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HAPPENING at The Wine Studio

Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center's HAPPENING 2011 doesn't take place until April 9 (save that date!) but there's a chance to get excited and raise funds at The Wine Studio of Asheville's HAPPENING on Thursday, Jan. 27, 5-8 p.m. The event will showcase video from last year's HAPPENING (inspired by the idea of what a typical Saturday night at Black Mountain College), along with live performance from Claire Elizabeth Barratt (dance) and Elisa Faires (music), plus a wine tasting and a chance to buy discount tickets for this year's April event. $10 (a portion of the proceeds go to this year's HAPPENING). blackmountaincollege.org.

Drone Summit of the Carolinas

"Drone music is an avant garde musical form, in which sustained or repeated sounds, notes and/or tone-clusters are created, combined, mixed, manipulated and layered using any number of methods, including voice, guitars, pedals & effects, keyboards, synthesizers, computers and amplifiers," says press for the inaugural Drone Summit. Want to know more? Three bands (NOOSE, Jamie Hepler of Soft Opening (pictured) and Zach and Abe a.k.a. The Wet Heel) perform; projection artist JSF contributes visuals. Friday, Jan. 28, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Stella Blue, downstairs. $5. cheesygraphics.com/dronesummit.

Donna the Buffalo

For years, upstate N.Y.-based, self-desribed "Cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae and country" band Donna the Buffalo has long had an Asheville connection through it's bassist. First it was Bill Reynolds (Band of Horses) then Jay Sanders (Acoustic Syndicate). Now DTB has Massachusetts bassist Kyle Spark but the group (who has toured for 21 years) still makes its semi-annual trek South (DTB is likely to pop up at regional warm-weather festivals), headlining the Orange Peel on Saturday, Jan. 29. 9 p.m., $18 advance/$20 doors. theorangepeel.net.

Enemy Lovers Guest List show

It's become an annual event, ever since local rockers the Enemy Lovers burst onto our collective consciousness at their first guest list show at the Grey Eagle, touting their just-released debut EP. These days, the Enemy Lovers are a known entity. They've got an arsenal of new material (the band has been leaking tracks from its forthcoming album, tentatively-titled The Asheville Days, via its website; “Be What You Need” and “We Can Make It” can also be found at mountainx.com). And they’ve got some special announcements. We won’t spoil the surprise, but suffice it to say, if you’re an Enemy Lovers fan (or if you’ve been meaning to check out this band) this is the show to attend. And, even if you're not on the guest list, you're still invited: Friday, Jan. 28. 9 p.m. $8 advance/$10 day of show. Margolnick opens. thegreyeagle.com.

Chrysalis at NC Stage

Yes, it’s high school theatre. Don’t freak out. Chrysalis, part of North Carolina Stage Company’s Catalyst Series, is a collaboration between advanced drama students at Hendersonville High School and The Redundant Theatre Company Theatre (who are adults — see?). According to press, “The play was inspired by the paintings and writings of reclusive folk artist Henry Darger. A janitor by trade who painted only in secret, his works are now included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and of the American Folk Art Museum, which describes him as ‘one of the most significant self-taught artists of the 20th century.’” Chrysalis runs Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 27 to 29, 7:30 p.m. at N.C. Stage. $10. Reservations at 239-0263 or ncstage.org.

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