Rock Academy Mixtape
-ALL AGES-LIMITED SEATING (FIRST COME FIRST SERVE) + STANDING ROOM ROCK ACADEMY Rock Academy is a Year-Round Rock Band Performance Program that take our bands out of the classrooms and into Asheville’s music scene. Students learn to perform a wide variety of musical styles and songs of various genres including blues, classic rock, hard rock, punk, surf, americana and more. Our music students grow into skilled musicians and take their band “on the road” to play in front of live audiences at some of the top venues in the area. The Asheville Rock Academy’s talented students have played some high-profile gigs, including the Main stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Academy bands have also played with Cliff Williams of AC/DC and American Idol’s Caleb Johnson. Join us for this year’s “Mix Tape 2025” show!
Bendigo Fletcher
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLYBENDIGO FLETCHER Shapeshifting on an axis between folk, alternative, country, and soul, Bendigo Fletcher’s lofty melodies soar above earthy instrumentation on their 2022 Wingding EP [Elektra Records]. Charmed with psychedelic flourishes, yet tightly rooted in tried-and-true songcraft, the Louisville quintet—Ryan Anderson [lead vocals, guitar, banjo], Andrew Shupert [backing vocals, lead guitar], Evan Wagner [backing vocals, keys, guitar, percussion], Conner Powell [bass], and Chris Weis [drums]—continues to instantly transfix across the EP’s four tracks. “More than a few times, I’ve explored the Wingding font universe as an entertaining break from more pressing tasks. I like the name ‘Wingding’ for a fictional creature, like the Mothman of West Virginia folklore. It’s also another word for party,” Anderson says. “This EP is a collection of distractions we built over the last few years when gatherings and adventures felt pretty unattainable.” After crisscrossing paths in the Louisville scene and life in general (“Chris is my brother-in-law’s childhood best friend,” notes Anderson), Bendigo Fletcher initially formed in 2016. The group organically built an audience across their native Kentucky one gig at a time. During 2018, they made waves with the independent Consensual Wisdom EP highlighted by fan favorites “Wonderfully Bizarre” and “Soul Factory.” Following a tireless grind, the band signed to Elektra Records and unveiled their debut album, Fits of Laughter in 2021. Beyond amassing millions of streams, the album earned widespread critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, FLOOD Magazine, and more. Music Connection dubbed it, “Alt-rock, country-flecked folk-rock soaked in LSD,” while Atwood Magazine praised the collection as “a record of reverie, celebration, and true to its name, laughter: music made for good times and bad, that promises to leave us all a little more elated.” Along the way, Bendigo Fletcher captivated crowds on tour with the likes of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Hiss Golden Messenger, Mt. Joy, Nathaniel Rateliff, Anderson East, Rayland Baxter, and Shakey Graves. In 2022, Bendigo Fletcher returned to Nashville, TN’s Cartoon Moon Recording Studio to track their Wingding EP. Once again, the band teamed with Fits of Laughter producer and original Wilco/Uncle Tupelo drummer Ken Coomer in the studio. For the first time, the band enlisted Grizzly Bear bassist and producer, Chris Taylor, as a mixer. “In addition to the brilliance of Ken’s ear as a song maker, I appreciate the environment he maintains,” notes Ryan. “All ideas are considered, and we try to just have fun trying new sounds. I think that mentality lends to a unique blend, keeping the band outside of any one box. And I’ve found constant inspiration in Chris’ work as a soundscaper since a friend introduced me to Veckatimest in high school. Having him on the project was really exciting, and I think his mixes present the band’s ethos in a beautifully natural way.” PRODUCING A KIND GENERATION
PATIO: Lord Nelson
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE LORD NELSON Lord Nelson have been covering the backroads and highways of this country, bringing their version of rock ’n roll to anyone that will listen. Rooted in central Virginia, the songs depict a landscape of hard choices with a wry sense of humor. Leaning into the curve, aware of the choices that put you on that bend. Bringing together folk, rock, blues, and country in the most natural sense, their latest studio album, “Transmission”, charted on the Americana charts and garnered play across the country. Currently working on their follow up, slated for a late 2024 release, the road shows no signs of slowing down. “Their live show can’t help but draw you into the music, whether you’re a Virginia native or not. By the end of their set, you’ll wish you were.” -Nashville 360
ROCK N ROLL REWIND
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY ROCK N ROLL REWIND ROCK N ROLL REWIND IS A COLLABORATION OF MUSICIANS / FRIENDS FROM ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA. FOUNDED IN 2023 BY NATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST & SESSION DRUMMER MIKE HUNNICUTT, THIS BAND IS PACKED WITH SEASONED PROS WHO’VE ROCKED OUT ALONGSIDE LEGENDS LIKE KID ROCK, SEVENDUST, CREED, GODSMACK, HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH, WARRANT, JACKYL, WARREN HAYNES AND GOVERNMENT MULE, DRIVIN N CRYIN, SPONGE, THE WALLFLOWERS, ARTIMUS PYLE (LEGENDARY LYNARD SKYNARD DRUMMER), SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, MONSTER MAGNET, 38 SPECIAL, AND CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – JUST TO NAME A FEW!PREPARE TO JOURNEY BACK TO THE FABULOUS ERA OF AQUA NET, LEATHER JACKETS, AND SPANDEX AS THEY DELIVER ELECTRIFYING HITS FROM THE 70s THROUGH THE 90s AND BEYOND! ROCK N ROLL REWIND PROVIDES AN EXCITING LISTENING EXPERIENCE FEATURING SOARING GUITARS, STRONG BASS LINES, DYNAMIC DRUMING PATTERNS, AND POWERHOUSE VOCALS THAT OUTSHINE TYPICAL COVER BANDS. GET SET FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!
