The Inaugural Artist Lineup Is Here!
The moving musical experience will feature six live performances aboard the historic scenic train on June 5 & 6, 2026
The Great Smoky Mountains Music Train is set to make its debut on June 5 & 6, 2026, featuring a dynamic lineup of six Appalachian-style artists. Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers, Dr. Bacon, Martha Spencer & Wonderland Band, Andrew Scotchie, Ashley Heath, and the Alex Ball Duo will perform as the historic train hugs the shores of Lake Fontana and winds its way along the scenic Nantahala River.
Each artist will perform simultaneously as attendees dance their way from car to car, enjoying six unique musical atmospheres, stunning mountain views, and beer and wine from onboard bars. Friday and Saturday nights will feature the same lineup of musicians, though organizers emphasize that each evening will deliver its own energy, crowd dynamic, and unforgettable musical moments.
Four enclosed vintage coaches provide seating with room to dance, while two open-air gondola cars—fully roofed with open sides—are dedicated to high-energy band performances and dancing. Two additional coaches offer quiet space for conversation and relaxation. Sound systems are installed in each music car to ensure an immersive experience throughout the train. Beer and wine will be available for purchase onboard in the concession car, with restrooms accessible throughout the train, including one wheelchair-accessible restroom.
The round-trip experience lasts approximately three and a half hours, with boarding beginning at 6:30 pm, departure at 7:00 pm sharp, and a return around 10:00 pm, including a short intermission midway through the ride. The train begins and ends each night at the Bryson City Depot
Tickets
Tickets go on sale February 12, with tiered pricing as follows:
· $139 — February 12 through March 31
· $149 — April 1 through April 30
· $159 — May 1 through event dates (June 5 & 6)
Lineup
At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills half-a-mile from the nearest neighbor, 21-year-old Colby T. Helms resides in an “underground house” built by his late father on land his family has owned for generations. Colby first dreamed of making music his life at age 12, when a group of Blue Ridge Mountain old-time and bluegrass players performed songs like The Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ “Standing On The Rock” and the gospel classic “A Beautiful Life” at his father’s funeral in Boones Mill, VA. To make his dream a reality, he taught himself guitar, banjo, and mandolin by watching local performers and YouTube videos. On the day he turned 16, he bought his first car, a stick-shift Jeep Wrangler, and hit the road to play anywhere people would have him. A veteran performer in the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains region by age 18, Colby wrote the songs that would become his upcoming semi-autobiographical concept album, ‘Tales of Misfortune’, as a senior in high school. The album delves into the beginning of his story - starting off as a dream and ending with the passing and remembrance of his father. “Higher Ground” is about the choices he has made to realize his dream of becoming a touring musician - and their cost. “Mountain Brandy” brings the listener back to Colby’s home at the bottom of the Blue Ridge Mountains and sets the tone for the rest of the album. “Smoke and Flames” chronicles his experience as a fledgling musician, honing his craft and searching for validation while still in high school.
DR. BACON is a 4 Piece touring Appalachian Rock, Funk, Grass and Soul band. Blending diverse instrumentation, inspirations, and influence allows the band to perform a synthesis of styles creating a unique musical expression.
The Dr. Bacon live experience is truly a spectacle to behold, bringing the audience on a musical journey, caressing ears with lush beauty then whipping crowds into a down-home tribal romp, shaking booties and shedding inhibitions. An undulating wave of energy and styles leads to massive and manic versatility ensuring that no matter what genre of music suits your taste, you will hear something that resonates. Bacon goes good with everything!
Dr. Bacon started in 2012 on King Street in Boone as a 3 piece busking acoustic bluegrass, folk, and 90s pop/rock/hip-hop influenced band. Several lineup changes over the years and a move to Asheville have refined and redirected the bands sound, incorporating funk, rock, soul, psychedelic, improvisation, blues, punk and world music. The blending of several elements of these genres, often within the same song, along with an arsenal of instrumentation brings the real Dr. Bacon flavor. The band tours regularly, up and down the East coast and beyond. With 3 EPs and two length albums under their belts, Dr. Bacon performs an original focused setlist with a rotating and evolving palate of choice covers. Never performing the same set twice and constantly working towards the next musical achievement means that each show is a beast unto itself where you’ll never know what new tricks are in store.
Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician, and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Raised in a musical family on Whitetop Mountain, she carries forward the deep traditions of Appalachian music while bringing a fresh, joyous energy to every performance.
A multi-instrumentalist, Martha plays guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, and dulcimer, blending old-time, bluegrass, country, and early rock ’n’ roll influences into her own unique sound. She’s known for her charismatic stage presence, high-energy flatfoot dancing, and warm connection with audiences everywhere she goes.
Martha has performed internationally—from Australia, the UK, and Europe to major U.S. festivals like MerleFest and the National Folk Festival—and has shared stages with icons across roots and Americana music. Her solo albums and recordings with her band The Wonderland Country Band showcase her powerful vocals, sharp songwriting, and deep respect for the mountain traditions she grew up with.
Whether performing solo or with her band, Martha Spencer embodies the spirit of Appalachian music—authentic, soulful, and full of heart.
Born and raised in Asheville, Andrew Scotchie is everything rock-n-roll was meant to be: sweaty, soul-stirring, a little dangerous, and absolutely alive. With the fire of the Stones, the blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins, and the message of a punk-fueled preacher, Scotchie and his band have become a staple of the Southeast music scene. He’s shared stages with legends, crowd-surfed dive bars, and continues to craft his unique sound. His latest record, Love Is Enough, is a love letter to connection, chaos, and keeping your heart open in a world gone sideways.
Ashley Heath is often described as “velvet soul,” blending prolific songwriting with airy, powerful vocals and blues-infused guitar work. Her most recent album, Something to Believe (Organic Records, 2022), brought her national and international attention, following earlier releases Where Hope Never Dies (with her band Ashley Heath and Her Heathens) and the solo album A Different Stream.
A perennial favorite in Western North Carolina, Heath has been voted Best of WNC by Mountain Xpress readers multiple years in a row for Vocalist, Songwriting, Blues, and Americana/Country. In 2018, she also took top honors at the MerleFest Band Competition. Her dynamic live performances have led her to share the stage with artists including Pat Benatar, Anders Osborne, and Black Joe Lewis.
Heath has toured extensively across the United States and internationally in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Sweden. Deeply rooted in Appalachian music traditions, she holds a degree in Anthropology from Appalachian State University with an emphasis on Music in Appalachia, and she has also shared her knowledge as a music educator, teaching vocals, guitar, bass, piano, and songwriting to students of all ages.
Alex Ball is a lifelong Appalachian roots musician whose journey began at age eight, inspired by early trips to festivals like the Galax Fiddlers’ Convention. Over the years, he has built a wide-ranging career as a fiddler, guitarist, and bandleader, performing with and leading projects including Boss Hawg String Band, Alex Ball & the Reginals, Cornbred Blues Band, the Screaming J’s, and The Typical Mountain Boys. Ball also fronts the Del Rio Trio as lead singer and guitarist.
He is joined by longtime collaborator Jason Flournoy, an accomplished banjo and guitarist who toured extensively with Colorado’s Shanti Groove and later with Larry Keel. Together, Ball and Flournoy present a dynamic duo format that distills decades of touring experience into an intimate, roots-driven performance. Ball and Flournoy are currently core members of the Asheville-based group Suns of Stars.