Bluegrass

Head across the mountains to explore all that’s new in this revitalized and thriving city

Carrying sound and story is the only way to live for a musical storyteller, rock-and-roll rambler, and two gifted brothers who all call the foothills of Western North Carolina home

WPAQ in Mount Airy plays on to preserve the roots and spirit of mountain music

Entrepreneur Joel Friedman builds community in Marshall

Meet a modern breed of distillers honoring the moonshine traditions of the past, while elevating our region’s growing reputation for craft liquor

Taste a seasonal feast of juicy fruit at the North Carolina Blackberry Festival

Theres no shortage of pickers, players, and songbirds in WNC. Hit the road to catch great music at these down-home venues

Take your seat for an intimate series of stellar bluegrass shows at the Colonial Theatre in Canton

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra | Character Farm and Other Short Stories

You are now leaving WNC. Don’t call us traitors for straying from our beloved natural wonderland. Sometimes you just have to play outside the lines. After all, much of what we love here—lofty peaks, wild rivers, picturesque lakes, and awe-inspiring trails—spills over into Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Summer is the season to grab your gear, whether it be a life jacket, fishing rod, hiking boots, or mountain bike, and head for great escapes just across the border.

Get to know Doc Watson, just in time for MerleFest

Three recording studios keep Asheville’s music scene finely tuned

Bo Farson keeps WNC in the groove with a society of devoted music lovers

Twenty years ago this month, a little community radio station in Spindale started making a big noise

Your Guide to some of Western North Carolina’s most memorable holes

38 local artists you need to hear this summer.