Asheville, NC — With AVLFest taking a pause in 2025 due to the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, the Asheville music community refuses to remain silent. A new collaboration between Visit Asheville, the Blue Ridge Music Center, and Citizen Vinyl has been created.

The Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia will take place on November 8, 2025 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and will pay tribute to a century of sound that shaped not only Western North Carolina but also the broader musical landscape of America.

Asheville’s River Whyless, Tyler Ramsey, Toubab Krewe, and Floating Action will perform. These artists are considered sonic ambassadors of the region, echoing the spirit of early musical pioneers like folklorist Bascom Lamar Lunsford.

Another piece of this collaboration will include a slate of programming from November 6-9 that will further explore and honor Asheville's rich musical lineage. Through curated talks, listening sessions, and community gatherings, music lovers will have the chance to dig deeper into the stories behind the songs and the artists who continue to shape the region’s sound.

AVLFest 2026 will officially launch an annual showcase dedicated to the original 1925 Asheville Sessions, a historic recording event considered by experts as being responsible for introducing regional North Carolina folk music to the broader American public.

All net proceeds will support Hurricane Helene relief efforts through the Always Asheville Fund.

For more information visit ashevillesessions.com.