The Purple Onion

Reedy River String Band
2025-02-22 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | The Purple Onion, 16 E Main St, Saluda, NC, 28773, United States
Reedy River String Band has taken the Southeast of the United States by storm the past few years with their fresh take on Appalachian roots music. Reedy River’s sound is modern bluegrass with foot stompin’ elements of jam and rock n’ roll inspired by the various touring and recording experiences of its members. In any given show, Multi-instrumentalist Sterling Waite interchanges mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and harmonica to bring a range of textures to the band’s live performances. With Rush Morgan on guitar and Mark Dye on upright bass, all three of the members are songwriters and lead singers, lending a depth and variety of original material beyond the band’s relatively short time together.

Unspoken Tradition
2025-02-23 19:00 - 21:00
Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere. Their material is mostly original and reflects the ever-changing culture of Western and Central North Carolina where they call home. The band has earned a fervent following in the Southeast, selling out shows in Asheville, NC as well as the legendary Station Inn in Nashville, TN.

The Alien Music Club Cosmic Quartet
2025-02-27 19:30 - 21:30
A cosmic journey through time encapsulating all forms of blues, jazz and indie pop. Unexpected covers, quirky originals, exceptional musicianship! The lineup includes Jonathan Pearlman (also known for his “The Doors: Unhinged” AMC production) on guitar/vocals, Ryan Kijanka on upright bass, Jeff Rudolph on drums and Taylor Pierson on piano.

Nikki Talley Trio featuring Jay Sanders
2025-03-01 20:00 - 22:00
Talley is an award winning vocalist & songwriter. Nikki’s powerful and beautiful voice, often accompanied by Jason’s – husband- lush guitar tones, create a complete rustic sound. At its core, Nikki Talley’s sound is wonderfully rural and heartfelt; Country belonging to Nashville and the likes of Johnny Cash. Yet, Talley’s style goes beyond just traditional Country. Bridging the sounds of Country and Americana Root music, she flows flawlessly between styles while bringing raw energy to her shows. Joining her for this show, Jay Sanders, known for his effortless ability to fuse jazz, rock, blues, metal, and African influences, brings a melodic space and new dimensional facets to Nikki’s rustic sound.

Dulci
2025-03-06 19:30 - 21:30
Dulci brings an ageless, classic style to pop music, with her smooth vocals and warm melodies. With her repertoire of original songs and updated covers, Dulci is where classic vocal beauty meets 60s pop nostalgia. Connecting with people and taking audiences to a happy place is at the center of every performance. Dulci’s vocals sound smooth and easy, while navigating intricate melodies and rhythms seamlessly. Striving to create meaningful, powerful music that’s also relatable, playful, and fun, Dulci’s mission as an artist is to create a more connected, happier, and healthier world through shared experiences.

Phillip Lammonds
2025-03-08 20:00 - 22:00
Decades after carving out the reputation of a songwriter’s songwriter – a dedicated country tunesmith with as much poetic skill as commercial common sense – stepped up to the mic and put into words. Combining an insightful creative spirit with a love of Southern sonic tradition (and a bit of meandering good ol’ boy whimsy)Lammonds shows off his well-established penchant for worldly wisdom and casual country-boy flair – boiling the big picture down to bite sized chunks of unadorned truth.

Eternally Grateful
2025-03-13 19:30 - 21:30
Eternally Grateful is a dynamic band mainly operating as an acoustic guitar and upright bass duo. Their live shows combine influences from different generations in American music to create a timeless, captivating and distinctive style. Working to quickly become a staple on the Charlotte, NC music scene, they have played over 200 shows since 2023. Complemented by the eclectic mastery of Ben Williams on upright bass, and completed by the prolific songwriting and virtuosic talents of Cooper Pearce on guitar/vocals, Eternally Grateful strives to make a true connection with their audiences and is a must see act for any music lover.

Fancy and The Gentlemen
2025-03-15 20:00 - 22:00
An alt-country and honky tonk band based out of Asheville, NC, Fancy and the Gentlemen plays down home roots style originals while paying homage to the greats of country music from the 40s to the 80s. Featuring rich harmonies and family style tele, Fancy Marie leads the band with crisp clear vocals twinged with the stylings of your favorite 60s country starlet. Accompanied by an upright bass, fiddle, keys, pedal steel, and drums, Fancy and The Gentlemen will move your feet just as much as your heartstrings.

