Built in true Southern, Old-World charm and venerated as one of the South’s most luxurious resorts is Asheville’s own Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. Since it’s opening in 1913 the resort has received worthy attention for its honorable guests including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harry Houdini, and Thomas Edison, as well as a long line of U.S. Presidents—the most recent of which was President Barack Obama’s visit just last year.

While the Inn prides itself in maintaining the elegance and charm that make it such an exceptional place, it's open to anyone who wants to relax, have a cocktail, enjoy a meal, and listen to live music. This year the Inn has started a weekend music series bringing in local musicians to rock The Great Hall Bar and enthralling Asheville music lovers Grove Park style.

“We’re really trying to reposition ourselves as a place that’s not stuffy,” says Chad Willis, Beverage Manager of GPI. "We want our locals to know that you can come out and have a bucket of wings and a beer if you want or a cheese plate and a burgundy. And in keeping with that mentality, we want everyone to be able to come out, kick back, listen to their favorite local band, and have a good time.”

Located at the main entrance of the Inn, The Great Hall Bar has a warm, welcoming ambiance with two huge fireplaces, wooden rocking chairs, a full bar, giant picture windows overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a small stage in the midst of it all. This year, local favorites such as Dehlia Low, Underhill Rose, and The Broadcast have performed, packing out the main inn with old and young Ashevillians alike.

“Our music really suits the environment of the Grove Park Inn,” says Eleanor Underhill of Underhill Rose. “Everyone wants to hear Appalachian-esque music, something that represents the region, and I feel like we really touch on that level.”

The Inn features an eclectic variety of performers—from jazz to pop to folk and country. All of the artists are recommended by EastCoast Entertainment. Willis looks at the recommendations and decides who he thinks fits the bill and will truly bring the ambiance of The Great Hall Bar to life. In fact, bands such as Underhill Rose have received such an overwhelming response from the audience that they received an exclusive contract to do an ongoing showcase at the Inn—playing 10-12 more shows in the coming months. Just releasing its self-titled debut album recently, Underhill Rose is on the upswing—packing out shows throughout the Southeast, with the Grove Park Inn being a mainstay.

“We have had a great turnout,” Willis says of the Saturday shows, which typically offer an afternoon act and a separate evening act. “The amount of locals that have come out on the weekends has just blown us away. Really, The Great Hall Bar is an outlet that has something for just about everyone so we really have a nice mix of people out here watching these bands perform.”

For more information about the Grove Park Inn and its music series call 800.438.5800 or visit groveparkinn.com.