The Melodies of Appalachia in Asheville

Asheville is the epicenter of music in Western North Carolina, but you won’t just find traditional music in this charming city, often called The Paris of the South. Music has long lived in the rolling hills of this area from its original inhabitants, the Cherokee, to the Scots-Irish that settled there centuries ago because of its similarity to their home terrain. This music is still alive and well in the echoes of the city, but you will also find folk, rock, indie, hip-hop, jazz, electronica and just about every other genre of music in the air.

Many music stars have called Asheville home, from Roberta Flack to Luke Combs to Bob Moog to Warren Haynes, and many collaborate there on a regular basis, including Steven Martin and Amy Ray. Asheville holds multiple claims to music fame both in people and place.

The city is rich with historical spaces like “The Block,” a vibrant area of downtown that was the heart of the African American community for nearly a century and housed numerous black-music venues; The Vanderbilt where the Asheville Sessions were recorded in 1925 on Okeh Records; and the music room in the Biltmore House complete with a 1902 Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano played by celebrated pianist, Van Cliburn. Asheville is not lacking in music depth.

Suggested Music-Themed Day Trip Itinerary*

Morning

Asheville offers a copious amount of coffee shops and eateries that line the streets of downtown and its surrounding quaint and historic neighborhoods. Because Asheville is notorious for its vibrant busking community, you are likely to hear music as you stroll the streets, cup in hand. From Pack Square Park to the Grove Arcade, fiddle players to drum circles, music permeates Asheville from morning to night.

Learn more about Asheville's busking scene.

Midday

Citizen Vinyl is one of only two vinyl pressing plants in the state of North Carolina, and two of 43 in the entire country. Operating in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Asheville Citizen Times Building—built by notable Asheville architect Anthony Lorde circa 1938—the building served as the home of two print newspapers and WWNC Radio. Citizen Vinyl opened its doors in 2020 and in addition to a pressing plant, it also operates as a recording facility. You can tour the vinyl press space and learn more about their process while entrenching yourself in history. Citizen Vinyl is a partner of the Asheville Sessions Project, an initiative to restore and preserve the Asheville Sessions, country music recordings from 1925 on Okeh Records that would predate our current understanding of the genre’s birth.

Website and Address: Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

Afternoon

There are trails to explore across the Appalachian Mountains and through the Pisgah Forest, but not all of them are dedicated to hiking. Explore the Blue Ridge Heritage Music Trails and make room for music murals when you do. Visit the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Visitor’s Center to get a broad scope of the music history at your fingertips—and perhaps even hear some music while you are there. Then head out to see more! There are music-rich communities surrounding the area and many music-inspired murals including ones of North Carolina’s own Nina Simone (Tryon) and Roberta Flack (Black Mountain). Other murals in the Asheville area include Dolly Parton with RuPaul, Lionel Richie, and murals depicting notable moments in music like Shindig on the Green.

Websites and Addresses:

o   Blue Ridge Heritage Area Visitor’s Center, 195 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

o   Nina Simone Mural, 2960 Lynn Road, Tryon, NC 28782

o   Roberta Flack Mural, 131 Broadway Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Evening

Make your way back into the city to choose from any number of small to large-scale music venues. From legendary stages like that of The Orange Peel to formal performance halls like the Wortham Center, Asheville has rich cultural experiences waiting for you at every turn. Looking for live music while you soak in the beauty of nature? Pack a blanket and enjoy the outdoor magic that is so uniquely Asheville at Live Music at the Bandstand on Biltmore Estate Grounds or music at the NC Arboretum. Plus, Asheville is home to a number of exceptional breweries that offer live music!

Websites and Addresses:

o   The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

o   The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

o   Biltmore House, 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803

o   NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806

Music