Live music in Asheville, NC

At AyurPrana Listening Room, Rosette Chamber Concerts teams up with Asheville Music School for an old time workshop led by musicians from the New Amsterdam String Band. This hands on session centers on Squirrel Hunters, a well known Appalachian tune carried through the Southern mountains, and welcomes players of any age or skill level. Bring a fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, or another instrument, and learn directly from the ensemble as they offer guidance along with brief performances that illuminate the style, history, and traditions behind the music. Admission is $8. Students attend free, and one accompanying parent or chaperone is also admitted at no cost. Participants should bring their own instruments, and listeners are welcome. The featured group is a New York based ensemble of Juilliard trained musicians who explore the connections between European Baroque music and American traditional music.

Experience a live performance by Mountain Medicine at Wheelhouse.

Attendees can enjoy food, drinks, and music at Cultivated Cocktails.

Join the Asheville Drum Circle at Pritchard Park for a free Friday-night community gathering filled with rhythm, dancing, and good vibes. The drum circle starts as the sun sets and runs into the evening, and everyone is welcome, including people who want to listen or join in with their own drum. Bring a drum if you have one, or come enjoy the music and the lively atmosphere.

Immerse yourself in a meditative sound bath shaped by analog synthesizers and acoustic instruments arranged in a quadraphonic speaker array. Composer and sound designer Logos, also known as James Genaro, leads the experience, inviting participants to sit or lie down and let waves of sound support relaxation, healing, and expanded awareness. With more than 25 years working with synthesizers to shift consciousness and open visionary states, James creates an enveloping musical journey. Suggested donation is $15 to $20 or more, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Due to capacity constraints, the show has been moved to The Double Crown, and the team is working to secure venues for subsequent Fridays. Black Sea Beat Society brings traditional sounds from the Balkans, Turkey, and the Middle East with a rock and roll spirit. This high energy group spans Balkan brass, Turkish psychedelic, Middle Eastern classics, and klezmer, powered by accordion, a horn section, electric guitar, and drums.

The first night of this two-part punk event features performances by Soul Shrapnel, 4 Barrel Frankenstein, and Dear Kavalier. Admission is $10 day of show.

A rock themed Friday night brings together Commodore Fox and Wild Wing Café.

Candler Rice is a keyboardist, guitarist, and backing vocalist for rising country artists Adam Church and Bailey Marie, with experience from sold-out shows and major festivals across the U.S., including a 2022 tour with Luke Combs. Away from touring, he taps into his Western Carolina roots for a solo performance that blends piano bar favorites, country and folk classics, and original songs.

Third Room hosts a bass music night featuring barnacle boi with support from enjoii and Saint Pond. Ian Oliver, known as barnacle boi, is an electronic artist recognized for blending atmospheric trap with emotive, nostalgic textures, working across production, DJing, vocals, and visual art while continually refining his sound. Notable reworks include takes on t.A.T.u.’s All The Things She Said and Blink-182’s I Miss You, alongside collaborations with Bones of TeamSESH, Holly Stell, and Madi Larson, with his music drawing acknowledgment from Alice Glass and Finn Wolfhard. Releases such as the 777 EP and the full-length 2020 highlight immersive, emotionally rich songwriting. His live presence spans festivals like Imagine, Wakaan, and Sound Haven, as well as landmark stages including Red Rocks, where he forges a strong connection with audiences. Each winter solstice he unveils Into the Void, a mix and visual project that pairs carefully curated selections with striking imagery for a reflective annual moment. Tickets are $25 in advance and $32 day of show.

The Snozzberries take the stage at Eulogy during AVL Sounds Fest with a festival set on the lineup.

Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ pairs live music with Kansas City-style barbecue. Featured performers include Iggy Radio, The Project, Christie Huff, Miller & Reeves, 81 Drifters, and John Keck Band. No tickets are required.

The Michelle Malone Duo appears as part of AVL Sounds Fest in Asheville, a citywide festival showcasing more than 150 performers across over fifteen stages. Additional artists and details will be announced, and tickets are on sale.

Sunset Sessions with In Plain Sight returns to New Belgium Brewing - Asheville for a third season. What began as a special gathering has grown into a fixture of Asheville’s summer dance scene, shaped by two years of memorable music, lively energy, and a strong sense of community. The celebration continues with dancing as the sun dips toward the horizon, bringing everyone together once more.

Saturdays at After/Glow feature live DJ sets alongside food and drinks. The rotating lineup includes DJ Neon Samurai, DJ Slow Drip, DJ Aoli, DJ Neptune Spins, DJ Brent Brown, DJ Pave Beats, DJ JG, DJ Traveling with Jericho, DJ MX.NIXX, and DJ Koskue.

Settle in for authentic blues from Mr Jimmy, an award winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter who hails from Chicago and lives in Asheville. His Saturday residency brings his sound to Asheville Club, known as the hippest club in town.

