After two years of silence, a major music festival will return to Asheville. Rising from the melodic ashes of the former AVLfest, which initially went on hiatus due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the inaugural AVL Sounds Fest will soon make its maiden journey across the sonic landscape Aug. 6-9.
“As someone who was originally drawn to Western North Carolina for its vibrant music scene, this festival is a meaningful opportunity to give back to the inspiring community that welcomed me more than 25 years ago,” said Jeff Whitworth, co-founder of AVL Sounds Fest.
Presented by Worthwhile Sounds and Wicked Weed Brewing, this latest chapter for a large-scale gathering in our backyard follows closely in the footsteps of AVLfest (and also the greatly beloved Bele Chere), with AVL Sounds Fest showcasing 240 acts at 17 venues around the city. The joyous vibes and independent folks involved in producing the event are part of the intricate musical ecosystem right here in WNC, and with countless local artists to be represented onstage throughout the weekend extravaganza.
“This lineup reflects everything we love about this festival — there’s something here for everyone,” Whitworth said.
Headliners will include Dr. Dog, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Freedia and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Also to appear will be Grace Bowers, Improvement Movement, Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, River Whyless, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, JD Pinkus & Tall Tall Trees, Toubab Krewe, Floating Action, Jon Stickley Trio, Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, Magnolia Boulevard, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters and countless local/regional acts. To note, this will be the only performance this year for indie-rock juggernaut Dr. Dog, whose frontman Scott McMicken resides in Asheville.
“Having lived in Asheville for the last five years, I’m just constantly blown away by the depth of brilliance and diversity of the music scene. It’s changed me for the better,” McMicken said. “[And] AVL Sounds Fest puts that reality on full display with such abundance.”
In terms of venues involved, AVL Sounds Fest will run the entire gamut of Asheville’s legendary music scene, from massive spaces (Hellbender, Asheville Yards, Highland Brewing) to iconic spots (The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Asheville Music Hall, French Broad River Brewery, Barley’s) to intimate stages (Eulogy, Fleetwood’s, Third Room, The Mule, Palm Room) and beyond.
“In addition to showcasing the world-class musicians who call our city home, AVL Sounds Fest will remain focused on capturing the national spotlight for our unparalleled collection of venues,” Whitworth said.
A portion of festival proceeds will benefit WNC Long Haul: Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of WNC supporting culture/arts, local business and long-term recovery for individuals impacted or displaced by Hurricane Helene.
“Long Haul was something founded in the immediate aftermath of Helene, built specifically around the idea that disaster recovery doesn’t happen quickly,” said Rachel Dudasik, founder of WNC Long Haul. “Because the truth is, ‘long haul’ is exactly what this has been and will continue to be. We work directly with the people and organizations on the ground still rebuilding, and oftentimes that means looking toward resiliency planning.”
A native of Marshall (Madison County), a small mountain community that was completely devastated by Helene, Dudasik knew what she had to do to help not only those in her hometown, but around the region, too, where the work to raise funds and help her neighbors remains steadfast and constant. To date, WNC Long Haul has raised nearly $600,000, with over $475,000 in grants given out to individuals and organizations around our area.
“Full recovery from something like Helene isn’t a light switch; it’s a decade-long process, and the needs absolutely still remain. That’s part of what makes bringing this festival back mean so much to me personally,” Dudasik said. “Music was one of the first things people reached for in the immediate aftermath, not because it fixes anything, but because it reminds you that you’re still connected to other people — that the community you love is still standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you.”
Beyond her work for WNC Long Haul, Dudasik is also the festival director of AVL Sounds Fest, a position that resides at the heart of what she absolutely loves and cherishes about calling WNC home.
“Honestly? Live music is the closest thing I have to a religious experience. I grew up around musicians. My parents played on porches and living rooms, filled with songs long before I understood what any of it meant,” She said. “Now, getting to stand in the middle of it as the person who helped build the hive, rather than just a kid watching from the stairs, is a different kind of overwhelming. Being one of the people behind organizing that chaos, especially in this city, at this moment in our timeline, it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.”
Want to go?
With 240 musical artists on the lineup, the inaugural AVL Sounds Fest will take place Aug. 6-9 across 17 venues around Asheville.
Beyond a bevy of marquee headliners and national touring outfits (listed in this article), there will be numerous local favorites getting behind the microphone, including Abby Bryant, Holler Choir, Ashley Heath & Her Heathens, Pink Beds, Fancy & The Gentlemen, Pleasure Chest, The 40-20-10s, Dylan Walshe, The Get Right Band, Melissa McKinney, The Dirty French Broads, Red Clay Revival, Isaac Hadden, Hannah Kamier & The Wistfuls, Lyrics, Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band, Songs From The Road Band and many more.
Tickets are $161.50 per person for a weekend pass (taxes included). A portion of festival proceeds will benefit WNC Long Haul: Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of WNC supporting recovery for those impacted or displaced by Hurricane Helene.
For more information, a full schedule of artists and/or to purchase tickets, visit avlsoundsfest.com.