LIVE MUSIC at the Orchard – preserving history, heritage & culture
Join us in our music pavilion this season for traditional music and dancing.
All of our afternoon events from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM are FREE!
Fundraisers are Friday evenings from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and are $10 per ticket.
2025 Events
Sunday, June 8 – The Dollar Brothers, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Dollar Brothers provide a high-energy, family-oriented bluegrass stage show — a traditional bluegrass band from Watauga and Ashe County, NC. They always have the pavilion full of smiles and dancing.
Darrell Dollar, lead singer/songwriter, and eldest brother plays mandolin. Next in line, Barry Dollar plays fiddle, banjo, and sings lead and baritone. Youngest Wade Dollar plays guitar, claw hammer banjo, and dobro, and sings tenor. Bass player and vocalist, J.M. Trivette is from Zionville.
With over 25 years of Bluegrass experience, they’ve shared the stage with such luminaries as Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, The Seldom Scene, Doyle Lawson, The Osborne Brothers, and many others. They love what they do and show no sign of slowing down!
Friday, June 13 – Quinn Crowe, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Quinn Crowe is a dynamic, classically-trained duo with roots in jazz and country and a love for all genres of music.
Meshing the sounds of melodic lead guitar and flavorful rhythm guitar together with powerful vocal harmonies found in traditional Appalachian Mountain music, this duo makes any song selection, whether it be a cover or original tune, a true Quinn Crowe experience. 
Saturday, June 14 – Good Ol’ Boys, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Good Ol’ Boys, from Morganton, NC, are a four-piece long time, ol’ time music, Orchard favorite. They are sure to have you on the dance floor!
Sunday, June 15 – Carolina Bluegrass Style, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
We are so excited to welcome back Carolina Bluegrass Style for their 3rd year performing at the Orchard. If you haven’t heard them yet– wow what a treat! Their style includes standard classics like Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Rocky Top, Man of Constant Sorrow, Orange Blossom Special, Dueling Banjos, The Ballad of Jed Clampett — and who knows, they may even throw in some classic country. Come come take in some breathtaking views, enjoy the music, and top it off with some warm apple pie. Hope to see you there!
Friday, June 20 – Ferguson & Northup, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Ferguson and Northup are an acoustic duo from the mountains of North Carolina. Andy Ferguson (Marion, NC) is a talented singer, songwriter, acoustic guitarist and sound engineer. Jo Northup (Spruce Pine, NC) is a classical flutist, songwriter and vocalist. Their rich harmonies blend together seamlessly and their instrumentation is unusual in the folk duo world. They perform a variety of acoustic music that includes covers of folk favorites by songwriters such as John Prine, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and others. Andy and Jo also play traditional music that includes selections such as Danny Boy, Wayfaring Stranger, Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies and Shady Grove. With Andy’s background in lead guitar picking as well as formal music training, and Jo’s years of classical training, orchestral experience and performing with Dulcimer Dan and the Blue Skies Band, they enjoy adding upbeat, lightening-fast fiddle tunes that gets everyone’s feet tapping!
Saturday, June 21 – Split Rail Bluegrass, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Split Rail Bluegrass, a band from South Carolina, is sure to get your feet moving. They’ll bring several types of bluegrass and a selection of other music, sure to please. Flatt and Scruggs and a little Monroe, some gospel, and a great mix from the 60’s through the 80’s.
Sunday, June 22 – Rewind Goodtimz, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Come and join the Rewind Goodtimz Band–an awesome mix of seasoned WNC musicians–as they return to the Orchard pavilion for more great dance-and-clap til you drop music. You won’t want to leave the dance floor! Take in some breathtaking views, enjoy the music, and top it off with some warm apple pie. Hope to see you there!
Friday, June 27 – Symbiosis, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Susan Garriques, Carl Dipper, and Steve Barnes have spent years performing—each as a solo artist or with various groups—but their recent collaboration as Symbiosis has created something truly special. With three guitars and three voices, they weave together a sound greater than the sum of its parts, blending harmony, heart, and musicianship in a way that wouldn’t be the same alone.
Through different musical journeys, they each found their way to Yancey County, North Carolina, a place they now proudly call home. It was here that their paths converged, and Symbiosis was born—quickly becoming a local favorite.
Carl Dipper, with his deep-rooted blues background, brings expressive, soul-stirring lead guitar. Steve Barnes, a gifted songwriter, adds his signature touch on slide guitar. Susan Garriques, also a songwriter, holds down rhythm guitar, but it’s her love of singing that truly shines.
Performing both originals and covers spanning multiple genres and generations, Symbiosis offers an ever-evolving mix of folk, blues, Americana, bluegrass, and even some good old rock and roll. No matter the song, their rich harmonies and dynamic instrumentation create a sound that’s both timeless and uniquely their own.
Sunday, June 29 – Randy Flack, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
A native of Western North Carolina, Randy’s been writing and performing since his early teens. Growing up in the 60s in Bryson City, NC, a half-mile outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided an interesting perspective from the point of view of an honest-to-goodness country boy. His songs and stories reflect his small-town, Appalachian roots. Randy has the unique ability to entertain any audience in any venue, whether it be a concert of original songs or those you know and just love to dance to—it’s a good time for all.
Friday, July 4 – Terry McKinney, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 5 – Newfound Gap, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, July 6 – William Ritter, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday, July 11 – Steven Evans, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 12 – Pigeon River Messengers, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, July 13 – Sound Traveler, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday, July 18 – Justin Mychals’ Cathead Biscuit Duo, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 19 – Boone Trail Band, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, July 20 – Asheville Junction Duo, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday, July 25 – Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 26 – Charlie McKinney Reunion TBD
Sunday, July 27 – Charlie McKinney Reunion TBD
Saturday, August 2 – The Dollar Brothers , 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 3 – JAM Kids with Buffalo Cove 1 PM – 1:45 PM & then Buffalo Cove, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday, August 8 – Ballad Swap Fundraiser with Sheila Kay Adams, Donna Ray Norton and William Ritter ($10/ticket) 6 PM – 8 PM
Saturday, August 9 – Rewind Goodtimz, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 10 – Rudy’s Rhythm and Revue, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, August 16 – Split Rail Bluegrass, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 17 – Sound Traveler, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, August 23 – Pigeon River Messengers, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 24 – Carolina Bluegrass Style, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, August 30 – Terry McKinney, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 31 – TBD, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 6 – Randy Flack, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, September 7 – Southwind String Band, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 13 – Rhonda Gouge and Keepin’ Time, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, September 14 – Possum Creek, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 20 – The Butterbeans, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, September 21 – Seth and Sara, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 27 – Ruglifters, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, September 28 – Don Pedi, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 4 – Hardy Boys, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 5 – Southwind Strings, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 11 – William Ritter, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 11 – Newfound Gap, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 18 – Common Ground, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 19 – Buffalo Cove, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 25 – Randy Flack, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 26 – Sam McKinney and Friends, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
