Downtown After Five provides free live music entertainment in downtown Asheville. The celebration is every third Friday, May through September, with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy downtown Asheville and support local businesses and entertainers. Coordinated by a new team of dedicated volunteers, this year’s series brings some additional surprises:

• Location on North Lexington Avenue (between Hiawassee and the I-240 overpass)
• Event planners are greening the event by utilizing compost-able food service utensils, plates, napkins, and beverage cups.
• Organic cotton event t-shirts will be for sale and were designed by local artist Gene Felice
• Additions to the already stellar line up of food and beverages available include new local restaurants and local breweries

Enjoy the music and food while meeting new and old friends. This year’s musical lineup encompasses a variety of genres.

Dates & Bands for Downtown After 5 in 2009:
May 15
5:15 – Wilsin
6:20 – DJ Williams Projekt
7:45 - Cadillac Jones

June 19
5:15 - The Cheeksters
6:20 - Brushfire Stankgrass
7:45 - Geoff Achison with special guest Randall Bramblett

July 17
5:15 - Jen and the Juice
6:20 – King Johnson
7:45 – Hill Country Revue

August 21
5:15 - Silas Durocher and Everybody Knows
6:20 – Radasaurus Rex
7:45 – Pimps of Joytime

September 18
5:15 - Vertigo Jazz Project
6:20 – The Bridge
7:45 - Big Sam’s Funky Nation

Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM, Admission: Free

Photos from May 2008 by Trina Royar.

Downtown Asheville After 5 gives back to the community by partnering with local non-profits . The charitable organization mans the wristband sales tents and splits the money with the Asheville Downtown Association which produces the event. 2009 beneficiaries include Asheville Area Arts Council, Arts2People, Asheville GreenWorks, Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors (DARN) and Asheville Sister Cities International.

Food vendors for the 2009 Downtown After Five Series are The Lobster Trap, Nick’s, Anderson Davis Hot Dogs, Ultimate Ice Cream, One World, Rolling Stone Pizza and Sugar Momma's Cookies.

DTA5 features a wide selection of beers including local favorites: French Broad Brewery, Highland Brewing Company, Green Man Ales, Pisgah Brewing Company and Asheville Pizza & Brewing. Regional breweries for this year’s events are Magic Hat Brewing Company, SweetWater Brewery, Big Block and Starr Hill Brewery. Attendees will also find national brands Budweiser, Bud Light, Shock Top, Kona, Bass and Guinness.