Appalachian Trail Days Festival
​2024 Music Lineup

THURSDAY, MAY 16
6-8pm - Tuatha Dea (at Laurel Creek Park)
FRIDAY, MAY 17
12:30-2:30pm - Pierce Edens
3:00-5:00pm - Orbital Planes
5:30-7:30pm - Late Night Special
7:15-8:15 - Joey's Van (at Laurel Creek Park)
8:00-10:00pm - Fritz & Co.
SATURDAY, MAY 18
12:30-2:30pm - The Well Drinkers
- Hiker Parade, Live Auction, and Hiker Talent Show -
5:30-7:30pm - Jake Mosca & The Travelers
8:00-10:00pm - Gents & Liars
SUNDAY, MAY 19
12:00-2:00pm - Noah Spencer
​2:30-4:30pm - Phantom

FREE concerts all weekend! Live music is located at the stage in the middle of the Town Park.
Bring your own lawn/camping chair or picnic blanket and stay awhile!
Interested in coming to Trail Days as a performer? Get on the waitlist:
​Thank you to Middle Fork Records for organizing another great lineup this year!
Middle Fork Records is the booking agent for the Appalachian Trail Days Festival.

Thursday, May 16

Tuatha Dea - 6:00-8:00
Sponsored by Backpacker & the Get Outside Tour
​Tuatha Dea, The Appalachian, Celtic, Tribal, Rock Band (and family) from Gatlinburg TN has been called pure primal energy with a Celtic, World and ROCK twist. The bands eclectic sound blends the tribal vibe of primitive drums with conventional and non conventional instruments to create a real evolutionary musical crossover that defies category and genre! Combining primal rhythms, melodic and ethereal ballads, screaming guitar riffs with an Appalachian/Celtic vibe this FAMILY born of a family drum circle delivers an authentic tribal and clannish feel that not only draws the audience into the music but into the moment and clan as well. 

Friday, May 17

Pierce Edens - 12:30-2:30
Pierce Edens is an independent musician and singer-songwriter from Western North Carolina. He is best known for his powerful vocals and haunting, fiery music that captivates listening rooms and excites dance floors in equal measure. Edens has shared the stage with notables such as the Wood Brothers, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Hayes Carl.
With well over five million streams on multiple platforms and pockets of loyal fans across the nation, audiences continue to indulge in the hard-edged folk sound he creates alongside his long-time bandmate Kevin Reese.
Sitting side-by-side on stage, the musical duo take their audience on a well- crafted journey. Built song-by-song, the room becomes an experiential fortress filled with Edens’ signature vibrato, an unusually soulful, waverly tenor that conveys each song’s emotional depth. He mingles this with potent, guttural hurls that burst from him in pops and crackles. In addition to singing, Edens plays rhythm guitar and kick drum, employing a stripped-down, less-is-more approach to percussion reminiscent of the White Stripes. Reese accompanies Edens with lead guitar and mandolin, completing the duo’s sound that is both intimate and gritty, atmospheric and raw. 
​Follow Pierce Edens on Facebook.
Orbital Planes - 3:00-5:00
Local singer/Songwriter Jenna Greene is taking new heights, altitudes even, with her band Orbital Planes. Despite a bright and bubbly personality at the forefront, songwriting for Jenna has always been an outlet for her negative thinking. She writes about heartbreak, loss, feeling unsure, and second guessing. For a while, she hid away her talent in fear that her songs would bring down the mood of her listeners. Now, in a comfortable and creative space with friends, Jacob Bordwine (Bass) and Neal Reid (drums) help her feel inspired to stay in touch with every emotion and idea. ​
The combination of her upbeat, catchy melodies and dark lyrics beautifully reflect the high and low points in life that seemingly happen all at once. The band name embodies that same idea. Whether dancing or welling up, every audience will feel a connection to the songs of Orbital Planes. Follow Orbital Planes on Facebook.
Late Night Special - 5:30-7:30
Hailing from Charlotte, NC, Late Night Special brings a unique flavor to the funk rock genre. Their unique approach is highlighted by a blend of thought-provoking lyrics with compelling beats, which has become a defining feature of their music. 2020 was a pivotal year, with ‘Don’t Leave Me Lonely’ earning nearly a million streams, showcasing their growing appeal. 
Songs like 'Hold On' and 'Disco' from the same period highlight their ability to combine thought-provoking lyrics with compelling beats. This blend has become a defining feature of their music. In 2021, tracks such as 'If You Groove' and 'Go Dance The Night Away' showed the band exploring new sounds, while their latest tracks in 2023, including 'Summer Nights' and 'World Remains The Same,' demonstrate a continued evolution of their style.

