AVLfest new name, dates announced as another music festival emerges

AVLfest will adopt a new name, amid leadership team changes.
AVL Sounds Fest dates have been announced, with more details to come.

ASHEVILLE – Soon, there will be double the festivals, double the fun, as one of the partners of AVLfest goes his own way to introduce a new rocking event.

AVLfest was announced via a Feb. 13 news release to return later this year, though with a new name and slightly different team backing it. A new grassroots music festival showcasing buskers would result from this partnership transition.

In 2023, AVLfest was introduced by the locally-founded Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds as a citywide music festival featuring local, regional and national acts across more than 20 stages and various venues. More than 230 multi-genre shows were booked for the four-day event.

The next year, in August, AVLfest returned with added energy, having proven itself in its debut year as an event where music fans could stumble upon unknown artists and familiar favorites, free to flow from venue to venue with an all-access wristband.

Then, the devastating Tropical Storm Helene arrived in late September 2024, resulting in a prolonged recovery for the city and Western North Carolina and prompting a one-year hiatus for AVLfest. Still, the organizers collaborated with several local partners to host another music event, “The Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 Years of Americana & Appalachia,” in November 2025.

For 2026, the festival formerly known as AVLfest will undergo another significant change, beginning with its new name, AVL Sounds Fest.

What is AVL Sounds Fest?

AVL Sounds Fest will share the same spirit as AVLfest, but behind the scenes, there has been a leadership change, according to a news release distributed by the organizers.

Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds’ co-founder Jeff Whitworth, who’s also the talent buyer for The Grey Eagle, will continue to produce AVL Sounds Fest as a “refreshed” citywide, multi-venue, stage and genre event with a strong spotlight on regional talent.

Whitworth told the Citizen Times on Feb. 13 via email that audiences can expect a similar experience as before, regarding the number of venues, quality of acts and overall vibe.

“The leadership transition will be a positive one for our community, as it affords both Bryan and I the opportunity to focus our expertise and energy on ventures that align with our strongest attributes. The Asheville live music scene has been my passion for over 25 years now, and I look forward to continuing the journey with the community I treasure,” Whitworth said.

AVL Sounds Fest is scheduled for Aug. 6-9.

AVL Sounds Fest will be designed “to honor Asheville’s rich musical heritage while spotlighting the remarkable local venue ecosystem and the artists who make it so magnetic.”

A significant change is that AVLfest co-founder Bryan Matheny, an entrepreneur and longtime music enthusiast, will launch his own production company, Streett Level.

Matheny’s debut event will be a new music festival called Asheville Busker Fest.

What is Asheville Busker Fest?

The inaugural Asheville Busker Fest, set to debut May 2-3, will showcase Asheville street performers, including musicians, magicians, jugglers and other artists from the local busking scene.

Performances will be held at venues across the city, including Pack Square, Pritchard Park and in the River Arts District.

Arts and craft vendors and food trucks will also be a part of the celebration.

Another special related event and other details will be announced later.

Proceeds from Asheville Busker Fest will benefit LEAF Global Arts, the nonprofit behind the popular LEAF Festival, which marked its 30-year anniversary last year and is reportedly facing financial challenges.

Follow the Asheville Citizen Times for more news and announcements from Asheville Busker Fest and AVL Sounds Fest.

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email [email protected] or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.

‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’

‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.citizen-times.com ’