Asheville’s century celebration of the ‘Asheville Sessions’ crowns it as Appalachia’s country capital

There are places across the United States that speak directly to music lovers, and Asheville, North Carolina, is one of them. Known as a hub for both artists and travelers, the city invites anyone eager to explore the breadth of American musical history and its deep Appalachian roots. While it may be impossible to name a single birthplace of Americana, Asheville stands out as the place where the sound was nurtured, preserved, and passed through generations, shaping artists from Nina Simone to Luke Combs. At its heart, Asheville remains a place devoted to its creative community, where cultivating vibrant, grassroots experiences is woven into everyday life.

This November, music fans from around the world will gather in Asheville to honor the 100-year anniversary of the “Asheville Sessions,” the first major effort to record and archive Appalachian music. These 1925 recordings, produced by Ralph Peer, captured performances from early roots pioneers including Emmett Miller, J.D. Harris, Kelly Harrell, Henry Whitter, and Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Without this monumental session, much of the Appalachian and Carolina musical heritage, a tapestry blending the storytelling traditions of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, West Africa, Ireland, and Great Britain, might have been lost. These songs and the artists behind them laid the foundation for many of today’s most influential genres.

By this measre, Asheville is not just a cradle of Americana but a creative engine for everything the genre has inspired. It has fostered extraordinary talent, including Roberta Flack, MJ Lendermann, Jermaine Dupri, Angel Olsen, and Warren Haynes, alongside Simone and Combs. The city’s recording legacy stretches far beyond country music, preserved in spaces like Rabbit’s Motel. Originally opened in 1948 as a refuge for Black touring musicians on the Chitlin’ Circuit during segregation, it has since been fully restored by Claude Coleman Jr. and Brett Spivey, now serving as rehearsal and recording studios for the next generation of artists.

For those who want to immerse themselves in music’s past, present, and future, Asheville offers countless opportunities year-round. Every summer, AVL Fest, which will return in 2026, fills the city with nearly 200 live performances while local breweries such as Wicked Weed Brewing provide a festive atmosphere. The Grey Eagle, Asheville Yards, the Orange Peel, and the Fleetwood keep the music scene thriving throughout the year. The city’s buskers bring even more life to the streets, making every walk feel like a personal concert. Visitors can join in the music themselves at the Jack of the Wood weekly old-time jams or the Friday night drum circles, a beloved tradition that’s lasted more than two decades.

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Music is only one part of Asheville’s appeal. Visitors can explore the stunning landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains or lose themselves in Foodtopia, the city’s flourishing food scene. No matter what draws you in, Appalachian music and its influences are everywhere, woven into a living cultural tapestry that can’t be replicated anywhere else. This creative energy continues to attract artists and audiences alike, keeping folk and country traditions alive while inspiring new sounds.

To celebrate this legacy, the Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia will run from November 6–9, 2025. The festival will begin with a panel discussion featuring music historians Ted Olson and Tony Russell at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium. Performances will take place across the city, including Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, Nest of Singing Birds, and Jessie Smathers at the Grey Eagle on November 7. On November 8, River Whyless, Tyler Ramsey, Toubab Krewe, and Floating Action will perform at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center. Throughout the weekend, contemporary artists will reinterpret songs from the original “Asheville Sessions” at venues across the city.

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The event coincides with the release of Music From the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions, featuring 28 carefully remastered tracks from the original 78-rpm discs recorded by Peer. “These restored recordings give us an irreplaceable record of the variety of voices and styles from Asheville, Western Carolina, and the broader Blue Ridge at a time before making music as a vocation was even possible,” said Richard Emmett, Program Director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Center, which is dedicated to preserving the region’s musical traditions.

A full schedule and ticket information for Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia are available online. Some events—including learning sessions with Bryan Wright, who remastered the recordings, public historian Katherine Cutshall, and historians Olson and Russell—are free to attend. The closing concert on Sunday is also open to the public at no cost. More details can be found at Explore Asheville.