Soul Blue delivers classic soul, blues, and R&B with a five-piece lineup whose members come from Atlanta, Georgia and Asheville, North Carolina. Drawing on backgrounds in bands such as Daddy’s Money, The XL’s, and Banks & Shane, these seasoned players bring an authentic touch to favorites by Otis Redding, Al Green, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Howlin’ Wolf, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin, alongside songs from artists like Taj Mahal, John Meyer, Jimmy Hall, Delbert McClinton, and the Tedeschi Trucks band. Their long friendship and shared love of the music create easy onstage chemistry and a lively atmosphere. Admission is free, and a tip jar will be available.

Night two of this punk series showcases Machine Gun Earl, Trash Rocket, Exaggerators, and DDRB. Admission is $15 on the day of the show.

Stephani hosts a lively karaoke night at The Social, where visitors can party with friends, enjoy food and drinks, and take the stage. The sign up list may fill quickly, so arriving early can help secure a spot, and the host makes every effort to give participants a chance to sing. Those who prefer to listen can still expect an entertaining evening with performances that keep the energy up.

Cool mountain reggae sets the tone while fresh pizza and craft beer round out the experience. Expect easy vibes, good bites, and a flavorful pour.

Enjoy live jazz at Hotel Eve as Mr Jimmy leads a continuing session that spotlights a different special guest musician each time. There is no cover charge. Enter through the gate between Virtue and Dane Wells Gallery.

A chance to enjoy beers and make music together.

Catch 76th Street live at Asheville Music Hall. The show is scheduled for 8:00 PM on Monday, Aug 10.

Travelers at Asheville Regional Airport can enjoy a live performance located beyond the security checkpoint, which is accessible only with a valid airline ticket. The music will take place in the area by the grand piano, directly in front of Aletitude, situated between Gates 10 and 11.

An evening centered on dance, movement, connection, and tea features a live DJ shaping an ecstatic dance journey with bass-forward grooves. Set in the Social Hall at the JCC, the experience flows from gentle warm up and stretch into an opening circle, then a full DJ immersion and a brief closing sound healing. Magdalyn leads the music. She first stepped into Asheville’s DJ scene in the summer of 2024 and brings more than a decade of curating festivals, conscious gatherings, and ecstatic dance spaces in Floyd, Virginia. A devoted dancer herself, she blends conscious vocals, global rhythms, and hip-shaking beats to guide a communal journey of connection, transformation, and the joy of being moved by sound. Before the main set, the movement lab offers the ROFLMAO Workshop with Log, a playful exploration of laughter as a universal sound and source of uplift. Through simple practices, participants make laughter sounds and let those vibrations steer their motion. Log draws on a lifetime of intuitive, laughter-infused expression as a musician, emerging sound healer, and spirited ecstatic dancer. The evening concludes with a sound bath from Lillie Lumina. Tea service is included with admission, and massage therapy is available at $2 per minute. Event guidelines support a mindful atmosphere. The dance floor remains quiet to encourage movement as meditation, while soft conversation is welcome in the tea lounge and chill areas. The space is shoes-off, with allowances for clean indoor footwear when needed for physical reasons. Care for self, others, and the venue is expected, and phones are put away in both dancing and chill zones to support full presence. Rooted in a tradition that began in San Francisco in the early 2000s with DJ Neptune, this gathering carries forward the Beat Church spirit within Asheville’s vibrant dance community.

Catch free live music at the Pritchard Park Arts & Culture Series with Pickin' in the Park. The event runs in the heart of Downtown Asheville from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Hosted by Eulogy, this event features a performance by Frozen Soul, with doors opening before the show.

DJ Mtn Vibez provides the music while Moreno Mexica hosts this Latin dance night. The evening runs later with extended hours, and a salsa class is part of the program. Admission is $10.

Terra hosts Terraoke, a free karaoke takeover at The Odd where attendees can take the mic and sing.

Settle into patio vibes at a happy hour series featuring a live DJ, local beverage partners, and interactive activities. Each month highlights a different local craft beverage brand with samples and giveaways. Explore an engaging craft activity, customize your drink at a rotating Build Your Own bar, and unwind to sets from a changing DJ lineup. Admission is free, and monthly DJ and partner details will be shared over time.

This event features line dancing with no cover charge.

Shamrock Irons Irish Pub hosts a weekly Jazz Showcase curated by Asheville musician Steven Alvarez, bringing together standout local players for an intimate opening set of smooth jazz. As the evening unfolds, the room shifts into an open jam where musicians step in, the energy builds, and the music heads in fresh directions. It is a laid-back midweek hang for jazz enthusiasts, performers, and anyone in the mood for live tunes. There is no cover, and specials include $5 drafts, a $10 Old Fashioned, and $2 off appetizers.

Leeda “Lyric” Jones hosts a karaoke night at Daddy Mac's Down Home Dive in Asheville with a microphone open to all. Take the stage to sing or support others from your table, and you will still be part of the experience. The night centers on karaoke, with food and drink specials available.

One World West presents a new Thursday residency with Thunder Thursdays, a collaborative project bringing together Alex Bazemore and Hannah Ramsey with Joey Remillard and JC Hannon of Strictly Liquid. Look for fresh sets each week that put a new spin on familiar songs, with the chance to hear some original material as well. Expect high-energy vibes and a powerful sound. The cover charge is $10.