Music and art aficionados, your next travel destination needs to be Asheville, North Carolina. Yes, the city is well-known for its brewery scene. It is the “Brewery Capital of America” after all. However, there is so much more to the city than beer.Asheville is teeming with talented musicians and artists who are ready to entertain and wow you for the duration of your trip. Whether you want to see a great show, peruse a variety of shops and studios or even purchase stunning art, Asheville has you covered. It’s also a city that has a terrific community feel to it, and that is certainly evident through the music and arts scene. MORE Destination & TourismAn event happening this weekend is the perfect example of how music and arts bring people together in Asheville. Connect Beyond the Page is a movement that uses music, film and storytelling to explore “how collaboration and adaptation create a narrative that can influence social change.” From Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22, several artists, musicians, filmmakers, authors, storytellers, etc. will converge in Asheville, looking to engage with locals and tourists who want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover. Some the guest artists and panelists this year include Bob Boilen of NPR, movie producer Albert Berger, singer-songwriter John Goodwin, Grammy-nominated pop duo Sylvan Esso, musician Big Chief Juan Pardo and producer Ricki Lake. There will also be a concert of “songs inspired by social justice.”Another example of the community coming together is seen at the Friday night drum circle in Pritchard Park. People from all walks of life gather in the rounded outdoor amphitheater to dance and jam together. If the drums entice you enough, you can sign up for a beginner’s drum class on Saturday at Skinny Beats Drum Shop downtown. Travelers will find plenty of different musicians playing on street corners throughout downtown, especially during the spring and summer months. You can listen as you walk by or sit on the patio of a restaurant for lunch and you’re bound to hear some good tunes. Live music can be found at a number of restaurants and bars all week long. Asheville’s top music venue though is The Orange Peel. Rolling Stone Magazine named it one of the top five rock clubs in the country. It holds over 1,000 people and hosts a wide range of musical acts throughout the year. It’s perfectly designed so that every ticket holder gets a stellar experience. I stood in the back, but it still felt like I was up front and center. Despite it being a smaller space too it wasn’t overly cramped for the sold-out show like some concert spots can be. Other music venues include The Grey Eagle and The US Cellular Center. If you’re traveling to Asheville for the beer but also happen to love music, I highly recommend you book a LaZoom Band & Beer Tour. You’ll drive around town on a big purple bus, making stops at a couple breweries along the way. Oh, and did I mention a band rocks out on the bus with you? That’s right, you can drink beer on the bus and jam out to live music. The talented Empire Strikes Brass played a variety of rock, funk, pop and rap music as we zoomed through downtown, West Asheville and the River Arts District, turning heads everywhere we went. LaZoom also has a comedy tour that drives around the city with a cast of characters interacting with you throughout your journey. It really is a unique way to experience Asheville and its lively music and arts scene. While there are some shops downtown, the best of the best when it comes to art can be found in the River Arts District. From paintings to sculptures to metal work and so much more, this area of town is simply breathtaking. Studios set in old factories and historical buildings producing amazing art are well worth your time to explore. The Rivers Arts District puts on festivals and events throughout the year, and it hosts art classes as well. So, be sure to check the district’s website before you visit. Asheville is a creative hub worth exploring to the fullest, especially for anyone who loves music and art.Special thanks to Explore Asheville for providing accommodations.