We’re sure you’ve seen the posters all over Asheville. You know, the ones with print so small you have to squint to read it. That’s because AVLFest will have more than 200 acts performing on more than 20 stages.
With a plethora of acts, venues, shuttles, and more, there’s a lot of info for festival-goers to get a handle on, so let’s break down the basics.
What to expect
On Aug. 3-6, AVLFest will be presenting live music at venues all over the city as a collaboration between Worthwhile Sounds + Wicked Weed Brewing. You’ll be able to jam out to old school indie at concert halls, funk + jazz in clubs, and bluegrass under the stars. It’s about showcasing Asheville and its venues as a thriving music hub. In short, expect a really good time.
“I think that it is safe to say that most of us Ashevillians find a special joy in live music, and as a result, we have all really noticed the absence of a live music festival in Asheville,” says Wicked Weed Marketing Director Kyle Pederson. “Jeff Whitworth and Bryan Matheny felt the same and decided to be proactive in solving our shared dilemma. Jeff and Bryan set out to design a music festival that was representative and respectful of the Asheville community.”
The team is also keeping the community in mind by donating a portion of the ticket proceeds to several local nonprofits, including RiverLink, Black Wall Street, Homeward Bound, and Campaign for Southern Equality.
Explore venues all over the city, like Asheville Music Hall.
Photo by @stephanpruittphotography
How to get in and get around
You can purchase weekend passes — which give you entrance to all participating venues (until they reach capacity) — either online or in person at Harvest Records, The Grey Eagle, The Orange Peel, and Records in the RAD. Passes are $100 for general admission, but they don’t include the standalone shows.
If you’re interested in seeing a headliner, grab individual tickets to see Watchhouse on Aug. 3 or Kurt Vile & The Violators on Aug. 4. Your pass gives you $20 discounted tickets for these standalones. If that weren’t enough, passes also include discounts at some area retailers and restaurants, like Bear’s Smokehouse.
Once you’ve purchased your pass, next is picking up your wristband. Head to Citizen Vinyl on Wednesday and Thursday, 12-8 p.m. + Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 pm. and 6-8 pm. or at New Belgium Brewing on Tuesday, 2-6 p.m. + Wednesday and Thursday, 12-7 p.m. To beat the festival-day crowds, locals are encouraged to pick their bands up on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The festival’s venues are spread out across the city, and as any Ashevillian knows, getting around + parking can be a bit of a challenge even on a normal day. Luckily, locals are at the heart of AVLFest, so they knew that too — and partnered with Young Bus Lines to have four coaches run two continuous routes between venues. Check out the shuttle map.
Who to see
The question seems to be more, “How can you fit all of the performances you want to see into your schedule?” Honestly, there’s no easy answer to that with a ton of incredible bands for fans of any genre. Start planning now for your must-sees and check out who’s performing — then save (or even print) the full schedule so you don’t miss a show.
Our advice? There are going to be some shows and venues that attract huge crowds, so the festival is a great chance to try out somewhere and someone new. And avoid standing in line.
“The lineup showcases a wide breadth of talented local musicians while also adding sought-after regional acts and even bringing in some exciting national talent,” says Kyle. “The goal is to amplify these artists through phenomenal local music venues and tremendous community partners.”
