ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Next month, The Grey Eagle will host the fifth annual Coverfest, a musical fundraiser for Asheville Middle School’s 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.

During Coverfest, 12 different bands – including two acts comprised of former AMS students – will cover a few of their favorite songs in 30 minute sets. The festival will feature all different genres of tunes, from jazz to grunge to rock ‘n’ roll.

Coverfest V will begin at 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18 at Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door. Find tickets here.

Coverfest V lineup

Whether bands are playing 80’s hits for the 8th grade fundraiser or AC/DC for the Washington D.C. trip, every act will be performing free of charge.

“They’re donating their time and talent,” said festival organizer Joe Hooten, a 9th grade history teacher at SILSA and member of PINKEYE.

“A lot of them will tell me later on that they just enjoy, not only the fundraising aspect of it, the goal of the event, but they also enjoy watching the other acts perform these little mini sets of covers, and it’s always interesting to see who covers what.”

The 12 participating bands include:

Andrew Thelston Band
Blue Dragons
Call the Next Witness
The Corporation
The Long Distance Relationship
The Lotcho Trio
Lower Peaks
PINKEYE
Rockabilly Roy & the Kopy Kats
Santiago y Los Gatos
Sirius B
Stephen Evans

Fitting for a middle school fundraiser, the music festival is entirely family friendly.

“Sometimes we’ll go late, but this has always been an all-ages, family friendly event,” Hooten said. “It grows as the evening goes along. So, we’ll start off a little soft and get a little rowdier as the night goes on.”

The event is aimed at raising money for kids who would not otherwise have the means to pay for the trip to the nation’s capitol. According to Hooten, the community has rallied around the mission every year.

“It’s actually grown every year, as far as the amount of money that we raise, and I appreciate that,” Hooten said. “That’s a testament to the acts that have been joining the lineup and then also the community, and a special shoutout to The Grey Eagle for being such supporters of community events like this, as well.”

For more information, visit www.thegreyeagle.com/event/coverfest-v-benefit-concert-for-asheville-middle-school/grey-eagle-music-hall/asheville-north-carolina.