Southern Rock ‘n Roll influenced Americana project released two EPs and an LP, playing bar gigs and festival slots (Merlefest, Appaloosa Music Festival, Rooster Walk) up and down the East Coast until going their separate ways in the spring of 2017.Although he was unsure what to do next, Will began working on his first solo release – 2017’s Crossroads EP with a studio band of some nationally known musicians (Johnny Stubblefield – Parachute, Sam Wilson – Sons of Bill) and good friends from the central VA music scene. Following a hiatus, Will returned to Virginia in mid-2019 and went back into the studio to record the songs that would form his debut LP The Winemaker’s Daughter.Following the successful and well-received release of the debut single “Something to Hold” from The Winemaker’s Daughter on February 14, 2020, Will hit the road on his first major solo tour two weeks later – just as the pandemic started shutting down the world. Canceled and indefinitely postponed gigs quickly piled up, but rather than stop making or releasing music Will continued on, dropping singles from the album while garnering international media attention and radio play. Since breaking the ice on his own return to live shows in April 2021 to celebrate the release of The Winemaker’s Daughter in February 2021 (almost a year to the day after the release of the initial single), Will has put tens of thousands of miles on his van while traveling from shows anywhere from Savannah to Minneapolis to Boston and everywhere in between. The miles and days away have been hard, but good for Will, as he gained inspiration and experience that led to the recording and release of three brand new singles in 2022 called “Spend it All” “Heart Pine” and “Dotted Line”Whereas Will’s older work was extremely personal and reflective, Will’s singles tell his own story, while also incorporating other perspectives and experiences, all with a similar thread or vein running through them. Will’s Heart Pine EP (released Nov. 10, 2022) began putting a light on some of his darkest moments in recent memory (“Heart Pine”) and looking at other people’s mental health struggles (“Spend It All”) and how to move past them (“Dotted Line”). The next chapter in Will’s career though is the major uncovering who he actually is and what he wants – a chapter that is still being written, but has already come to the forefront through his newest single “Virginia Is For Lovers” (released 2/20/2024). Armed with a powerful voice and powerful convictions, Will Overman is slowly but surely building a name for himself performing throughout the US headlining clubs and supporting artists across genres from David Nail and Grady Spencer & the Work to Joe Pug and Town Mountain. Regardless of whether you get a first listen of Will at the next show or song on shuffle, you can be sure that it won’t be long before you know his songs by heart.Opening sets by Darby Wilcox and Jackson Grimm
OUTPOST: The Pearl Snap Prophets and Chris McGinnis
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Jack Marion and The Pearl Snap Prophets bring a youthful-exuberance and high-country swagger to the doorsteps of modern country music. The North Carolina-based band has spent the past 6 years in honky-tonks, bars, and mountain roadhouses, collecting fodder for songs along the way. There are songs about living; written in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are straight-from-the-hip and straight-from-the heart. No bull-honky. All truth. But they are just as catchy as any songwriting-factory-formed mega hit that will ever curse your ear. “If young country-based bands like Jack Marion and The Pearl Snap Prophets keep raising the standards of what songs can be, maybe we can turn the tides.”- NC Music MagazineOpening set by Chris McGinnis
OUTPOST: Flashback Fringe

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Flashback Fringe is a new Asheville, NC based Psychedelic Rock Era (1967 – 1971) tribute band created to deliver energetic, true to the sound and spirit musical performances. With a growing catalog of approximately 40 songs ranging from The Byrds to Cream to The Moody Blues to The Doors, Flashback Fringe will take your audiences back to the era that contributed incredible songs to music history.
OUTPOST: Jake Xerxes Fussell & Twain

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Jake Xerxes Fussell is a singer and guitarist based in Durham, NC. He is, according to Ann Powers of NPR, “maybe the leading interpreter of American folk music right now…” Fussell’s album Good and Green Againwas released to critical acclaim in January of 2022. The album was produced by James Elkington and featured some formidable musicians, including Casey Toll on upright bass, Libby Rodenbough on strings, Joe Westerlund on drums, Joseph Decosimo on fiddle, and others. Bonnie “Prince” Billy contributed additional vocals.“…Fussell is the rare contemporary to approach folk in its pure form, shunning self-penned compositions about bummer relationships to concentrate on material handed down from bygone, hardenedtimes.” –The New Yorker“(Fussell) is one of the great magpies of American song, collecting forgotten, tarnished gems with a folklorist’s zeal… his renditions aren’t so much cover versions as composites…” –The GuardianTwain “There is nothing remarkable about my life that is necessary to know in order to appreciate the songs,” says Matthew Davidson of Twain. He describes the project as “a modern folk-opera of indefinite length consisting of songs and images from my life, a self-caricature of the musician and writer Matthew Davidson.” “Some of the songs deal with the experience of male-ness, but it isn’t necessary to identify as male or female to understand them. A lot of the music comes out of depressive or ecstatic states, but it is not necessary to have experienced those feelings in order to appreciate the music. The offering is supposed to be a very naked voice which the listener can commune with. If it were up to me, I would share this music with people who don’t know a single fact about my self, my name, my story. I make music in order to take a break from those things, and I hope the music I make offers others a chance to take a break from their own selves, names, stories.”
OUTPOST: Palmyra

