The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers are the heart-on-sleeve troubadours of American folk rock — a band that straddles tradition and modernity with raw emotion, blistering honesty, and harmonies that cut straight to the soul.
Formed in Concord, North Carolina, brothers Scott and Seth Avett began making music together in the early 2000s, blending bluegrass, folk, rock, and country into a sound that feels both timeless and unmistakably their own. Joined by longtime bandmates Bob Crawford on upright bass and Joe Kwon on cello, The Avett Brothers became known not just for their sound — but for how they live their songs on stage.
Their breakthrough came with the 2009 album “I and Love and You,” produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, which launched them into the national spotlight. But the magic of The Avett Brothers has always been in their live shows: unfiltered, emotional, and completely unpredictable. Whether it’s a whisper-soft ballad or a stomping roots anthem, every performance feels like a personal confession and a communal celebration all at once.
Over the years, their catalog has expanded with acclaimed releases like:
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“Emotionalism” (2007)
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“The Carpenter” (2012)
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“True Sadness” (2016)
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“Closer Than Together” (2019)
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And their 2020 collaborative album with the Asheville Symphony: “The Third Gleam.”
Their lyrics speak to love, loss, faith, family, and the daily grind of being human — never flashy, always authentic. It’s this rare mix of musical craftsmanship and soul-baring vulnerability that’s made The Avett Brothers a staple on festival stages, NPR sets, and playlists across generations.
From sold-out theaters to the Newport Folk Festival, they’ve become a voice of modern Americana. But more than that — they’ve become a feeling. A reminder that music doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
At JamFest, we call that real. And we’ll always show up for that.