Kerosene Heights Talks Hurricane Helene Aftermath And Tour Plans

Asheville emo-punk band, Kerosene Heights, was gearing up for a fall tour set to kick off in mid-October. But then, Hurricane Helene tore through their hometown of Asheville, leaving the once bright community in pain.

The city now stands isolated from the rest of the country, without clean water, with businesses either lost to the storm or closed with no timeline of opening, leaving much of its population suddenly out of work.

I sat down with Justin Franklin, guitarist of Kerosene Heights, to talk about the future of the community in a town fighting to survive.

I was officially furloughed from my job last Friday. So, yeah, I guess I'm a full-time touring musician now.

Justin relocated to Florida to stay with family, escaping Asheville after Hurricane Helene ravaged the city just a week prior. His home, like much of Asheville, is now without power, clean water, or even basic cellular service. “It’s chaos,” he says.

His voice is laced with sarcasm as he refers to the sudden dismemberment of Asheville’s hospitality industry. With the city lacking clean water, bars and restaurants have closed indefinitely, leaving countless workers, including the entire band, jobless.

No one's getting breaks right now. Bills aren’t stopping. Rent’s not stopping. Everything’s paused except the stuff that shouldn’t be.

Despite the chaos, Kerosene Heights remains committed to their tour, but they’re not leaving Asheville merely in the rearview.

“We’re doing what we can to raise awareness,” Justin explains. “We’ve posted resources on our socials, and we’re taking QR codes with us on tour so people can donate to the relief efforts back home.”

For many local artists, the damage is far deeper. Equipment, studios, and merchandise have been destroyed, wiping out crucial sources of income.

[Artists] can’t even sell what they had to make money — it’s all gone.

Musicians across Western North Carolina are resorting to crowdfunding, and some are releasing previously unreleased tracks or b-sides just to scrape by.

When asked how the public can help, Justin’s response is immediate and resolute:

Give people money. That’s what they need. The best way to help is to get cash into the hands of the people who are doing the work, so they can keep doing it.

But he’s quick to add that financial aid isn’t the only way to make an impact. “And, you know, again, anything like that—anybody you know who lived there or knows someone who lived there, check their social media, check to see what they need.”

For many Asheville citizens, social media has become an actual means for surviving, allowing them to share crowdfunding links, sell what merchandise they can, or simply update their communities on how they’re holding up. “It’s not just about the money,” Justin continues. “Sharing a post or offering support to someone trying to get back on their feet helps.”

He emphasizes that all gestures have meaning—whether purchasing a band’s music, sharing their stories, or helping spread the word about relief efforts—can help the community of Asheville get back to creating and rebuilding what’s been lost.

For more information on how you can help visit

https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene

Kerosene Heights is on tour with Arcadia Grey & Leisure Hour

10/15 – Wichita, KS

10/16 – Oklahoma City, OK

10/17 – Denton, TX

10/18 – Austin, TX

10/19 – Houston Texas

10/20 – Hattiesburg, MS

10/22 – Tampa, FL

10/23 – Orlando, FL

10/24 – Gainesville, FL

10/25 – Fest with Teenage Halloween & Teens In Trouble

10/29 – Atlanta, GA

10/30 – Asheville, NC

10/31 – Durham, NC

11/1 – Charlotte, NC

11/2 – Roanoke, VA

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