Asheville's Musical Legacy

Asheville has a long history with music, beginning with traditional songs and tunes brought to the area by Scotch-Irish settlers. Over the years, the legends of what was once called "mountain music"--people like Jimmie Rodgers and Bill Monroe, and later Doc Watson and the Steep Canyon Rangers--contributed their own work to Asheville's cultural scene. Today, these traditional sounds can still be heard across Western North Carolina.

Music Traditions in the Blue Ridge

It began with the banjo: David Holt’s long affair with traditional Southern Appalachian music

by Alli Marshall

In 1969 David Holt packed up his truck and drove from California to North Carolina. “That was the same summer as Woodstock, and I was going to wood stick,” he jokes. But the Texas-born multi-instrumentalist, who got his start as a jazz … read more

Appalachia’s Ballad Singing Tradition

by Gina Smith

With its thriving music scene, including an ever-growing list of local Grammy nominees, Asheville is making a name for itself nationally as a hotbed for singing talent. But the craft of telling stories through song has long been woven into the … read more

50 Things to Do in Asheville

by Del Holston

If you’re looking for things to do in Asheville, then consider this list your primer to the many activities available in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you’re a first-time visitor, or perhaps well acquainted with the flare of this … read more

Mountain Sounds, Legacy of Dulcimers

by Cat Kessler

Locally Crafted Instruments Lend Melodies a Blue Ridge Ring Enthusiasts of Appalachian music are likely familiar with the whimsical sounds of dulcimers, instruments that have a rich legacy tied to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jerry Read Smith, a local … read more

Asheville's Busking Scene Keeps Music in the Air

by Larry Bleiberg

Street performers from around the world bring their talent to Asheville When Peter Levitov blows into his homemade didgeridoo, an ethereal throbbing sound from the Australian aboriginal instrument echoes through downtown Asheville . A moment later, a … read more

Play On In: Immerse Yourself in Mountain Sounds

by Elizabeth Sims

A Feast for the Ears Musical roots grow very deep in the mountains. The ground is melodiously fertile, and music thrives here. Listen closely and you’ll hear a fiddle at dusk down a long mountain cove. Hear the tap-tapa-tap of young mountain … read more

Live Music Lives in Asheville

by Jen Nathan Orris

Follow Your Ears to Asheville’s Hot Sounds Wander through Asheville and you’ll hear music from every nook and cranny. A bluegrass fiddler on the sidewalk, an indie rocker at a club, and an old-timey jam session at a bar are all equally … read more