Asheville is known for its dynamic music scene and has inspired countless musicians and their lyrics for decades. And since we happen to be hardcore music lovers who also rep our city, we felt obliged to bring you a collection of tunes from a kaleidoscope of musical styles that all thread stories of the mountains into their tracks. With mid-century and contemporary artists from varying genres, there are so many toe-tapping ways you can find your own slice of home through music.
So whether this is for doing errands or having an impromptu dance party, you’re cordially invited to get down and jam out to some of our featured songs. This is not an exhaustive list, so let us know if we missed any tunes containing that most lovely of words, Asheville. 🎶
🎧 “When You Get to Asheville” | Edie Brickell & Steve Martin | Perhaps the most iconic song to name-drop our fair mountain town comes from comedian + bluegrass virtuoso Steve Martin and alternative rock singer Edie Brickell.
🎧 “Hard Times” | Gillian Welch | One of Editor Brook’s all-time favorite singers (and songs), the award-winning Americana artist may be best known for her contributions to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.
🎧 “The Way I Feel” | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Don’t miss this thoughtful song from the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter’s 2010 release, The Age of Miracles.
🎧 “Blue Ridge Mountains” | Fleet Foxes | Dive into the atmospheric sounds this indie folk band creates as they croon about the region’s infamous blue mountain range “over near Tennessee.”
🎧 “Asheville City Skyline” | The Lonesome Trio | The old-timey style + harmonies of this song makes this song make it that much more fun to listen (or sing along) to.
🎧 “Ric Flair” I Killer Mike I Atlanta rapper (and one half of hip hop duo Run the Jewels) Killer Mike thrills my soul on the regular, especially when he incorporates audio of legendary wrestler Ric Flair shouting out Asheville into his tongue-twisting raps.
🎧 “Bigger Than Love” I Ben Gibbard I This song from the debut solo album by Death Cab for Cutie’s lead singer Ben Gibbard not only sounds great, it’s fun to dance to.
🎧 “Blue Ridge Mountain Sky” I The Marshall Tucker Band I Celebrate the area’s stunning beauty with this 1974 song from the legendary Southern rock band.
🎧 “Road to No Return/Carolina” I Robert Earl Keen I Both Asheville + Black Mountain get referenced in this melancholic 1998 tune from this American crooner.
🎧 “Asheville Nashville Austin” I Band of Heathens I This song about life on the road from the Austin-based rockers appears on the group’s 2020 release, Stranger.