Music of Grateful Dead for Kids + More
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY KIDS UNDER 1 FREE The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show! This concert for kids and families shares the music of the artist named above with a new generation of music lovers, but is not associated with or endorsed by the artist. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. The Rock and Roll Playhouse knows that little ears are sensitive, so we turn down the volume at our shows. However, all kids experience music differently and you may find that your child is more comfortable wearing hearing protection earmuffs, such as Baby Banz, which are available for purchase here. By attending this event, I consent to my image (with or without my voice) being included in photographs and/or film and videotape of the event, and give BBNY, The Rock and Roll Playhouse and their respective licensees and assigns the absolute and irrevocable right and permission to use and publish such content in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter developed.
Music of Taylor Swift for Kids + More
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY KIDS UNDER 1 FREE The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. See you at the show! This concert for kids and families shares the music of the artist named above with a new generation of music lovers, but is not associated with or endorsed by the artist. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. The Rock and Roll Playhouse knows that little ears are sensitive, so we turn down the volume at our shows. However, all kids experience music differently and you may find that your child is more comfortable wearing hearing protection earmuffs, such as Baby Banz, which are available for purchase here. By attending this event, I consent to my image (with or without my voice) being included in photographs and/or film and videotape of the event, and give BBNY, The Rock and Roll Playhouse and their respective licensees and assigns the absolute and irrevocable right and permission to use and publish such content in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter developed.
Fantastic Negrito
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY FANTASTIC NEGRITO 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Fantastic Negrito releases his highly anticipated new album, Son of a Broken Man, on October 18 2024 via his own Storefront Records. The new album sees Fantastic Negrito encapsulating his inimitable style, from hard-hitting guitar riffs to expressive ballads, with the unexpected twists that have become his trademark. It stands as one of his most personal works to date, exploring family, deception, and the human desire to hide the true self as he dives deep into the struggle between father and son. Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, Fantastic Negrito’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of music. By now much has been made of Negrito’s unique story – growing up in an orthodox Muslim household, a doomed major label deal, the near-fatal car crash that permanently damaged his guitar playing hand—as well as the remarkable redemption arc that began in 2015, when he won the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest. He has since earned three GRAMMY® Awards for “Best Contemporary Blues Album,” and shared stages with everyone from Sturgill Simpson to Chris Cornell to Bruce Springsteen. He’s collaborated in the studio with the likes of Sting, E-40, and Tank and The Bangas, performed on countless headline world tours and at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Newport Folk, and WOMAD, and founded the Revolution Plantation, an urban farm aimed at youth education and empowerment.
CANCELED: Austin Meade – Happier Alone Forever Tour
THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THE REFUND PROCESS IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. AUSTIN MEADEThanks to his metal- and classic-rock loving dad, Meade got to see bands like Judas Priest and worshipped Whitesnake. In junior high he related to the intense emo-rock of Paramore and Fall Out Boy, and the power of songwriters like John Mayer. Yet, thanks to plainspoken but deep heartland songwriters like Tom Petty, and cutting his teeth touring in the Texas and Oklahoma Red Dirt scene, Meade’s music overflows with wide-open soulfulness. He was a drummer for years, even teaching to pay the bills, but Meade found his true voice when he began playing guitar as a teen in his pastor-father’s church. Those experiences lend both a gravitas and rebelliousness to Meade’s songs and self. Now the frontman of his own band slinging guitar licks withexpert precision, his music rolled out with two releases in 2014, his first EP “Long Ways To Go” followed by his first full-length album “Chief Of The Sinners.” His next EP “Heartbreak Coming” came in 2016 with a couple of singles to announce his commencement on the Texas Music Chart, followed by his second full-length album “Waves” in 2019. In 2021, Meade introduced his third LP ‘Black Sheep’ including the hit tracks “Happier Alone,” “Cave In,”‘Dopamine Drop,” and “Deja Vu.” Meade released his fourth LP ‘Abstract Art Of An Unstable Mind’ fall of 2022, further showcasing his abilityto seamlessly blend genres into a groovy yet piercingly fresh sound of rock ‘n’ roll. Now comes for a new era ushering in Meade’s latest rock EP ‘Pretty Little Waist’ featuring singles “Blackout,” released with Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, Stoner Fantasy, and “Insignificant Other” featuring Sam Canty and Lance Vanley of Treaty Oak Revival. COLE BARNHILL Hailing from what he calls “The music capital of the world,” Cole Barnhill began his Music career in Lubbock, TX playing local bars with his band at the age of 17. Over the past five years, his Texas Rock sound has garnered millions of streams on multiple platforms and steadily grown a large and loyal fanbase throughout Texas and its surrounding states. Cole and his boys pride themselves on putting on a high-energy, engaging rock show that no one will soon forget. Cole packs a punch with his striking melodic vocals and heavy guitars that are sure to get any crowd moving. DEVORA Raised in the desert of Arizona, Devora draws inspiration from her roots, growing up around desert creatures in a western town, experiencing the sinister lawless side of desert life, and the characters she’s met along the way. In her modern goth-western vignettes she conjures images of ghost towns, dark rodeos, the haunted desert, abandoned motel rooms, skylines on fire, the open road and reckless tales of love and loss in a modern wild west. Her sound bridges Alternative Country melodies with dark pop and rock hooks drawing you into her surrealist western world.
