AVLFest made its highly anticipated return to Asheville, NC this weekend drawing thousands of eager fans to over two dozen stages throughout every corner of the Southeast’s cultural hotbed. The venue-based music festival debuted to widespread acclaim in year one and reinforced Asheville's reputation as one of the most dynamic destinations for the arts. In its sophomore year, AVLFest featured more than 350 cross-genre acts helping to shape a uniquely individualized experience over the four-day event while continuing to showcase the mountain town’s unparalleled creative spirit.
Jeff Whitworth, Co-Founder of AVLFest and owner of Worthwhile Sounds, shared his thoughts on this year's festival: “After a successful year one, we were intent on prioritizing maturation while staying committed to the original vision of AVLFest. There were so many positive takeaways from the inaugural event and we wanted to ensure that spirit remained intact while also correcting a few of the inevitable blindspots we encountered. While we were internally focused on maturing which I do think we accomplished in year two, we also experienced significant organic growth in terms of number of acts and stages, both a direct result of our 2023 successes. Asheville’s incomparable venue collective is the engine that allows AVLFest to exist, and we are forever grateful to each and every member of the venue teams for their continued collaboration. Moving forward, AVLFest will continue highlighting Asheville’s rich, creative nature while remaining committed to nurturing a more profound artistic dialogue.”
Vic Isley, President & CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority added: “I love the power of music and believe in the power of travel. The Explore Asheville team has the awesome job of shining a spotlight on and sharing stories about this deeply rooted and ever evolving creative community every day. Supporting AVLFest as a major sponsor, along with other travel and hospitality partners, is a shining example of that. Hats off to all the hospitality workers, operations folks, volunteers and of course the hundreds of talented musicians for contributing to such an amazing festival that attracted lots of locals and attendees from 44 states and three countries.”
AVLFest 2024 saw unprecedented performances by marquee acts like Papadosio, Washed Out, The New Pornographers, Beachwood Sparks, Terminator X (of Public Enemy), Langhorne Slim, Brett Dennen, and UK-based The Heavy Heavy plus a substantial roll call of local fixtures including Town Mountain, Tyler Ramsey, Lyric, and Floating Action, and a sizeable stack of touring heavyweights like SUSTO, Crys Matthews, Blitzen Trapper, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, SG Goodman, The Mother Hips and Jessica Pratt. Beyond the bounty of music, the second installment of AVLFest added a variety of extracurricular activities, spanning the gamut from curated conversations with AVLFest artists at Citizen Vinyl, to LEAF Global Arts recommended artists, to Model Face Comedy showcase, to a Rock Academy Showcase and kid-friendly activities at Highland Brewing. The festival also honored local songwriting legend Malcolm Holcombe with a tribute featuring Asheville mainstays like Darren Nicholson, Ashley Heath, Planefolk, Dan Johnston, Laura Blackley, and Irish talent Dylan Walshe at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, the Asheville Stages Photo Exhibit, “3 Songs. No Flash,” was on display at various venues throughout town, along with numerous pop-up events that enriched the festival experience.
This year, AVLFest proudly partnered with Asheville on Bikes to establish dedicated bike routes connecting various festival venues, leading to a remarkable 40% increase in bike activity and highlighting the festival’s commitment to sustainability. Additionally, increased foot traffic from the festival and a discount program for wristband holders helped to boost local businesses, further amplifying AVLFest's positive impact on the community.
“Being a part of this festival is more than a business investment for Wicked Weed,” shares Rachel Dudasik, Community Engagement & Communications Manager at Wicked Weed Brewing, “It’s a commitment to enriching the community, fostering creativity, and amplifying the vibrant heartbeat of our town. And for me, it’s also a personal investment. I grew up here and was raised by the voices of many of these incredible musicians so it's the honor of a lifetime to watch them continue to thrive in my hometown."
As the curtains close on another incredible festival weekend, all sights are set on AVLFest’s return to Asheville the first weekend in August 2025! Stay tuned for more information at www.avlfest.com
