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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 Travers Brothers a

The NFL Playoffs are starting this weekend, with teams across the country vying for a trip to Super Bowl LX. Most people have a favorite team they root for, whether it's the team that is closest to home or a franchise you grew up rooting for. But what about folks in Appalachia? What teams do we cheer for? And, what NFL cities are considered part of the Appalachian region? This article ranks the top eight NFL cities closest to the Appalachian Mountains, highlighting why fo

Bob Weir at CCNB Ampthitheatre in Simpsonville, SC in 2023. The world lost a legend on Saturday, when founding Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist Bob Weir passed away. Known amongst fans of The Dead as “The Other One”, Weir was the more reserved of the band’s two front men. The late Jerry Garcia was prone to take the spotlight, both as the band’s primary lead guitarist and lead vocalist, as well as being the face of the band in promotional interviews. Vi

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 ", a tune made famo

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 Mountains stretching fro

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 venue over the year

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 Mountain Rag”, a Do

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—The Deslondes at th

Powell Valley, near Norton, Virginia. Photo: Casey Nicholson Appalachia Today. It's more than just a name. This article marks the launch of AppalachiaToday.com , a new website devoted to the Appalachian region that will feature a mashup of news, commentary, and articles devoted to events, places, and the history that makes the Appalachian region special. There are many ways to define the Appalachian region. One is geographic, essentially pointing to the places where there a