AVLFest music fest returns Aug 1-4: What to know about tickets, shuttles, bike guide, more
ASHEVILLE - Plan accordingly before going out this weekend as it might be extra crowded at your favorite watering hole. Live music fans will take over the city for the sophomore year of the citywide festival, AVLFest.
On Aug. 1-4, more than 350 music artists are on the bill to play at more than 20 venues at the festival that sold more than 7,000 tickets in its inaugural year.
Ahead of Thursday’s concert kickoff, some festivalgoers are preparing by listening to festival organizers Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds’ curated AVLFest 2024 playlist of featured performers on Spotify, then mapping out where and when to see their favorite acts.
Others may prefer to go with the flow of the music on their music discovery quest.
Anything goes with the schedule-loaded homegrown festival devised with cross-demographics and genre appeal.
Here are some helpful tips and things to know before diving into the four-day music extravaganza, AVLFest.:
Who’s playing AVLFest 2024?
AVLFest’s lineup of local, regional and national acts features solo singer-songwriters and hip-hop artists, folk duets, Latin, rock and country bands, multi-instrumental fusion groups and many more performers spanning generations.
AVLFest presents a mixture of familiar and long-established bands, niche musicians and emerging artists to create the ultimate listening experience.
This year’s top billing includes Papadosio, Beachwood Sparks, Town Mountain, Washed Out, The New Pornographers and Terminator X of Public Enemy. View the full lineup and schedule at avlfest.com/artists/.
Where are the AVLFest venues?
Residents and out-of-town guests can find shows at concert halls, clubs and outdoor venues in many of the city’s neighborhoods, including downtown, West Asheville, East Asheville, Montford and along the French Broad River.
AVLFest's 2024 host venues are:
Salvage Station
The Outpost
Highland Brewing Co.
New Belgium Brewing
The Orange Peel
The Grey Eagle
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Eulogy
French Broad River Brewery
Asheville Music Hall
The Funkatorium
One World West
The One Stop
The Odd
Jack of the Wood
Sovereign Kava
The Social
Fleetwood's
Little Jumbo
The Cellar at Haywood Park Hotel
Carpooling and alternate eco-friendly modes of transportation are recommended.
AVLFest’s shuttle system, courtesy of Young Transportation & Tours, was created to get ticketholders from venue to venue. The routes include three loops through downtown, the River Arts District and West Asheville. A park-and-ride option is available at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s main campus at the Hemlock building, 207 Victoria Road.
View the shuttle pick-up sites list on AVLFest’s Instagram page, @avlfest.
View Asheville on Bikes’ bike guide at ridewithgps.com/collections/2799424.
Where to get AVLFest tickets?
Ticketholders, check your email for instructions on pick-up dates, times and places to get passes ahead of and during festival weekend.
It’s not too late to buy passes.
Weekend passes are $135 each, which includes entry to the 350+ shows. Day passes and individual show tickets are not offered.
VIP passes are $250 each, which includes entry to VIP concert viewing areas and after parties and 50% off festival merchandise and other perks.
Ticket buyers must be age 18 or older. AVLFest is all-ages, however some venues have age restrictions. Check the venue's website for information on age requirements and ADA accessibility.
Purchase festival passes at avlfest.com or visit Harvest Records or Records in the RAD to avoid online fees.
AVLFest 2024
Where: Various locations, Asheville.
When: Aug. 1-4.
Cost: $135 general admission weekend pass.
$250 VIP weekend pass.
Info: To purchase tickets, visit avlfest.com and follow on Instagram @avlfest.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: AVLFest music fest takes over Asheville Aug 1-4: What to know