Tune in to Your Land of Waterfalls Playlist
Ask anyone familiar with Brevard what sets this place apart from other mountain towns, and chances are they’ll tell you the same thing: the live music scene. Brevard is a uniquely musical place, home to world-class venues, traditional mountain jam sessions, and a plethora of home-grown stages hosting local and touring musicians. Catching a show is also a great way to wind down the day, mingle with locals, and get a taste of the local culture.
Add some live music to your next trip. Here are 5 memorable live music experiences that you can expect to find in Brevard, North Carolina.
Listen to a Symphony Surrounded by Fireflies
Celebrating its 90th anniversary season in 2026, the Brevard Music Center is a cornerstone of Brevard’s music scene. Each year, they host a summer institute and festival that attracts world-renowned musicians playing an array of genres from classical symphonies to bluegrass. One of our favorite ways to experience this one-of-a-kind place is with a performance in their open-air auditorium during the summer music series. Crowd-pleasing performances often include movies in concert, where a live orchestra performs the score while the film plays on the big screen. Past favorites have included E.T., Indiana Jones, and several films from the Star Wars franchise.
Grab a Crisp Brew & Watch a Bluegrass Show
Mountain music has a special way of making you smile and tap your toes. Brevard is home to a bluegrass jam that you’ll definitely want to check out during your visit. Stop by Cedar Mountain Canteen on Saturdays for a Bluegrass Jam, or Sundays for Mountain Music Jam. If you’re a musician at any level, bring your instrument and join the fun! Or if you’d rather just watch, they have 150 craft beverage options to sip on while you tap along.
Pull Up a Seat at Music & Moonshine
Every Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Cedar Mountain Moonshine Distillery hosts their live summer music series, appropriately dubbed Music & Moonshine. This beloved summertime tradition is an outdoor, family-friendly affair complete with food trucks. Try their famous moonshine slushies while you listen—you can thank us later!
Two-Step at Honky Tonk Night
Grab your dancing shoes! 185 King Street hosts Honky Tonk Night on the second Thursday of each month. Line dancing lessons start at 6 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. While Honky Tonk Night is a local favorite, live music is a regular occurrence at 185 King Street, with performances happening most nights of the week. Their unique indoor-outdoor stage hosts a rotating lineup of local and touring musicians, making it easy to catch a show no matter when you’re in town. While there, be sure to get a cold pint from Noblebräu Brewing, their onsite brewery.
Plan Your Trip Around a Music Festival
Our festivals are known for having top-tier live music. Each spring, Oskar Blues Brewing puts on a show with the Spring Shakedown, a music festival complete with live music all day, beer, food trucks, and vendors. On Memorial Day Weekend, White Squirrel Weekend features a fantastic lineup of bands and musical acts during the weekend-long celebration. Mountain Song Festival, hosted each September at the Brevard Music Center, brings the best in acoustic music, including bluegrass, newgrass, old-time, folk, jazz, and traditional mountain music, to Brevard.
Can’t make it to the festivals? No worries, there are several events throughout the year with local music. Check out the events page for more.
There’s More Music to Discover
We’ve just scratched the surface of all the music venues and experiences in Brevard and Transylvania County. There are other memorable venues to check out, including some unexpected spots like Duckpond Pottery and Wine Down on Main. But, the music recs don’t end there. Check out our live music blog for a comprehensive list of music venues in the area.
