Just over ten years ago, in the spring of 2004, two recent college graduates drove to Asheville, NC, to look into opening a record store there. Neither Matt Schnable nor Mark Capon had ever visited the peaceful Western North Carolina city. Two days into the trip, the pair signed a lease on an old building in a run-down historic district in West Asheville. A few months later, they were living together in a one-bedroom apartment above their new shop, Harvest Records; doing everything they could to ready the space by its August opening date.
In the decade that’s followed since they welcomed the first customer through the doors of Harvest, Matt and Mark have carefully carved out a friendly, bustling environment that defies record store stereotypes and attracts music lovers from across the globe. They’ve also released records from the likes of Steve Gunn, Floating Action and the ever-elusive Brightblack Morning Light, and organized hundreds of live performances with artists ranging from El-P to Rodriguez to Stars of the Lid. The duo’s boundless energy has galvanized Asheville’s music community, as well as the now vibrant neighborhood Harvest calls home.
This Labor Day weekend, the store will celebrate its tenth Anniversary with Transfigurations II. The multi-day, multi-venue extravaganza features thirty bands, including the Clean, Lee Fields & the Expressions, Mudhoney, Michael Hurley, Sonny & the Sunsets, Endless Boogie, Little Wings, Angel Olsen and many, many more fantastic acts beloved by the AD readership. Most of which will be performing on an island in the middle of picturesque Marshall, NC. In anticipation of this upcoming soiree, we tracked down Mark to ask him a few questions about the last ten years. He and Matt also took the time to compile a collection of songs that reflect their first decade in Asheville. Enjoy.
Only the good shit. Aquarium Drunkard is powered by its patrons. Keep the servers humming and help us continue doing it by pledging your support.
To continue reading, become a member or log in.
