No matter where you travel, live music has a way of bringing people together...it creates a shared experience through instruments, harmonies, and even the musicians' stage presence. The Asheville area is known for its excellent bluegrass, folk, and general Appalachian musicians, but our venues also draw rock, rap, classical, and musicians from every other genre.
Asheville Music Venues
The Orange Peel venue in downtown Asheville.
The Orange Peel
Recognized as one of the best live music venues in the nation in the first three years of its existence by publications like USA Today, Travel and Leisure, GQ, and Rolling Stone Magazine, this award-winning music venue is known for drawing popular names in music, including past performances by Bob Dylan, Flaming Lips, Jack White, Sonic Youth, Arcade Fire, The Killers, Skrillex, Modest Mouse, the Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, Smashing Pumpkins, Avett Brothers and much more!
The Grey Eagle
This intimate music venue has great acoustics, a relaxing environment, and a great line-up of performances. It's received artist praise from bands and musicians like Mason Jennings, Explosions in the Sky, and the War on Drugs.
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Harrah's Cherokee Center
If you peruse the event list at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, you can expect to see performances by the Asheville Symphony and musicians who draw large crowds.
Asheville Music Hall
Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, the music hall opened in 2011 at the location of the former Stella Blue. Asheville Music Hall is a premier, mid-sized venue in Asheville that offers quality production for artists, events, and fans. With a capacity of 360, Asheville Music Hall has hosted musical legends such as Ghostface Killah, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and Disclosure as well as up-and-coming artists such as Papadosio, Everyone Orchestra, and Dopapod. They're an all-genre venue that provides an intimate, live music experience for all music fans.
Grey Eagle venue in the River Arts District.
Salvage Station
This venue is temporarily closed due to Hurricane Helene.
From hosting nationally touring headliners to up-and-coming acts on indoor and outdoor stages, Salvage Station has been voted Asheville’s best place to catch live music. And yes, you’ll find remnants of our past as a salvage yard creatively incorporated in and around the property and at the multiple outdoor bars.
Their spacious riverside venue is a favored hangout for drinks, a game of cornhole, and outdoor dining. In addition to great drinks and music, they also offer a rotating menu of Southern/New Orleans bites from their on-site restaurant, Root Down Kitchen.
ISIS Music Hall
This venue is temporarily closed due to Hurricane Helene.
Set in the heart of West Asheville, Isis Theater was built in 1937 as a single-screen movie house and screened its last film in 1957. It was revamped by a family who still owns and operates it to this day. It is known and loved by the locals as being the place for good music, good food, and good company. Whether you're there to catch an intimate dinner or a rock show with 450 people, its charm and versatility have ensured its place in the hip West Asheville scene.
Asheville Yards
Formerly known as Rabbit, Rabbit, this incredible outdoor venue in the heart of downtown Asheville launched during a global pandemic and has thrived since it opened its doors. Offering everything you could possibly want in the way of entertainment, you'll find amazing live music, movies, art markets, seasonal events, as well as delicious tacos and local beer & beverages to enjoy.
Highland Brewing Company
Boasting the title of the largest independent, family-owned brewery native to the Southeast, Highland Brewing Company offers multiple venues for live music and entertainment. The Meadow is an outdoor seasonal venue with a large stage and scenic mountain backdrop. This is their primary spot for summer concerts and community festivals like AVLFest. The Taproom is the heart of the brewery and hosts a free, indoor music series event weekly. This brewery also has an Event Center with a permanent stage and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment for larger ticketed shows, along with their Barrel Room for smaller performances and private events.
Eulogy
Operated by Burial Beer Co. and tucked along the South Slope on Buxton Ave, this mid-sized concert hall and "portal of sound" hosts live music and community events and offers a full on-site bar. While there is no dedicated restaurant inside the venue, it's within walking distance of favorites like Good Hot Fish, PIE.ZAA, and Chai Pani. In between sets, check out the VISUALS Rooftop Bar above Eulogy, which offers natural wine and cocktails in an open-air setting overlooking downtown. While the rooftop bar is temporarily closed, it's slated to reopen in March 2026!
Fleetwood's
This eclectic West Asheville joint functions as a rock-and-roll wedding chapel, dive bar, live music venue, and vintage thrift shop all in one. Located in a former 1940s garage, it hosts local and touring rock, punk, metal, and underground acts, as well as weekly karaoke and comedy nights. For the flea market lovers, be sure to check out their Junk-O-Rama outdoor vintage and antique markets. While they have a full bar and host the occasional food truck, patrons are encouraged to grab their grub from neighboring restaurants. We recommend W.A.L.K, Hail Mary, or Haywood Common.
Black Mountain Music Venues
White Horse Black Mountain
This relaxed music venue is located in downtown Black Mountain and features a wide variety of musical talent, with everything from classically trained musicians, folk, bluegrass, and Irish jam sessions.
Pisgah Brewing
This Black Mountain brewery is a favorite of locals and features regular live music on both its indoor taproom stage and its renowned outdoor amphitheater. With genres spanning Reggae, Funk Fusion, Bluegrass, and more, it's got a little something for everyone.
Town Pump Tavern
Located in the heart of downtown Black Mountain, this local favorite dive bar also doubles as a music venue and features a wide variety of musical genres and artists. Fun and full of energy, this is the perfect place to grab a cold beer and listen to live music with the locals.