The music of Asheville, North Carolina based outfit Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the band’s country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache or hope.

There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Platt’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her story-telling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person's life.

Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), RickCooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals).The band is currently on tour supporting their sixth studio album -"The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" - released 2/25/2022 on OrganicRecords.

Born in the soul-basted countryside of Alabama, then brought to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains to marinade and mature, Red Clay Revival delivers an experience that continues to reshape the parameters of roots music with skillful, heart-driven compositions. Bandleader and songsmith extraordinaire, Doug McElvy, lays a solid foundation at the epicenter of Red Clay’s musical magnitude. The band’s high energy shows are filled with slam-grass/bluegrass breaks, with a rock feel; it’s an entertaining performance sure to get the crowd moving regardless of musical taste.

Sneezy is a Fusion Rock band from Chicago, IL that draws its innovative sound from Rock, Hip-Hop, and Soul influences. Sneezy’s six members have been building musical chemistry together for over a decade. Live performances are best characterized by engulfing grooves, crowd interaction, and occasional freak dancing! A loyal fan base stretches across Illinois where the band has supported national touring acts as well as headlined at major colleges and universities. Find out more by searching #SneezyMusic.

American recording artist, Zach Person, is the new face of indie rock. Emerging out of Austin, Texas, Person plays loud, raw, and connects with his music fans on a primal sonic level. Only 25 years old, Person has a swagger, talent and grit beyond his years. With the poise of a seasoned veteran on stage and the stylings of a mega star, he commands an audience in seconds.

Person’s self-titled, debut LP dropped on April 2, 2021 and has since been drawing press attention both far and wide.

The JLloyd MashUp explores different genres of music including Acid Jazz, Funk, Soul, Afro Beat, Reggae, Break Beat, and Latin. Led and curated by Jonathan Lloyd (Dubconscious/Cadillac Jones), the band is made up of some of Asheville’s busiest and hardest working musicians on the scene.

Electronic Latin Funk — Electro Lust instantly transports you to a nightclub in Miami, over to a beach in Brazil, ending up on the streets of Cuba, all while listening to a hip-hop mix tape. Members of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Empire Strikes Brass & The Fritz.

2021 MerleFest Band Competition Winners Into The Fog, is a genre jumping string band located in Raleigh, North Carolina. With various backgrounds ranging from bluegrass, country, rock, to funk, Into The Fog creates a musical melting pot of sounds in an acoustic/newgrass setting. 

The Greenliners are a progressive bluegrass group from Asheville, NC featuring Richard Barrett (guitar), Jay Franck (mandolin), Ben Saylor (banjo) and Christian Ferri (bass). Since forming in 2014, they’ve been performing a mix of traditional bluegrass, original songs, southern americana, folk & jam-grass to crowds across the WNC region.

With a voice often described as "velvet soul," Asheville songwriter Ashley Heath has been winning over the hearts of Americana music lovers since she gave up her barista apron in the spring of 2015.

Currently on tour in support of her sophomore album "Where Hope Never Dies," Heath continues to deliver her signature blend of sultry blues and anthemic rock n' roll arrangements to clubs and festivals nationwide, most recently appearing at acclaimed events including Merlefest, Bonnaroo, Shakori Hills, and more and supporting the likes of Donna The Buffalo, Del McCoury Band, Anders Osborne, Shamarr Allen (of Galactic), and other staples on the scene. 

Southern rock meets jam band meets Americana with The Late Shifters, a passion-driven, band of friends, playing back holler rock-n-roll from Asheville, North Carolina.

The Late Shifters have found a way to express their love for the Appalachian region and its rich environment and culture through amplified and electric sound. They are motivated and influenced by bands such as the Drive by Truckers, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Grateful Dead, as well as songwriters like Jason Isbell and John Prine. These guys can put a stylistic spin on a classic rock cover and also entertain with one of their many, crowd-pleasing originals.

