This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, Jan. 21
• Soulful folkie Utah Green performs at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge (10 South Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-4181). Music + chocolate = a great way to herald the weekend. 8 p.m.

• Prog/funk outfit Discordian Society plays Mellow Mushroom. 9 p.m., $5.

• The Chuck Lichtenberger Collective brings jazz to Tressa’s (28 Broadway St.,
Asheville, 254-7072). Says the band, “Real piano! horns! dig it!” 9 p.m., $3.

• Experimental/ambiant musician and world traveler John Vorus (recently Western Australia, if we’re to believe the Myspace page of this Asheville native) drops by BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). 10 p.m., $3.

• Prog/punk trio The Machiavillians take the stage at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612) at 10 p.m., $5.

Friday, Jan. 22
• In case you didn’t know, both Highland Brewery (12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville, 299-3370) and Barley’s Taproom turn 15 this year. The Brewery celebrates its milestone with a party. Now You See Them (who not only perform lovely/quirky folk/pop tunes but also work at the brewery on occasion) play, along with Funknastics. Barley’s will serve the yummy pizza that has, for a decade and a half, been the perfect pairing to Highland’s excellent brew. Tasting room open 4-10 p.m., NYST 5-7 p.m., Funknastics 8-10 p.m., free (donations to MANNA Foodbank accepted).

• Short Street Cakes (225 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 505-4822) hosts its first art opening with new paintings by Severn Eaton. 6 p.m.

• Country group The Honeycutters plays a free show at Old Fairview Southern Kitchen (831 Old Fairview Rd., Asheville, 277-7117). 8 p.m.

• Vibraphonist/composer Jason DeCristofaro and his trio (Carter Stevens on Hammond organ, piano and synthesizer; Jeffrey Lott on drums) perform “the first of many shows” at Chameleon Soul Food Restaurant (333 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 255-2303). Says DeCristofaro, “This venue has the best southern cooking around, and is already poised to become a major hub for local music and arts in Asheville.”

• The If You Wannas rock the New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445)
with Chatanooga’s Moonlight Bride (pictured) and Cincinnati’s The Sundresses. 10 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23
• North Carolina Stage Company and the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement partner to present free readings of True West by Sam Shepard. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m. at North Carolina Stage Company (15 Stage Lane, Asheville, 239-0263). A second reading is slated for Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m. at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNC Asheville.

• Piano-pop artist Dave Turner (who, not so long ago announced his retirement from performing and who, happily, rethought that decision) will be at the Straightaway Cafe (1722 NC HWY 9, Black Mountain, 669-8856). 6 p.m.

• Americana group Brittany Reilly & the Almost Acoustic Band plays the Feed & Seed (3715 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher). 7 p.m. Donations.

• Hendersonville-based folkie Jenny Arch will be at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St.,
Asheville, 255-8115). 7 p.m. Donations.

• Q*Black, a hip-hop artist from Charlottesville, Va., takes the stage at BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). 8 p.m., $5.

• Boone has always borne great music; now the mountain town seems to be supplying Asheville with a great injection of new indie rock. Like Major Magick (according to press, they blend “elements of funk, fusion, rock and soul to produce a sound that has been described as Zappa meets Primus plus Michal Jackson and John Legend with a heavy influnce from Return to Forever”) and Doc Aquatic. Both play Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550). 10 p.m., $5.

• Local rockers Grammer School  play the Hookah Bar (38-B N. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 252-1522) with guests Shortwave Society (pictured). 10 p.m., $5.

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter