Has busking season returned to Asheville?

Midnight Snack, who moved to Asheville in February 2015, already seems to be a staple of the downtown busking scene. They call their sound "a blend of old-school psychedelic rock and funk with new-school art rock," on their facebook page and say the band's mission is "to spread love and positivity with addictive recordings and powerful live performances." Photo by Kat McReynolds

As temperatures climbed into the low 70s on Tuesday, March 4, Asheville residents were reminded that even small doses of sunshine can provide a much-needed mood lift following several months of cloudy cold. Accordingly, a steady stream of buskers and passersby took to the streets downtown in appreciation of the day’s allusion to spring.

One quintet, Midnight Snack, set up shop at the corner of College and Haywood streets, serenading the busy intersection with a cover of Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)” shortly before sundown.

For the recent Boston-expats, the decision to move to Western North Carolina followed a fall 2014 touring pit stop which won over the whole troupe. It’s no wonder the sign in the band’s open guitar case reads, “Pleasure to meet you!”

Their Asheville story makes Talking Heads’ lyrics — “Home is where I want to be, but I guess I’m already there … Did I find you or you find me?” — all the more poignant.

But Midnight Snack, comprised of now-locals Katie Richter, John Johnson, Mike Johnson, Peter Brownlee and Zack Kardon, certainly wasn’t the only band singing on the sidewalks. Tweet your al fresco music pictures and videos to @mxarts using the hashtag #AVLmusic.

Here’s Midnight Snack in action:

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About Kat McReynolds
Kat studied entrepreneurship and music business at the University of Miami and earned her MBA at Appalachian State University. Follow me @katmAVL

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