This weekend is somewhat of a free festival sandwich. You’ve got Apple Fest beginning Friday, LAAFF rounding out Sunday and in between… bluegrass, punk rock, a house party, a couple CD releases and some excellent singer/songwriters playing for tips.
Friday, Sept. 4
• The 63rd annual North Carolina Apple Festival takes place on Main St. in Hendersonville. It runs 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday. Musical headliners include Buddy K Big Band, The Extraordinaires and Too Much Sylva. Check the online schedule for the full entertainment run down. Most events—kids activities, a car show, parades, arts and crafts show, etc. are free; there’s also a pancake breakfast, an 8K race, orchard tours and more. 697-4557 or apple@ncapplefestival.org for info.
• Bluegrass band Branded Heart (below) plays The Fiddlin Pig (28 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 251-1979). 6:30 p.m.
• Psychedelic rockers The Steep Winding Road put in an appearance at The Garage (101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 505-2663). 8 p.m., $5.
• Indie-fusion act Wayfarers All (below) holds a CD release party at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 9 p.m., $5.
• Just home from a European tour, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues serves up authentic blues at Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445). 9:30 p.m., $5.
Saturday, Sept. 5
• House Party: Listener (from Siloam Springs, Arkansas—pictured below in a photo by Jonny Hoffner) Fienix and Spoken Nerd (from Nashville)play at 85 Congress Street, Asheville. 8 p.m., $5.
_thumb.jpg)
• The fabulous Lyric (pictured below; her originals sound like an upbeat Tracy Chapman, a poppy Ruthie Foster and younger India.Arie) plays for donations at Firestorm (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). Harmonizing duo Sweet Water Revolver will also be there. 8 p.m.
• Greenville-based Celt-fusion quintet Bote stops by The Town Pump (135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808). 8:30 p.m., $4.
• Restrict This, a punk band from Hendersonville, plays Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 281-3096). The Loose Screws from Marietta, Ga. also play. 8:30 p.m., $3.
• If that’s not loud enough for ya, thrash group Severed Martyr will be at Bosco’s (2310 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, 684-1024). Resounding Silence shares the bill. 8:45 p.m., $5.
• Americana singer/songwriter Dave Desmelik celebrates the release of his new CD at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9 p.m., $5.
Sunday, Sept. 6
• It’s all-day fun. For free. Check out LAAFF: Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Lexington Ave. in downtown Asheville between the I-240 overpass as College St. Find the full schedule here (Baraka Mundi – the Bandit Queens of Bellydance, pictured, perform at the Walnut Stage at 7:45 p.m.); read more in this week’s Xpress.
— Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.