30 Days Out, August 2026 #2: Aché Tropical, Santiago y Los Gatos, Elder, Little Feat
Two local acts (three, actually) and two nationally-touring bands, the latter of which is taking a well-deserved victory lap. Those are among the highlights of live music in and around Asheville in the coming 30 days. Bucke up.
Artist: Aché Tropical
Venue: White Horse
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $20 (pay what you can)
Asheville might not be the first place one looks for sounds of tropicalia and/or Cuban music, but, well, here it is, and it’s quite good. The cabaret traditions that flourished in the beleaguered island nation live on there, but White Horse is a lot closer, and not as under siege by an antagonistic U.S. government as Havana is at present.
Artist: Santiago y Los Gatos
Venue: Grey Eagle
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m.
Door: $15.36/adv, $18.45/door
Asheville treasure Jeff Santiago has led Los Gatos for many years, bringing his original music to audiences in and around WNC. The band’s 2024 album Washing Away Wetiko is a strong as it is eclectic, touching on electronica, hard rock, pop and more. Fashion Bath opens.
Artist: Elder
Venue: Orange Peel
Date: Thursday, Sep. 10, 8 p.m.
Door: $37.03
Progressive metal combines the arrangement, compositional and musical qualities of progressive rock with the fury and technical precision of metal. While they got their start in Massachusetts, Elder is now based in Berlin. The band has seven studio albums and a pair of live releases (plus a bunch of EPs). 2026’s Through Zero is their latest. Asheville’s own Bask opens.
Artist: Little Feat
Venue: Thomas Wolfe
Date: Friday, Sep. 11, 7 p.m.
Door: $68.45 and up
Frank Zappa famously kicked Lowell George out of the Mothers, telling him to go start his own band He did, and Little Feat went on to become one of the most beloved, if classifiable of American bands. Rock? Americana? Yes, and more. Lowell died in 1979, but surviving members relaunched the band less than a decade later. Keyboardist and founding member Bill Payne is still on board on what the band is teasing as a farewell tour. We’ll see…
See you at the show!
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.