They are renowned for funky tunes that not only resonate but also get people on their feet and rocking out. Their reputation for electrifying live performances has been solidified through regularly headlining festival tours - creating a communal experience as an invitation to join the celebration of life and music. 
Follow Late Night Special on Facebook
Joey’s Van - 7:15-8:15pm at Laurel Creek Park
Sponsored by the Head Outside Awards
Joey’s Van is a cover band based out of Bristol, TN playing a wide variety of 90’s/00’s popular covers. The band all started around the idea to try and appeal to people in their 20’s and 30’s that grew up on bands like Blink-182, Paramore, Green Day, and so on - just like they did! The goal was to create a pleasant nostalgia in the crowd from when they were angsty teens. And while that’s how it all began, they also noticed people of all ages started showing up enjoying the shows simply because the music is super fun and upbeat! Follow Joey’s Van on Facebook.
Fritz & Co. - 8:00-10:00
Based out of the Tri-Cities region in Southwest Virginia, rock and roll outfit Fritz & Co. consists of members Logan Fritz, McKenna Blevins, Matt Martin, Amanda Hollifield, and Josh Cavinder. Since the group’s inception, Fritz & Co. has performed extensively across the Southeast region with notable performances including numerous appearances at Bristol’s Rhythm & Roots reunion. They have opened for artists such as Brent Cobb, Folk Soul Revival, Annabelle’s Curse, 49 Winchester, and most recently for The Wallflowers as a duo. 

With boots planted in the realm of rock and roll, Fritz & Co. delivers a high energy show fueled by their punchy songs. Follow Fritz & Co. on Facebook.

Saturday, May 18

The Well Drinkers - 12:00-2:00
The Well Drinkers are a progressive, original bluegrass and Americana band based out of Western North Carolina whose range extends to festivals and venues across the Southeast.

​Since the band’s creation in 2019, the group has striven to combine traditional roots of their Appalachian region with progressive instrumentation, songwriting, and subject matter. The group doesn’t shy away from the opportunity to bring experimental jams, jazz, Cajun, classical and reggae into their live performances.
Follow The Well Drinkers on Facebook.
Jake Mosca & The Travelers - 5:30-7:30
Jake Mosca, a New Jersey native, has been immersed in his musical pursuit from the age of 15. Jake has been performing in front of live audiences for more than ten years and has flourished into a true performer. Jake was featured on American Idol in 2022 and is now the front man for The Travelers. This band brings all of Jake’s musical influences together during his performances.
Growing up listening to guitar greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Albert King and many more, the influences are prevalent when hearing Jake’s performances. However, the biggest influence of all would be his father, Jim Mosca, a Berklee College of Music alumni who imparted all of his knowledge unto his son. Now playing together on stage, both father and son have played up and down the east coast as well as overseas.

Based in the blues, Jake is now chasing his honky tonk dreams and exploring country music with a classic Nashville sound. While covering songs by artists such as Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings, Jake is now beginning to create his own original music, blending his prior musical influences together for something new and original. Follow Jake Mosca & The Travelers on Facebook.
Gents & Liars - 8:00-10:00
The Gents & Liars are dedicated to creating an immersive musical experience weaving together timeless stories showcased in “Old Flame,” as well as “Let You Down” and “Rescue Me.” Other tunes like “Devious Woman” and “Get A Little Groove On” set the mood for a good time. Washed in southern rock, outlaw country, and groove. The Gents & Liars deliver a high-energy live performance featuring a unique mix of harmonies and first-class musicianship.
Settle into the driver’s seat. It’s time for a road trip, destination unknown. Skip through the static over the airwaves with each turn of the radio dial until a fresh yet familiar sound rings out through the speakers. The needle has landed on the Gents & Liars, a band of groove engineers based out of Johnson City, Tennessee.
Follow Gents & Liars on Facebook.

Sunday, May 19

Noah Spencer - 11:30-1:30
​Noah started singing in church when he was 5 years old and picked up his first guitar when he was 11.  Many guitars later, he is still most comfortable strumming and picking tunes on an acoustic and singing songs that make people smile. His musical influences are broad and include artists from multiple genres and decades.  John Mayer, Glen Campbell, Tyler Childers, Jim Croce, Chris Stapleton, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, and Toto just to name a few.  He was a contestant on Season 24 of the NBC television show "The Voice". He is still living in Southwest VA and is pursuing a career in music. Follow Noah Spencer on Facebook.
Phantom - 2:00-4:30
Perennial favorite Phantom will fill the air with its energetic renderings of 70’s & 80’s rock and roll. The band has been at the top of southwest Virginia’s music scene since the early 90’s. Their popularity dates back to high school days when they won the regional “Battle of the Bands” decades ago, and they’ve remained a major staple at fairs, festivals and celebrations across the region, even topping newspaper polls as the region’s best several times.
​The band has maintained a “dance and party” playlist over their time on top, and have appealed to a garden salad of musical tastes and social circles. “The variety we play is our best asset”, say founders Proffitt and Atwood, who assert that the band tries to capture the essence of thirty-five or forty different artists in a show’s work. “We’ve adopted a style that’s never repetitive”. Phantom promises a serving of familiar favorites that makes this home-grown group a welcome chill. Follow Phantom on Facebook.