The Paper Crowns are the multi-instrument, genre crossing power duo of Spiro and Nicole Nicolopoulos.  The Paper Crowns are earning their reputation as the genuine article and as a band on the cutting edge of modern roots music. Their musical chemistry is a gumbo of Appalachian folk and bluegrass, Dixieland melodies, delta blues, acid rock, murder ballads, outlaw country and Southern Gospel that they cook up into a sound all their own.  As a duo they have a full band sound with drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars and banjo as well as live looping on the spot compositions.  Their mix of modern and traditional performance creates a captivating intensity yet always honors their intimacy and emotional rawness as a duo.

Allan got his first guitar from the trash. Growing up in the hollow of Trout Valley WV, they were hard to come by. His uncle brought it to him, an old Harmony, one string, hole in the back. But, to him, it was a piece of magic. He would sit and fool around on it, picking out melodies. That summer, his Uncle T taught him some banjo chords when Allan would come up to split kindling, carry in water from the old well, mow the grass, whatever needed done. He did that for all his Aunts and Uncles in the valley, and there was always plenty to do. He started working in the hayfields when he was 10, and saved up enough money to buy his own guitar. He sat and played it for hours and hours when he had the time, and wrote his first song when he was 15. He hasn't stopped yet. Songwriting is what he does. Hundreds of songs later, he is still writing and he spent the last year writing many more. The new album "The Quiet Garden" is part of those songs, and part of some songs that were written 30 years ago. The artwork for the album was done by his son Tobias, age 9. Allan hopes to get him started on writing songs soon too. We shall see.

The Pigeon River Messengers are a duo based in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Consisting of Couple Zach & Lori who met over their common love for Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings and folk music as a whole.

Zach who is originally from Knoxville and later moved to Nashville, is heavily influenced by a wide range of musical genres. From the high lonesome sounds of Bill Monroe to the funky syncopated rythyms of James Brown, Zach’s musical style reflects a unique blend of old & new.

Lori is a North Carolina singer/song writer who grew up listening to Appalachian ballads and attending bluegrass festivals with her musical family. A fourth generation ballad singer herself she embraces the old songs while always eager to share her own. Learning many of the old songs from her Late uncle Bobby Mcmillon. Together the two make the perfect team for some truly expressive art through sound

Street Creature Puppet Collective is now celebrating it's 10th year. They are a volunteer group of puppeteers, artists, performers, and tinkerers based in WNC, "creating things they wish existed", including giant puppets and pageants for local parades and festivals.

Currently based at Jubilee! Community downtown, the group regularly livens up the LEAF Global Arts festivals, the Asheville Holiday Parade, Asheville Mardi Gras and other events. All are welcome to attend their weekly Wednesday night work parties.

At Toe Down they will be holding a lantern making workshop on Friday, followed by a lantern parade on Saturday night.  Bring your glow and join them in the procession.

Earthshine Nature Programs is a small, volunteer-owned and operated, not-for-profit, environmental education and conservation organization with IRS 501c3 status. They are based in Pisgah Forest, NC, and teach science-focused nature and wildlife conservation, renewable energy and electric vehicle awareness, and indigenous music appreciation through exciting hands-on outreach programming to people of all ages and all walks of life. 

Music has always been profoundly important to me, and not just in a “let’s dance” kind of way, but in its ability to connect our souls with a higher power. I experienced my first sound healing with Billy Zanski at Skinny Beats Drum Shop in Asheville, and was mesmerized by the sounds, not to mention the shift in energy. Not long after, I bought a RAV Vast drum, which is a type of hand pan. Every time I play, it makes me feel so good! I wanted to share the experience with everyone. I participated in several more sessions with Billy, both in group and individual sessions, as well as with other local practitioners, and realized I needed to share this magic, this powerful medium, to elevate the collective vibrations of the world with love and positivity. I have a collection of singing bowls, gongs, chimes and other instruments that I use to create an environment that encourages relaxation and quiet our monkey-minds, to be able to connect with our best selves.

A mobile art installation dedicated to Duane "Skydog" Allman