Thunder and Rain
2025-03-20 19:30 - 21:30
Thunder and Rain is a Newgrass Americana band based in Nashville. The band weaves together bluegrass instruments in original songs inspired by pop, country, rock and old time. Rich three part harmony supports the memorable choruses and storytelling lyricism. With her clear, angelic voice and memorable pop/country melodies, Erinn Peet Lukes leads her band Thunder and Rain. The acoustic outfit, composed of Laura Ray on banjo and Amelia Ransom on fiddle, executes Lukes’ songs with expert bluegrass-style picking and skilled dynamics. The women-led outfit delivers a powerful performance with skill and heart.

Mitch Hayes
2025-03-22 20:00 - 22:00
Mitch Hayes is an award-winning singer/songwriter, recording and national touring artist from Charlotte, North Carolina, who now calls Oklahoma home. His music is as eclectic as the creative influences that have helped to shape his writing through the years, classic singer/songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and John Prine, to name a few. Mitch’s lyrics will take you on an emotional journey through timeless themes of love and loss, joy and sadness, and social consciousness. In his songs, the listener will hear elements of Folk, Rock, Country, Blues, and even a little Bluegrass.

Joseph Hasty & Centerpiece
2025-03-27 19:30 - 21:30
In a musical career that has spanned over 30 years, Joseph Hasty’s extensive performing experience has carried him to stages in America, Australia and Europe – where he lived for seven years. A three-time recipient of the Regional Artist Grant awarded through the North Carolina Arts Council, Joseph is a gifted performer who displays talents as a composer and arranger. His band, Centerpiece Jazz, performs straight ahead classic jazz, swing tunes, show tunes, and other standards. Centerpiece Jazz plays all of your favorites. From Miles & Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Ella to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Coltrane & Cole Porter.

The Moon and You
2025-03-29 20:00 - 22:00
At its core, The Moon and You is a charismatic husband-and-wife team. Melissa Hyman plays cello, Ryan Furstenberg plays guitar and banjo, and both sing in “voices that sound like they were made for one another” (Bill DeYoung, Connect Savannah). But whatever you might assume based on their gorgeous vocal blend and heartfelt lyrics, this ain’t your basic folk duo. With a rotating cast of talented friends to add unexpected instrumentation to their lineup, The Moon and You never plays the same show twice. This ever-evolving, expandable and collapsible model leaves the band constantly reinventing itself in ways both surprising and satisfying.

The French Family Band
2025-03-30 19:00 - 21:00
Country music just sounds better when a family sings it. That’s where it all began: mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all huddled together, picking and singing on a porch in the twilight. That’s why when The French Family launch into the bittersweet ache of a classic or the startling tenderness of one of their self-penned original songs, the hairs on country music loving necks stand up, and we instinctively––sometimes tearfully––recognize this father, mother, and son as the real thing. “We hope our music takes people back to a time when the essence of country music was twangy guitars, honest songs, and vocals that tear your heart out.”

Tanasi
2025-04-03 19:30 - 21:30
Tanasi crafts a rich, world-inspired mountain sound, blending the soulful echoes of roots artists from across the globe into music that feels both timeless and deeply personal. Tanasi leans into the music they have learned through their travels, collaborating with musicians from around the world and refracting global sounds through their Appalachian lens, bringing it home. Their songs find their way into the very depths of your heart, resonating with an undeniable warmth and authenticity. Tanasi is a collaboration of celebrated Asheville, NC musicians, featuring the tight sister-like harmonies of MerleFest-winning songwriter Anya Hinkle and Mary Lucey (Biscuit Burners, Uncle Earl) with the inimitable dobro musings of Billy Cardine, known worldwide for his distinctive voice on all things slide about whom Jerry Douglas says,” I couldn’t pick a better example of what the possibilities are with the instrument.”

Aubrey Eisenman and The Clydes
2025-04-05 20:00 - 22:00
Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes are an Americana/Roots group based out of Asheville, NC. Husband and wife fronted, this impressive string band has played international festivals to include the Maverick Folk Festival (UK), The International Bluegrass Music Awards, Aiken Bluegrass Festival and Merle Fest. With their hard working tour schedule and fast moving album releases, they continue to impress young and old fans alike with impressive harmonies, unmistakably North Carolina-inspired picking styles, and gritty, relatable original songs.

