Thursday, April 1
• Chicago-based “rock & roll stew” Lubriphonic starts the weekend off early with a free show at Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain, 669-0190). Here’s some press about the group: “Made up of seven of Chicago’s most talented sidemen (including a full horn section), Lubriphonic unites a wealth of experience from performing with such legendary artists as Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor and many more. The result is an incredible tight mix of original old school soul, funk and rock’n’roll, brought to life through the performer’s unquestionable live chops.” 7:30 p.m.
• Sparkle Rainbow Ponies of Death who claim to “sound like our favorite musicals” (and a little like the fantastic but mostly under the radar 80s glam rock duo Suicide Twins) play the Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 8 p.m., $5.
• Short Wave Society from Knoxville puts in an appearance at The Back Room (2702 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, 697-6828). 9 p.m., $5.
• And, because it’s almost Friday so you might as well stay out late; and it’s April Fool’s Day which is a national holiday, there’s Southern rock band Five Pound Fire (pictured; from Waynesville) with The Seux Effect (from Athens) at The Garage at Biltmore 101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 505-2663). 10 p.m., $5.
Friday, April 2
• Local indie-rockers Open Windows play the surprisingly good-sounding stage at Highland Brewery (12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville, 299-3370). 6 p.m., tips.
• Funny Business Comedy Club (56 Patton Ave., Asheville, 329-7315) offers a special $5 fan appreciation ticket price for the Ward Anderson show. 8 & 10:30 p.m.
• Bluegrass and Jack of the Wood go hand-in-hand, which means High Windy’s show should be near perfection. 9 p.m., $5.
• The awesomely fun-sounding Time Machine revs up at 9 p.m. It’s a dance party that changes decades by the hour, so it’s 60s music at 9 p.m., 70s at 10 p.m., 80s at 11 p.m., 90s at midnight and the 00s at 1 p.m. “The event mixes popular music from each period with thematic visual projection and live photography that’s been described by party architect Marty Delafongio as, ‘paparazzi prom party meets red carpet costume ball meets Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.’” Costumes welcome. Lexington Ave Brewery (39 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-0212) $5.
• Two more local bands to check out at The Boiler Room (which, in case you hadn’t noticed, does a bang up job booking local talent): The Easkatones (self-professed to have been “fighting the robot apocolypse since 2009”) and Dr. DP and the Trainrunners. The Stellas and Famous Tragedy (both from Charlotte) also play. 9 p.m., $5.
• Boone’s swingin’ blues act The King Bees make the trip down the mountain (not much a trip for them; they’ve played stages in New Yrok, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam) for a performance at Tall Gary’s College Street Pub (4 College St., Asheville, 772-1489). 9:30 p.m.
• Back from hiatus and getting back into the swing, local rockers The Broomstars take the stage at Mo Daddy’s at 10 p.m.
• Finally, make the drive to Waynesville — this is worth the cost of gas. The Nova Echo and the Go Devils play a free show at Headlights (190 N. Main St., Waynesville ). 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 3
• Love harmonies and acoustic folk (think Brewer & Shipley)? Then The Twilight Broadcasters are your band. Run, don’t walk, to their show at Straightaway Café (1722 NC Highway 9, Black Mountain, 669-8856). 6 p.m.
• Acoustic pop artist Ashley Wilson crafts songs that are both delicate and deep. Grab an Americano and listen at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). 8 p.m., tips.
• Asheville’s Badassets (worth noting: They cover Waylon Jennings’ “Lonesome, Onry and Mean”) perform at the Midway Tavern (2634 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, 687-7530). 8 p.m., free. Just in case you felt like having that kind of night.
• Super-groovy Secret B-Sides “rock the alma mater” a.k.a. Warren Wilson College (701 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa). 8 p.m.
• Craggie Brewing Company (197 Hilliard Ave., Asheville, 254-0360) hosts the Carolina Music Band, playing gypsy reels, from 8-10 p.m.
• According to a recent email, “The Taylor Moore Band will be steamrollin’ through Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550) … Taylor Moore is a Caribbean journalist turned full-time guitar-slinger, songwriter and bandleader based out of the Carolinas.” 9 p.m.
• Not-to-be-missed blues/country/honky-tonk singer/bassist Cary Fridley performs with Down South at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9:30 p.m.
• Cute, talented and totally genuine, bluegrass group Sanctum Sully stops by Fred’s Parkside Pub (122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920). 10 p.m.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
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