Asheville based Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds are proud to announce the inaugural AVLFest launching August 3-6, 2023. The multi-day music festival experience will take place in the majority of venues throughout the greater Asheville area.
“Asheville has long been recognized for our thriving live music scene. In addition to the unrivaled level of talented performers that call Asheville home, that recognition also stems from the city’s eclectic and outstanding variety of music venues. While continuing to bring world class talent to Asheville, AVLFest will also showcase our city’s formidable venue collective, giving patrons the opportunity to explore our vibrant music scene without breaking the bank.” said AVLFest co-founder Jeff Whitworth.
With a spotlight on Asheville’s diverse music and arts scene, AVLFest will fill area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with an exceptional lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performance showcases are set to take place throughout the week with wristbands granting pass holders entry to 20+ Asheville venues, discounts at numerous local retailers and restaurants, as well as presale access and discounts to 3-4 separately ticketed AVLFest stand alone events.
Orange Peel venue manager and co-captain for North and South Carolina for NIVA (National Independent Venue Assoc.) Liz Whalen Tallent shares, “We are excited about the potential of this new festival for Asheville and for our music scene. We have so many amazing venues for a city of our size, so many talented local musicians, and so many dedicated fans who come out and support any given night of the week. Our music community is really unique and special… it deserves to have something like this to further put it on the national map.”
Committed to supporting local community causes, AVLFest is partnering with several Asheville nonprofits including RiverLink, Black Wall Street, Homeward Bound, and Campaign for Southern Equality. In addition to raising awareness for their respective missions, a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to benefitting these nonprofits.
Executive Director of Black Wall Street J Hackett shares, “Asheville has such an amazing mixture of people and cultures. AVLFest is an opportunity for us to collectively celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of our community. Black Wall Street is proud to be associated with such an event.”
“Surrounded by some of the world’s most ancient mountains and rivers, Asheville’s creative scene is deeply rooted and ever evolving. This Blue Ridge Mountain town has drawn and nurtured creatives for generations. Music brings community together – and that’s just one of the meaningful reasons Explore Asheville is delighted to support the birth of AVLFest for residents, artists and visitors alike,” added Vic Isley, President & CEO for Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
There is no better time to support local venues, artists, and nonprofits. AVLFest offers patrons the chance to experience Asheville’s music, art and culinary attractions while further crystallizing Asheville as a premier travel destination nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Deeply discounted early bird tickets are available exclusively to area residents within a 75 mile radius of Asheville NOW through February 21. The local presale will be followed by a national presale occurring February 22 through March 8th. Prices will increase on March 8th and lineup announcements will begin shortly thereafter. To learn more and get your tickets today, follow along at @AVLFest on Facebook and Instagram and on the web at www.avlfest.com.
About Wicked Weed Brewing
Wicked Weed Brewing is an award-winning brewery based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in December 2012, Wicked Weed currently operates a 50-barrel production brewery, a sour beer production facility and four retail locations; the original Brewpub in the heart of downtown Asheville, the southeast’s first mixed-culture dedicated taproom, the Funkatorium, and the Wicked Weed West taproom. Wicked Weed opened Cultura, a fine dining restaurant in 2019 that was nominated in 2020 by the James Beard Foundation for Best New Restaurant. Most recently, in 2021 Wicked Weed launched their newest endeavor, Vidl Winery, specializing in the production of natural wines. Learn more at: WickedWeedBrewing.com.
About Worthwhile Sounds
Formed in 2015 by Jeff Whitworth, former owner of The Grey Eagle in Asheville NC, Worthwhile Sounds has established a reputation as one of the premier INDEPENDENT talent buying organizations in the Southeastern US. Worthwhile Sounds currently represents AVLFest, The Grey Eagle (Asheville, NC), Bijou Theatre (Knoxville, TN), Asheville Downtown Association (Downtown After 5), New Belgium Brewing AVL, Cold Mountain Festival, and Burial Beer’s Burnpile Harvest Festival.
AVLFest Venues
Salvage Station
Highland Brewing Company
The Outpost
The Orange Peel
The Grey Eagle
Burial Beer’s Forestry Camp
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Asheville Music Hall
Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium
One World Brewing – West
New Belgium
Jack of the Wood
27 Club
The Odd
Fleetwood’s
Cork and Keg
Alley Cat Social Club
French Broad River Brewery
Great Wild Nowhere