The Get Right Band & Supatight: Summer in the Winter BEACH BASH!
ALL AGESSTANDING/DANCING ROOM ONLY BEACH ATTIRE ENCOURAGED! THE GET RIGHT BAND The Get Right Band is a psychedelic indie rock group committed to relentlessly following their muses to honest self-expression, to whatever excites them and pushes them into unexplored territory, to capturing some version of truth. American Songwriter writes that the Asheville, NC based group, “filters 60’s/70’s psychedelia and 90’s alternative rock through a modern lens–as if Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Nirvana co-wrote an album produced by Danger Mouse and Dan Auerbach.” The Get Right Band formed in 2011, built around the musical brotherhood that guitarist/singer/songwriter Silas Durocher and bassist Jesse Gentry have formed playing music together since middle school. Durocher, who is a trained composer and has been commissioned to write for symphonies and chamber groups, has guitar chops that can soothe or rage, with a charismatic swagger as frontman and singer. Gentry’s virtuosic bass playing “catapults from elastic to nasty” (The Mountain Xpress). Completing the team is drummer extraordinaire Jaze Uries, who is also a singer, songwriter, producer, photographer, and DJ, and keys legend Chuck Lichtenberger, whose incredible playing has been a staple of the Asheville music scene for years. GRB has defined their sound through constant evolution, building to the hook-driven, synth-heavy pop/rock/psych band they are today. The Huffington Post writes, “their songs are infectious and take you immediately to a place. The lyrics are smart and bear weight.” The Get Right Band has shared the stage with Dr. Dog, Everclear, Cracker, UB40, Rusted Root, Smash Mouth, and Lifehouse; been featured on NPR’s World Cafe, Paste Studio, and WTF with Marc Maron; and performed at major venues and festivals including The Fillmore, Brooklyn Bowl, Theatre of the Living Arts, The Orange Peel, FloydFest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, and Riverbend Fest. They have released four studio albums and a live album, and their latest LP, iTopia, dropped on April 7, 2023. The Get Right Band has been compared to other modern indie rock bands with a psychedelic bent such as The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and MGMT. SUPATIGHT
Abby Bryant + Dr. Bacon
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY ABBY BRYANT A music minister’s daughter turned fierce frontwoman on the festival scene, Abby Bryant found her true love for performing while attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Quickly forming a touring band and playing the Southeast and beyond, Bryant released her debut album Not Your Little Girl which garnered critical acclaim and Americana chart success with themes of growing up, leaving home, and finding her own identity outside her traditional upbringing. Produced by Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, Bryant’s highly anticipated upcoming album Glowing is slated for release in September 2024 and includes a cast of heavy-hitting session musicians including Adam MacDougall (Circles Around the Sun, Chris Robinson Brotherhood) and John Kimock (Mike Gordon Band, Oteil Burbridge & Friends). Glowing features a collection of even more mature and contemplative tracks that highlight Bryant’s artistic growth and the evolving sonic landscapes she is exploring. DR BACON DR. BACON is a 6 Piece touring Appalachian Funk, Grass and Rock &Roll band. Wielding a diverse instrumentation with broad, deepmusical influences allows the band to perform a plethora ofenergetic, accessible, and danceable music.The Dr. Bacon LiveExperience is truly a spectacle to behold, bringing the audience on amusical journey that lulls and spikes in energy, caressing ears withlush beauty and whipping crowds into a tribal romp, shaking bootiesand shedding inhibitions. This manic versatility ensures that nomatter what genre of music you identify with most, you will hearsomething that resonates at a Bacon show. Dr. Bacon startedplaying together in 2012 on King Street in Boone, NC as a 3 piecebusking with acoustic bluegrass, folk, and 90s pop/rock/hip-hopinfluenced party music. Several lineup changes over the years and arelocation to Asheville, NC have refined, redirected, electrified, andmatured the band’s sound, incorporating funk, rock, soul,psychedelic and world music to their bedrock of Appalachianinfluences. The blending of several elements of these genres (oftenwithin the same song) along with a unique & shiftinginstrumentation is the real Dr. Bacon flavor, and Bacon goes with everything!
