This weekend on a shoestring

Posted on by Alli Marshall

This seems to be the weekend for small, homegrown festivals. The sort where you take the kids and a cooler (check on the rules first; some of these festivals don’t allow cervezas) and ease into a lawn chair along Main Street somewhere. People watching, music listening, sandwich eating—it’s cheap entertainment. But if, say, Tryon’s Summer Tracks isn’t quite your scene, there are plenty of less family- and lawn chair-oriented happenings (still under $5).

Friday, Aug. 7
• Brushfire Stankgrass (below) jump-starts the weekend with an early show at The French Broad Brewery (101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 277-0222). 6 p.m., free.

• Fox & Fiddle bed and breakfast in Candler is starting up regular “Acoustic music events & art gatherings — a fun and creative place for sharing community and arts.” Drop by Fridays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and bring instruments for jamming and artwork to share. South Carolina folk singer Anna Douglas will be at the first gathering. Free. 665-9830.

• Asheville’s Mix 96.5 House Band performs as part of the Music on Main Street series (201 S. Main St., Hendersonville, 693-9708). 7-9 p.m., free.

• Atlanta’s Delta Moon plays swampy blues and Brian Ashley Jones (above) performs Americana as part of the Summer Tracks in Tryon series (Rogers Park amphitheater on W. Howard St., Tryon, 894-2324). 7-10 p.m., free. 

• Brother Fatback knows all about rootsy grooves and bluesy swing. Get schooled at Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550). 9:30 p.m., $5.

• The deliciously dark Hellblinki Sextet (below) brings its spooky carnival-esque sound and theatrics to Broadways (107 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 285-0400). Albatross Party shares the stage. 10 p.m., $5.

• Local r&b collective A Social Function has a standing Friday night gig at Magnolia’s (26 E Walnut St., Asheville, 251-5211. 10 p.m., free.

• Party band The Plaids come to Wild Wing (161 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-3066). 10 p.m.

• Trance project The New Cosmic Band (with members of Silver Machine and pretty much every other jam/psychedelic/experimental band in the Asheville area) gets its groove on at College Street Pub (4 College St., Asheville, 232-0809). 10 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8
• Singer/songwriter Ash Devine plays for donations at the North Asheville Tailgate Market (1 University Heights, Asheville, 712-4644), starting at 8 a.m. Says the performer: “Ash Devine and Friends Share the farmers market scene. Bubbles, clowns, fun, farmers and merchants. Building community.”

• Black Mountain’s 32nd annual Sourwood Festival includes arts, crafts, live music, dancing, food, games, rides, honey making, bee demos and children’s activities. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9). Free. Info: 669-2300.

• Local singer/songwriter Angi West (above) performs as part of Concerts on the Creek (Held in the pavilion at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva). 6-9 p.m., free. Info: 800-962-1911.

• Americana act Locomotive Pie creates atmosphere for the dining crowd at Blue Mountain Pizza (55 N. Main St., Weaverville, 658-8777). 7-9 p.m., free.

• Catch an outdoor screening of Murders in the Rue Morgue at Pritchard Park (Patton Ave. and College St., downtown Asheville). 8 p.m., free.

• Christian rockers Radiant 36 and Firebred share the stage at The Encouraging Cup (3099 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher, 329-8210) 8 p.m., $3.

• Turntablists True Believers (the project of Bobby White and Relik) spin for donation at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). 8 p.m.

• Indie rockers/brothers The Enemy Lovers (above) will be at the Black Bear Coffee Company (318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 692-6333). 8 p.m., $5.

• Lebanon, Va.-based alt-rockers Fire on High play The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 9 p.m., $5.

• Alt-country act The Humbuckers (below) make an appearance at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 10 p.m., $5.

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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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3 thoughts on “This weekend on a shoestring”

  1. cdeuce

    Is this (“weekend on a shoestring) a regular feature that I’ve somehow been missing? Great idea, guys. It’s now bookmarked.

  2. Jon Elliston

    Thanks cdeuce: It really is a handy feature. Alli’s been doing it since January, and will keep doing it on a weekly basis. Enjoy!

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