This weekend isn’t just any weekend. It’s a holiday weekend. A three-day weekend. A weekend that promises cookouts and fireworks. In that spirit, Weekend on a Shoestring kicks off with a Thursday rundown of $5-or-cheaper shows (because lots of you will be off work on Friday — or at least not working all that hard).
Thursday, July 2
• Local acoustic performer Galen Kipar starts the long weekend right with a free show in downtown Asheville’s Pritchard Park as part of the Pritchard Park Cultural Music Series. 5 p.m.
• Musician-of-most-genres Aaron LaFalce (rock, blues, r&b, singer-songwriter, even Christian pop) puts in an appearance at Vincenzo’s Piano Bar (10 Market St., Asheville, 254-4698). 7:30 p.m., no cover.
• Post-punk outfit Noise In Print shares the bill with Silver Tear Conspiracy and Grammer School at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 8 p.m., $5.
• Indie-rockers Vertigo from Nashville stop by BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville,254-3426) for an acoustic set. 8 p.m., $5.
• Get into the staycation swing with surf-folky Steve Smith, who brings his slow-core Daytona Beach sound to The Bier Garden (46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002). 8 p.m., free.
Friday, July 3
• Americana group Tennessee Hollow launches Friday evening with a free happy-hour set at French Broad Brewery (101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 277-0222).
• John Cook‘s atmospheric folk provides the perfect background to a wine tasting at recently-opened Divine Wine (1011 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 505-1814). 6 p.m., no cover.
• Jason Ross Martin plays live pop-electronica at Picnics (371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-2858). 6 p.m., free.
• Catch country-soul singer/songwriter Joshua Singleton at The White Horse (105C Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, 669-0816) with Levi Douglas. 8 p.m., $5.
• Rockers Campaign 1984 play a free show with special guest James O’Neil at Ruby’s BBQ Shack (8 Beverly Rd., Asheville, 299-8183). 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
Here’s the lowdown on free day-time music for the fourth of July (for more info and events, check out Xpress’ Clubland and Calendar, and the July 4 roundup in this week’s A&E features):
• Tennessee Jed, Matt Williams, Skinny Legs and All (pictured) and Jen & the Juice play MPAC’s 4th of July Block Party (890 Clark’s Chapel Road, Weaverville) starting at 10 a.m.
• Indie-poppers Saint Solitude play the Lexington Bazaar (Lexington Ave. courtyard behind Bouchon, Asheville) between noon and 3 p.m.
• Cary Fridley & Down South, The Honeycutters and others play The West Asheville Freedom Fest (401 Haywood Rd., West Asheville) starting at 2 p.m.
• The Smoky Joe Show and Appalachian Fire will be at the Jackson Park Fourth of July Festival in Hendersonville at 4:30 p.m.
• Peace Jones plays Ja Vin’s 5th Annual Freedom Fest (115 Black Mountain Ave., Black Mountain) at 8 p.m.
And some not-quite-free options:
• Funk-soul band The Secret B-Sides perform “on The Mothership” (594 Emma Rd, Asheville) with members of Crystal Kind, Charles Stewart, Chach, and Nigel One. “Bring your own beer, foods for the grill. All ages. Last set ends at 10 p.m.” Show starts at 6 p.m., $5.
• Take in the indie-folk of Now You See Them with The Armadillos at The Town Pump (135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808). 8:30 p.m., $5.
• Sons of Ralph bring bluegrass to Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445). 9 p.m., $5.
• The Reverend Horace Lomax and The Smoky Mountain Escort Service take the stage at The Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9 p.m., $5.
• Americana artist Michael Burgin will be at Fred’s Speakeasy (122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920). 9 p.m., $3.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
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