Kids 12 and under attend free, so bring the whole family and celebrate Homecoming your way at our Homecoming Benefit Concert!

Dance to the funkalicious sounds of Empire Strikes Brass, cheer on the kids in our junior dance competition, browse our silent auction, and cast your vote for Homecoming royalty—with Junior and Adult King & Queen titles up for grabs. Come dressed to impress, show off your moves, and relive the magic of Homecoming.

We will continue to update this page as more details are finalized, so make sure to return the week before the event if you would like more information.

Meet the stars of the show: Empire Strikes Brass, a dynamic BrassFunkRock band hailing from right here in Asheville, North Carolina. Formed in 2012 and inspired by New Orleans second-line traditions, funk, rock, and jam, the band has developed a distinctive sound built around a thumping rhythm section, rich horn arrangements, and an infectious live energy. Over the years, they’ve become a staple at festivals and venues across the country, sharing the stage with acts including Umphrey’s McGee, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Andy Frasco and the UN, and Petey Pablo.

Their music combines groove, power, and brass-driven intensity, with original songs and compelling covers delivered through a larger-than-life sound. Their debut album, Theme For A Celebration, was recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studio and named one of WNCW 88.7’s Top 100 releases of 2017, followed by Brassterpiece Theatre in 2019. As the band continues developing new material, their live shows remain the heart of the experience — high-energy performances that move audiences from deep groove to explosive brass-fueled peaks.

Check out their website and Spotify to learn more about the band and preview their music.

“Their shows are high energy and driven – powerful affairs that carry the audience through a full-range of emotions and often force the fans to look inward throughout – while still filling the building with love, acceptance, and hope.” — Caleb Calhoun, Ashvegas.com

Think your kid has the moves? The Kids Dance Competition is their chance to prove it! Bring your best moves and compete for the prestigious title of Homecoming Dance Master — with prizes up for grabs for the winner.

Then, it’s time to crown our Homecoming Kings & Queens! We’ll have two sets of royalty — Junior and Adult — with the junior and adult audiences voting separately for their respective monarchs. And yes, there will be prizes for our newly crowned kings and queens, too!

Bid on a variety of exciting items and experiences in our online silent auction! Auction items are still being finalized, so keep an eye on our social media and check back here the week before the concert for the full lineup. You can browse the auction and place your bids online, and you don’t need to attend the concert to participate.

RAFFLE: A 4-NIGHT MOUNTAIN GETAWAY

Enter for your chance to win a four-night stay at a beautiful, secluded mountain cottage in Franklin, NC! Surrounded by 26 acres of private land with no neighbors in sight, the cottage offers beautiful mountain and forest views, modern amenities, two bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and sleeping accommodations for up to four guests. It’s also conveniently located near hiking trails, waterfalls, biking trails, and the Appalachian Trail, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee about 30 minutes away.

Raffle tickets are $10 for one, $25 for three, or $100 for 15. You don’t have to attend the concert to enter — tickets can be purchased online now through the end of the Homecoming Benefit Concert on October 18, when the winner will be drawn. Holiday restrictions apply: the cottage is not available for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and January and February stays require a 4-wheel-drive vehicle due to potentially rough road conditions.

All proceeds from the silent auction and raffle benefit Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina and our work to prevent and end homelessness in our community.