Off The Wagon
is a dueling piano bar, and that distinction matters. If you're searching for a piano bar nearby in Asheville because you want live music and a real night out, keep reading. We'll show you exactly how a dueling piano show differs from a traditional piano bar, where to find us, and what to expect when you walk through the door.
Looking for a Piano Bar in Asheville?
Most people are looking for one of a few things: live music that isn't a cover band, a spot where conversation and entertainment can happen at the same time, or a memorable place to take out-of-town guests. Downtown delivers on live music in general, but interactive piano entertainment is a much smaller category.
Off The Wagon sits at 22 North Market Street in the heart of downtown, a short walk from Pack Square and the Grove Arcade district. If your map app says you're minutes away, you are. And if you're weighing your options for the evening, our guide to the best bars of downtown Asheville is a useful place to start planning the rest of your night.
Off The Wagon: Asheville's Only Dueling Piano Bar
We are the only dueling piano bar in Asheville. That's not marketing language, it's a category of one. Two entertainers face each other across two pianos, take turns singing, and build the entire night out of requests shouted, written, and tipped in by the crowd.
Our entertainers don't stop at pianos, either. Depending on the night, you'll hear drums, guitars, and keytars worked into the show, along with comedy bits that land somewhere between a concert and a roast. There is no set list, no rehearsed arc, and no guarantee that tonight resembles last night.
The venue itself carries some Asheville history. Off The Wagon occupies a building that once housed the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, and we sit on the last brick-paved road in the city. You can read more about how the bar came together on our about page.
Why We Say Dueling Piano Bar, Not Piano Bar
A traditional piano bar is built around atmosphere. A dueling piano bar is built around participation. At a piano bar, the music happens near you. At Off The Wagon, the music happens because of you, and quite often, to you. If you're celebrating a birthday, a bachelorette party, or an anniversary, there's a real chance you end up on stage as part of the show.
What Makes Off The Wagon Special
There are a handful of things you won't find at any other venue in Western North Carolina, and they're the reason people drive in from Hendersonville, Black Mountain, and well beyond.
- The only dueling piano bar in Asheville. No one else in the city runs this format.
- A repertoire in the thousands. We focus on upbeat, popular radio hits from the last 50-plus years, the songs an entire room can sing together.
- A crowd that makes the show. Community-style tables in long rows put you shoulder to shoulder with strangers who become friends by the second chorus.
- A different night, every night. Same building, same entertainers in rotation, completely different show.
- Veteran-owned and operated. Our owner served in the United States Air Force and the Georgia Air National Guard. The flag flying over our building was flown on a combat mission in Afghanistan, and a wall inside is dedicated to local citizens and their service.
- A selfie station. Proof you were there, and proof of what the night turned into.
- Drinks poured with intention. Our bartenders and servers are frequently part of the show themselves. Browse the drink list before you arrive.
How Requests Actually Work
Your requests are the playlist. There are two ways to get a song in front of the stage:
- Scan the QR code at your table. It opens the rqstly app, built by one of our own entertainers, where you can submit a request, send your tip from your phone, and watch your song move up the queue in real time.
- Fill out a request slip. Ask for a request pack and pen at the door, or grab one from the whiskey barrel near the host stand. Bring the slip to the stage with a tip and the entertainers handle the rest.
Requests are performed in order of tip generosity, so a larger tip moves your song up the list. Slips also cover shoutouts on the big screens, messages written on the mirrors, and getting a friend called up on stage for their birthday.
Location and How to Find Us
Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar 22 North Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Set your GPS to the street address and you'll be routed to the eastern edge of downtown. North Market Street is the last brick-paved road in Asheville, so if your tires start making a different sound, you're close. Full directions and parking guidance live on our directions page.
Landmarks Near Off The Wagon
- The Venue
- Asheville Community Theatre
- The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
- Mellow Mushroom
Parking
The lots between the old Vincenzo's building and our building are available to us after 5pm daily. On weekends, be sure to get a parking pass from us so you aren't towed. Street parking and nearby city garages are both options as well.
When to Visit
We're open every night beginning at 7pm.
The night you choose changes the show you get:
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: a single entertainer show, more intimate, with a lot more back-and-forth between the entertainer and the person making the request.
- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: the full dueling piano show, two entertainers, maximum volume.
There's a cover charge on Friday and Saturday nights, and occasionally on other nights, which helps cover the cost of our entertainers and any additional acts we bring in. Current opening times, show times, and cover details are always kept up to date on our FAQ page.
Seating is first come, first served. We don't take reservations, and cover guarantees entry rather than a seat, so arriving early is the single best thing you can do for your evening.
What to Expect at Off The Wagon
First-timers tend to have the same handful of questions. Here's the short version:
- Bring your ID. We're 21 and over, with no exceptions unless we're closed to the public for a private event.
- Dress how you want. Our dress code is simple: wear clothes and shoes.
- Expect community seating. Long shared tables are intentional. They keep the room connected to the show and to each other.
- Plan to tip. Tips drive the request queue and go directly to the entertainers performing your song.
- Sing along. Loudly. That's the entire point, and the room is better when you do.
- Bring food if you're hungry. We don't have a kitchen, so outside food from nearby restaurants is welcome. Outside beverages are not.
- Have a thick skin. We poke fun at everyone and everything, though we steer clear of politics and religion.
Celebrating something specific? Birthdays, bachelorette parties, anniversaries, and corporate groups are a regular part of our week. Details on booking a group are on our special event and celebration page, and couples planning a night out may want to read our Asheville date night guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Off The Wagon a piano bar or a dueling piano bar?
We're a dueling piano bar. Traditional piano bars offer background music from a solo performer with a set list. Our show is all-request, high energy, and driven entirely by audience participation, with two entertainers going head to head on Thursday through Saturday.
What kinds of songs can I request?
Upbeat, popular radio hits from the past 60-plus years, the songs a whole room can sing together. We don't perform jazz standards, classical pieces, or Broadway numbers, because those are difficult for a full audience to sing along with.
Do you serve food?
We don't have a kitchen, so no. You're welcome to bring in food from any nearby restaurant or have something delivered. Outside beverages are not permitted.
Do I need a reservation?
No, and we don't take them. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive early for the best chance at a good spot.
Can anyone under 21 come in?
No. We're a bar serving alcohol to guests of legal drinking age, and there are no exceptions.
How do I get more information before I visit?
Check our FAQ page for current hours, show times, and policies, or reach us through our directions and contact page. You can also sign up for our newsletter to hear about what's coming up.
Ready to Stop Searching and Start Singing?
A piano bar gives you something to talk over. Off The Wagon gives you a story you'll still be telling next month, because the show doesn't exist until the room shows up and starts requesting songs.
Your song is almost certainly in the repertoire. Come put it in the queue, and bring the friends who will sing it with you. Pull up directions, pick your night, and get here early enough to claim a seat.
Sing loud, laugh often, fall hard.