Charlotte Bluegrass Allstars
2025-04-10 19:30 - 21:30
Charlotte Bluegrass Allstars are a genre-defying powerhouse hailing from the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. This unique collaboration brings together a diverse ensemble of musicians, each drawing from distinct musical backgrounds, including rock, blues, classical, jazz, and jam band influences. United by a shared passion for Bluegrass, they’ve woven a tapestry of sound that defies traditional boundaries and expectations.

Jon Shain
2025-04-12 20:00 - 22:00
Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Over the last several years, Shain has headlined listening rooms both as a solo and with duo partner FJ Ventre throughout the US and he’s done two solo tours in Europe. He has opened shows for John Hiatt, Keb’ Mo’, Little Feat, and many other roots legends.

Dave Desmelik
2025-04-17 19:30 - 21:30
Dave Desmelik is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist whose musical focus is on original compositions. What attracts listeners to Desmelik’s tunes, old and new, is the element of authenticity incorporated in them. There is no sugar coating involved. His songs are not wrapped in false smiles, rather they are stark and open and tend to settle on the pulse of everyday life. An unclosed and evolving journal of thoughts set to music and melodies in prose and instrumental performance. Desmelik has released 18 albums to date, as well as two albums with his former band Onus B. Johnson. His albums have placed on the EuroAmericana Chart, Roots Music Report, Freeform American Roots Chart, and North Carolina Roots Radio Chart.

Funky Junk Joy Peddlers
2025-04-19 20:00 - 22:00
Funky Junk Joy Peddlers, formerly known as The Shana Blake Band, is an innovative new take on the classic soul cover band. A Purple Onion favorite, the band’s sound is filled with energetic, danceable music of the Motown era through current hits. Throwing in deeper cuts you know and love from R&B, soul, and funk favorites. The group will have you grooving in your seats and keep you smiling with their infectious, upbeat vibes.

Jay Brown One-Man-Band
2025-04-24 19:30 - 21:30
Jay Brown is a roots music one-man-band from Black Mountain, North Carolina, who has been playing guitar since the age of 7. A prolific songwriter, Jay’s performances draw from a couple hundred original songs, as well as countless covers from the roots of Americana and beyond. Jay has spent years traveling and playing around the U.S., absorbing our rich musical heritage. A versatile musician, Jay is as much at home swingin’ the blues and boogie with his buddies in the Lazybirds as he is playing songwriter showcases and house concerts, but you can easily find him blending his styles in the pubs and listening rooms around the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.

Alex Krug Combo
2025-04-26 20:00 - 22:00
Life is, at its very core, about exploring. We can remain stagnant and rooted in place, or we can take a page out of the Alex Krug Combo’s playbook and dive in headfirst. The thrill of adventure looms ahead of this heart-driven blues-rock band. The Asheville-based players strike a stunningly evocative chord about life, being an outsider, and the kind of heartache that transforms your soul. The band includes Bill Berg -drums, Jackson Dulaney -lap steel, Rachel Gramig -harmony, Zack Page -upright bass, Kyle Samples -electric guitar. Though, truly, it is Alex Krug and her mountain-crushing vocals and expressive storytelling driving this industrial-sized apparatus.

Sarah Siskind
2025-05-01 19:30 - 21:30
American folk singer and songwriter, Siskind’s love of progressive rock and fusion shine through to create a new incarnation of Appalachian music. Siskind’s direct, story-telling vocal tone, akin to Bonnie Raitt and Brandi Carlile, is a perfect companion to her electric guitar. Siskind grew up in a North Carolina house so steeped in music; she claims it as her first language. “I almost find it hard to talk about my music,” laughs Siskind, “speaking is really my second form of communication.” She has toured with Bonnie Raitt, Lee Ann Womack, Paul Brady, Bon Iver (who also famously covered her “Lovin’s For Fools”), and The Swell Season.