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Palmyra“Like the best folk often does, [Palmyra] balances melancholic yearning with intimate beauty, crafting a dance of lovely harmony and unadorned instrumentation.” -Under The Radar, 2023 “Their voice(s) drips with a beautiful desperation, every single word holding an earnestness you don’t find just anywhere anymore.” -The Alternative, 2023 Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra’s set explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies, and earnest songwriting. The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them), often described as a distant cousin of the progressive folk band, Punch Brothers, mixed with elements of Oliver Wood or the Avett Brothers. Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each unique live performance. Palmyra has supported Watchhouse, Mipso, and Illiterate Light on the road and had the honor to play the historic Newport Folk Festival in both 2022 and 2023, Americanafest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, and Floydfest where they were named the “On The Rise” competition winner in ’22.Time Sawyer Time Sawyer’s name reflects the pull between the past and the future. The character Tom Sawyer evokes the rural background and love of home that the band shares. Time is a muse for songwriting; it’s the thread that runs through life, bringing new experiences and giving us a sense of urgency, while still connecting us with our past. The folk-rock band has performed on the stages of some of the Southeast’s most iconic festivals, including Merlefest, Floydfest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Albino Skunk Music Festival, and Carolina in the Fall. They’ve shared bills with American Aquarium, John Craigie, Hiss Golden Messenger, Langhorne Slim, John Moreland, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Wood Brothers, Susto, and many more.
OUTPOST: Kindred Valley
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Kindred Valley is an indie folk band out of Huntington, West Virginia focused onintentional lyrics and good music. They are passionate about story telling andinfusing the character of their Appalachian home into everything they release. Theyare a young group eagerly looking forward to a long life spent with music andcrowds.Opening sets by Spruce & Hollow and Malachi Fletcher
OUTPOST: Stephen Evans & The True Grits

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Stephen Evans & The True GritsAfter many years of vacillating between being a professional musician and building a 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 2014. The very next year, 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 ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘The Garden’, ‘Cherokee Hills’, ‘Shining Star’, 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 are becoming 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’, are already receiving radioplay on local stations as well as national online radio and music podcasts. Look for Stephen Evans & the True Grits playing fun live shows all around the area to support this beautiful album.Scott Stetson’s Stink Bug Bourdon BandScott Stetson is an Asheville based singer-songwriter originally from Rochester, New York who now calls Asheville NC home. Scott’s music is deeply personal and introspective, with a focus on crafting honest songs about love, life, murder, and broken hearts. His soulful voice and guitar work blend elements of country and Americana with a modern twist, creating a sound that is both timeless and fresh. His songs are raw and authentic, with a sincerity that speaks to listeners. Now backed up by the Stink Bug Bourbon band, Scott’s songs come to life. This talented band consists of: Scott Spinner on bass, River Dave Kenny on drums, and Shaun Nicklin on pedal steel. “One sip and you’ll be hooked”
OUTPOST: The Last Revel

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEThe Last RevelAfter a 5 year hiatus, The original trio has reunited to produce new music with a revitalized appreciation for camaraderie and creativity. Now living in three different cities across the US, these three independently talented singer-songwriters bring together the sounds of Nashville TN, Minneapolis MN, & Bozeman MT to create Front Porch Americana soundscapes that are equally original as they are timeless. Drawing influence from their salt-of-the-earth Midwest ethos the band’s songs so naturally blend the genres of Folk, Old Time String-Band, and Indie Rock to create a sound that echoes the current heartbeat of America. The Last Revel utilizes their multi-instrumental abilities to bring the full spectrum of modern Americana to life with lush arrangements of three-part vocal harmonies, acoustic and electric guitars, upright bass, fiddle, and 5-string banjo to consistently support impassioned performances of their honest and heartfelt songwriting.
OUTPOST: Lua Flora & Rockstead

– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINELua FloraThe soundtrack of your favorite daydream. The Asheville, NC-based group’s sun-kissed melodies are rooted in the harmonies of Appalachia, rhythms of the West Indies, and lyricism of American folk. Releasing a collection of singles, Lua Flora has collaborated with Sons of Paradise, Richard Vagner, Victor Rice, and Karl Vincent Roth (of Satsang). With stellar reviews from publications such as Face the Current and Top Shelf Music, the outfit has established its unique yet home-like voice. RocksteadThe feeling of love. The power of unity. The essence of happiness. The strength of togetherness and positive vibrations. The highs of living life and the lows of dealing with its obstacles. All of these things encapsulate the music of Cincinnati, OH-born Rockstead, a four-piece, passion-driven rock/reggae group.StraightlinesPrepare to be electrified by the exhilarating force that is STRAIGHTLINES! Bursting onto the scene like a raging hurricane, this high-energy alt-rock n’ roll powerhouse hails from the heart of North Carolina. With their roots firmly planted in the musical hotbeds of Asheville and Greenville, STRAIGHTLINES is pushing the boundaries of alt-rock n’ roll and leaving a lasting impression wherever they go.