This week on a shoestring

Posted on by Alli Marshall

Last Friday, the drum circle was in full swing by 5 p.m., downtown Asheville was filled with people out for dinner, music or just a stroll in the unseasonably warm temps. While this weekend isn’t shaping up to be such a sun-drenched wonderland, the recent interjection of early Spring should have been enough to get anyone in the mood to leave the cozy confines of home. And this weekend has plenty of entertainment options to make it worthwhile (50 degrees and scattered showers or not). From the avant-garde to the well-thumbed, from CD releases to midday musicals, nothing on this list will run you more than five bucks.

Thursday:
• Multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre artist Aaron LaFalce is at Vincenzo’s (10 Market St., Asheville, 254-4698) at 7:30 p.m. No cover: sip a cocktail, tip the musician.
• Psychedelic jam outfit Phuncle Sam promises its 8 p.m. slot at the Beacon Pub and Bistro (204 AB Whitson Ave., Swannanoa, 686-5943) costs “cheap.”
• Electronic band King Tut just put three new tracks on its Myspace site. The group will probably road test its new material at 9 p.m. at the Rocket Club (401 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 505-2494). $5.
• The Space Heaters (pictured) warm up BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426) with vintage swing at 9 p.m. $5.
• Tennessee Jed beings bluegrass to The Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Swannanoa, 299-7597) at 10 p.m. $3.

Friday:
• Not-to-be-missed quirk: Uke of Spaces Corners County Band plays Downtown Books & News (67 North Lexington Ave, Asheville, 253-8654) with Bob Boob and Body of John the Baptist. 7 p.m.
• RBTS Win, armed with new material, heads to The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612) for an 8 p.m. gig. $5.
• Blues and swing quartet Brother Fatback plays a free show at College Street Pub (4 College St., Asheville, 232-0809). 9:30 p.m.
• Suave foursome The Vertigo Jazz Project is at Emerald Lounge (112 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-4372) with The Mantras. 10 p.m., $5.
• Prog-rockers 26 Ways will perform at Ed Boudreaux’s (48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 296-0100) at 10 p.m. No cover.
• Local indie-rock band Albatross Party rounds out the night with a 10:30 slot at Fred’s Speakeasy (122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920). $3.

Saturday:
• Start the day early: Free Midday Musicals thanks to Asheville Lyric Opera, held at First Congregational United Church of Christ (20 Oak St., Asheville, 252-8729). 12:30 p.m.
• Jen and the Juice kicks off a CD release party at Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain, 669-2491). 5 p.m., $5.
• Virginia-based Freedom Hawk plays rock, appropriately, at The Rocket Club (401 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 505-2494). Asheville’s The Poles, The Steves and Bugs Multiply also perform. 9 p.m., $5.
• Now You See Them can be seen at Mo Daddy’s (77-B Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550). 9 p.m., $5.
• Americana act Jolt Wagon plays a free 10 p.m. show at Ed Boudreaux’s (48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 296-0100).

Sunday:
• Good music, good food and you can still get home early on a school night:  Experimental world music collective Ba Man Bia performs for free at Rosetta’s (111 Broadway St., Asheville, 232-0738). 8 p.m.

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall
View all posts by Alli Marshall →

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One thought on “This week on a shoestring”

  1. James Fisher

    Another cheap show for a great cause:

    Spring Fling at The Garage at Biltmore (505-2663)
    Sat., march 14 8pm – late

    Makia Groove, Selector Cleofus, Stereo Crickets, Blue Dragons, Brother Justin, D-Raf and more!

    Only $5, all proceeds going to a local working family struggling w/ medical bills. Also raffle by Sensibilities Salon.

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