The Feels
2025-05-03 20:00 - 22:00
Singer-songwriters, Lange Eve and Sarah Roberts bring their soulful and engaging energy as they showcase their original music. This five-piece group packs their sets with fusions of Soul, R&B, Funk, and Groove with tasteful throwback/retro vibes that will make you feel so many things! In addition to Lange on guitar/vox and Sarah on Ukulele/vox/percussion, this dynamic group is backed by Matt Gardner on lead guitar, Brian Grasso on bass, Matthew Roberts on drums, and often other special guests! The Feels is a fun mix of artists from the (past and present) WNC music scene. These musicians have a long history of music and good times together that can be felt and heard!

Holla at ya Mama
2025-05-08 19:30 - 21:30
Holla at Ya Mama Bluegrass is a high-energy, genre-blending band based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Known for their versatile sound and exceptional musicianship, the band brings a unique spin to traditional bluegrass, drawing inspiration from a variety of musical influences, including classic bluegrass, jam bands, and the timeless spirit of the Grateful Dead. With years of experience playing across the nation and regionally, Holla at Ya Mama Bluegrass has shared the stage with a diverse array of bands, delivering dynamic live performances that keep audiences on their toes.

Swamp Rabbit Bluegrass
2025-05-10 20:00 - 22:00
Homegrown grassers putting out a fresh cut sound!The Swamp Rabbit Bluegrass Band is a brand new venture that is bursting onto the scene with their fresh cut sounds of “homegrown grass.” This four-piece ensemble is pushing the limits of acoustic music while encompassing the foot stomping drive of authentic bluegrass in tandem with invigorating original music. Based in the Upstate of South Carolina, the ultimate desire of the Swamp Rabbits is to bring the community together while providing a musical atmosphere that is ripe for good times. This cast contains musical veterans that have each shined on major stages such as Albino Skunk Fest, the Houston Rodeo, Camp Springs, Fall for Greenville, and other notable billings. Now joining forces, they are eager to broadcast their newfangled creations to the local scene and beyond. As they like to say at SRB, let’s get weird!

Anya Hinkle
2025-05-15 19:30 - 21:30
Using the medium of Appalachian string band tradition, Anya Hinkle is a force when it comes to storytelling through song. With arresting honesty and a beautiful voice reminiscent of whiskey – smooth with an alluring hint of smoke – Hinkle straddles the bounds of bluegrass and country, resulting in some of the best Americana Roots has to offer. Playing tunes that flutter through beautiful finger-picked themes, invoking folk melodies from the past, Anya Hinkle will walk you through an artfully crafted story, evolving into an unknown inner psychological and surreal music space. It’s the honesty and grit in Hinkle’s music that pulls you in.

Chris Wilhelm
2025-05-17 20:00 - 22:00
Chris Wilhelm is known for bringing positive vibes and an uplifting message to his audience. He plays Americana, folk rock originals that are infectious and insightful, and sprinkles in covers too. Worldwide airplay brought his latest album, “This Too Shall Pass,” to one of the Top 100 Alt-Country Albums of 2020, as well as several months on the national folk charts. Based out of Asheville, N.C., Chris Wilhelm is a songcatcher and thrives on live performances.

Seth and Sara
2025-05-22 19:30 - 21:30
Seth Brand is an Americana Rock/Pop/Country songwriter and has been performing his original, heartfelt and inspiring tunes at various establishments throughout the country as well as several radio shows. With wife, Sara, at his side, playing percussion, the Brands set out for their first full time tour in October of 2018. Seth never fails to captivate the crowd with his passionate riffs and his mesmerizing vocals. He is the winner of three Indi.com Original Songwriter awards and has been showcased all throughout his hometown of St. Louis, and now the country.

Shane Meade
2025-05-24 20:00 - 22:00
Soul-Infused Folk Rock, Splash of Jazz & Mountain Funk. Shane Meade is a gifted singer songwriter, touring musician, and catalyst behind the soul-infused folk rock project, Shane Meade & the Sound. His music captivates the imagination, and audiences connect to his inspirational lyrics and universal subject matter. His unique and soulful style helps deliver an engaging live performance that is both powerful and uplifting.

Hannah and the Wistfuls
2025-05-29 19:00 - 21:00
Hannah Kaminer is an artist and singer-songwriter writing songs about love, loss, and home. Raised in small towns in Western North Carolina, she fuses echoes of Appalachian and country traditions with wistful, Americana-style songwriting.
