Music

The Popular 80’s Rock Band Highlights Musicianship and Fan Favorites in Two-Hour Performance Story and Photos by Casey Nicholson On a packed night in downtown Knoxville, Toto brought their “An Evening With Toto” tour to the historic Tennessee Theatre, delivering a sold-out performance that felt equal parts rock concert and masterclass in musicianship. With no opening act on the bill, the evening belonged entirely to the band—and the crowd that filled every row beneath the orn

Former Skid Row Singer Draws Near-Capacity Crowd on the 95th Anniversary of the Historic Venue Stories and Photos by Casey Nicholson A Milestone Night in Bristol Tri-Cities rock fans were transported back to the late ’80s this past weekend as Sebastian Bach brought his The Party Never Ends tour to the Paramount Theatre in Bristol — a performance that coincided with the 95th anniversary of the historic venue. Opened as a movie house on February 20, 1931, the Paramount has bee

Southern history and electric guitars converged with regional identity at the famed venue in North Georgia. Story and Photos by Casey Nicholson . It was Valentine’s Day 2026 when Drive-By Truckers returned to familiar ground for the fourth night of their annual Heathens Homecoming at the legendary 40 Watt Club in Athens. The venue's proximity to the North Georgia highlands makes it an ideal getaway for music lovers — and for many in the Blue Ridge foothills, it functions as a

24 Hours of Mountain Views, Railroad History, and Gourmet Breakfast in the Scenic City Story and Photos by Casey Nicholson By the time I-75 curved into downtown Chattanooga, the skyline was glowing in the last light of day. Glass and brick towers caught the golden hour as traffic thinned and the Tennessee River shimmered just beyond the buildings. We had only 24 hours in the Scenic City, but it didn’t take long to see that this southern Appalachian hub carries itself with con

A sold-out crowd, blistering guitars, and an unforgettable performance made Langhorne Slim’s February 7 show at Asheville’s Grey Eagle an incredible live set. Story and photos by Casey Nicholson . Langhorne Slim addresses the crowd during his sold-out show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina. If you’ve never been to a Langhorne Slim concert, you’re missing out. I say this because I myself have been missing out all these years–until last Saturday night in Asheville.

Story and Photos By Casey Nicholson The Bijou Theatre welcomed a fantastic night of live music this week as American Aquarium took the stage at the historic venue in Knoxville, Tennessee. The evening opened with an intimate acoustic set by River Shook, former lead artist for Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. Together, the two acts delivered a powerful showcase of Americana music and stories, making this show a great addition to a year that is primed with good music in the Marble

Story and photos by Casey Nicholson If you've never been to Farm & Funtime in Bristol, you're missing out. The monthly show alternates locations between the Paramount Bristol in Bristol, Tennessee, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on the Virginia side of this Appalachian town where the TN/VA state line splits the downtown district between two states. The show is put on by Radio Bristol and hosted by Program Director Kris Truelsen , who opens the show with his

By Casey Nicholson The Sunday Jam at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC, on January 11, 2026, offered a lively mix of music, craft beer, and tasty food that brought locals together for a memorable evening. This weekly event has become a favorite spot for music lovers and community members to connect over shared tunes and good vibes. The Travers Brothers and Friends kicked off the jam with an energetic set, setting the tone for a relaxed and engaging experience. The

By Casey Nicholson Shawn Lane, vocalist and mandolin player Grammy-nominated bluegrass act Blue Highway returned to The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee, for a two-night stand this weekend. Night one saw the group play a slew of their best-known hits and fan favorites, including the Mark Knopfler-penned " Marbletown " and the sad but incredible " Tears Fell on Missouri ". The show closed out with a rendition of The Stanley Brothers' standard, " Man of Constant Sorrow

By Casey Nicholson Last week we posted our list of Thirteen Concerts That Rocked Appalachia in 2025 . There we recalled our favorite concert memory from each month of the year, plus one for good measure from Labor Day 2025. But that wasn’t all the music that came through the Appalachian region in 2025. To be fair, it would be impossible to compile an exhaustive list of ALL the touring acts that came through the Appalachian Region this past year. With the Appalachian Mount

By Casey Nicholson Longtime Johnson City concert venue The Down Home kicked off its 50th Anniversary on January 3rd with a sold-out show from Americana singer-songwriter Webb Wilder . The Down Home opened its doors in June 1976 and has continuously brought nationally recognized acts to northeast Tennessee throughout its five decades in business. Music legends such as Doc Watson, John Lee Hooker, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Billy Joe Shaver have all played the intimate

By Casey Nicholson Folk Americana band The Avett Brothers have been bringing their high-energy mix of acoustic string music and rocked-up rhythms to the world for over two decades now. December 31, 2025, marked their 21st Annual New Year’s Eve show in Asheville, North Carolina, this year at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena inside the Harrah's Event Center. Concertgoers were treated to a blistering 32-song set to ring in the New Year. The show included covers of the “Black

By Casey Nicholson Often times people associate Appalachian music with banjos and barn dances. While there’s something to be said for the folk music that is engrained in Appalachian culture, it’s also true that the region is well known for its performance venues that welcome a wide variety of nationally recognized touring artists. Here are twelve concerts that Appalachia Today was at throughout 2025 that left us with good memories as we head into the New Year: January 2025—