Record stores? Music-related stuff? E. Kentucky - E. Tennesse - SW Virginia - W North Carolina

a lot of it depends on your itinerary. carter family fold is cool, but it takes a little planning because you really need to go on a saturday evening. if you end up anywhere near whitesburg, ky., appalshop is worth a visit -- among other things, home to one of the greatest radio stations i've ever heard, wmmt. speaking of great radio stations, if you get toward knoxville, check out wdvx; they've got a cafe/studio right downtown, with free live music from noon-1 every day. also worth checking the schedule at the laurel theater, an old church converted into a bluegrass/folk/rock concert space. i saw ralph stanley there once.

a curiosity of the smokies is the front porch in cosby, tn -- a mexican restaurant with live bluegrass every friday and saturday. (but no beer so byob.) if you get as as far east as asheville, there's tons of music all over the place.

(i would've recommended roy's records in maryville, tn, but it closed a few years ago)

Any friday night in Floyd, Va.

thanks for recommendations!!!

yeah, i'll be in asheville, knoxville too. any great spots in asheville?

lost and found records in knoxville is great, just don't go to basement records. wdvx is awesome, listen to tipsy!

great, thanks! so what about louisville? i'm passing through there on the way...

i don't know louisville, but in asheville check out static age records (their website also has an asheville show calendar). and i'm not sure what venues to check for apart from the jack in the wood pub, but if you can find any old-time music playing it's worth a look. asheville has one of the best old-time scenes in the country, tons of good players.

One place I like to go in Asheville is the French Broad Brewery. They make great beer on site right before your eyes, and have tastings and cheap beer at times like FOUR PM! It's great stuff.