Cigarettes @ Sunset Breaks Through with Appalachian-Infused Indie Sound

Cigarettes @ Sunset, a five‑member outfit from Boone, North Carolina, has leapt from local bars to the national spotlight after the March release of their EP Possum Rock on Lost Highway Records. The record has propelled the group to more than 225,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, while the single “Pavement” has already surpassed four million streams. Their ascent highlights a growing appetite for music that fuses Appalachian storytelling with contemporary indie rock.

The band’s genesis dates back to winter 2022, when lead vocalist Garrett Dellinger and guitarist Ryland Bagbey began writing together in the chill of the EDGE of the WORLD Snowboard Shop in Banner Elk. They soon recruited bassist Ethan Moore, drummer Wells Whitman, and violinist Sarah Vann. Vann joined after the group asked her to play fiddle on a cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.” Her classical training and knack for layering and looping the instrument helped shape the group’s signature sound.

The name Cigarettes @ Sunset came from a spontaneous moment. Dellinger recalled, “I was enjoying a smoke at sunset on the mountain and thought it would make a great name for a band.” The style, which they call “Possum Rock,” was cemented after a drunk patron at a local bar asked if they played that genre. Dellinger shrugged, and the label adopted the term. Bagbey has joked that he hopes the “very drunk guy” never returns for royalties.

Lost Highway Records, a Universal Music Group imprint known for country and alternative artists, issued the six‑track EP in March. The record blends gritty blues, indie‑rock riffs, and Appalachian fiddle lines. Tracks such as “Pavement” explore love, addiction, and small‑town restlessness, while the overall sound evokes Boone’s gravel driveways and open mountain fields. Critics have described the music as a “riff‑heavy and fiercely independent collision” of genres.

The group’s rapid rise reflects a broader cultural shift toward Appalachian music. After Hurricane Helene struck Boone in late 2024, the community’s resilience inspired the band’s commitment to endurance‑oriented songwriting. Cigarettes @ Sunset now performs nearly 100 shows a year, including a multi‑city national tour that has drawn audiences from Texas to London. Their success signals a renewed national interest in authentic regional storytelling.

At present, Cigarettes @ Sunset continues to tour and promote Possum Rock. The band plans to expand their touring schedule and explore collaborations that honor their Appalachian roots while reaching wider audiences.