The Grey Eagle is one of Asheville’s most legendary music venues. Located in the River Arts District, the low-ceilinged main room has hosted the likes of The Avett Brothers, Ralph Stanley, and Jason Isbell through the years, as well as served as a launch pad for local Asheville artists such as Town Mountain and MJ Lenderman. The iconic venue also happens to serve super fresh, delicious Mexican food. On a beautiful late spring day, Garden & Gun brought together five veterans of the Asheville music community—Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers, Claude Coleman Jr. of Ween, Amanda Anne Platt of Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, singer/songwriter Scott Kinnebrew, and Jeff Whitworth, founder of AVLFest, an annual venue-based music and arts festival (August 1–4). They gathered for quesadillas, nachos, and a conversation about Asheville and how it has become one of the world’s great music towns.
How has Asheville’s music scene evolved?
Graham Sharp: When I moved here in 2001, Asheville had all the stuff that we wanted musically. The traditional bands that pushed the envelope like Snake Oil Medicine Show, the Blue Rags, and the Greasy Beans. There’s a great traditional music scene that’s been here for a long time, but other genres have blossomed here in the past ten years.
Scott Kinnebrew: There are a ton more bands. And there are a lot more venues. A whole new generation of kids have been inspired by what we’ve been doing, and they’re out there playing music. Places like The Grey Eagle bridge the spectrum, you have roots to rock and everything in between. Other venues here are holding it down, especially in the punk scene, like Fleetwood’s in West Asheville and Static Age downtown. These places are institutions. Static Age is where you can be a freak and still feel cool.
Claude Coleman Jr: I came here in 2011 from New Jersey; I was tired of the East Coast grind. During one visit, I ended up at a club in West Asheville. It was a beautiful venue with perfect acoustics and was packed on a Sunday night. I thought, “I totally want to be involved in this scene.” I met people like you guys who had been here for a while, and it was like, wow, these people are legit cool. People aren’t on the make here. As far as the music scene goes, everyone has a vested interest in keeping this city vital and alive.
Jeff Whitworth: Asheville accepts everyone. The town has always supported music and the arts, but it truly embraces creativity. You can go to a house party or DIY punk show on a loading dock somewhere, and the city gives you space to get weird. They aren’t as quick to shut it down because they know it will be done in an hour. That willingness doesn’t exist everywhere.
Amanda Anne Platt: I dropped out of college to write songs but needed a backup plan, so I decided to learn how to build guitars. I thought about moving to other music cities, but I found a guy to apprentice with here in Asheville, and I’ve never looked back. Asheville is a town where you’re more likely to see your peers in the crowd rather than industry people. So, you’re always playing to your friends rather than trying to impress the tastemakers. There’s a level of authenticity here that might not exist in other towns.
What do you like to do in Asheville other than music?
SK: We are blessed with some incredible hiking trails. You can do a short hike, or if you want to get lost in the woods, you can do that. That’s where I get my recharge.
GS: If you can’t leave town, you can walk the Greenway. It’s miles of trails along the French Broad River, and you can do a big loop around the city. I think the outdoor adventure aspect is huge here for everybody.
CC: Asheville is also very family-oriented. Beyond the outdoor stuff, I love taking my kids to all the amazing breweries and outdoor events. Parents and their kids can have a good time.
AAP: We love this place called the Foothills Grange in Black Mountain. The burgers are amazing. And their kids’ play area is this giant dirt pit where they have actual shovels and giant Tonka trucks. We go there all the time.
What would you say to music fans who are thinking about visiting Asheville?
SK: I hear from many visitors who have had enjoyable experiences finding a random club, seeing a band they haven’t heard of, and feeling welcomed at each venue. You can find music here every night of the week. And artists here genuinely appreciate visitors who are music fans.
JW: Come to AVLFest, August 1-4. Tickets at AVLFest.com. There are hundreds of bands. What more could you want?
Plan your Asheville music getaway at ExploreAsheville.com/Music
