Friday, Dec. 11
• Start the weekend early with rockers Fifth House (below), playing a happy hour show at Highland Brewery (12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville, 299-3370).
• The Space Heaters play vintage swing at The Lobster Trap (35 Patton Ave., Asheville, 350-0505). 7 p.m.
• Head to the Feed and Seed (3715 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher, 216-3492) for Back Country Bluegrass. 7:30 p.m.
• Excellent r&b/Motown band Westsound (below) breaks in the under-new-ownership Tallgary’s Pub (formerly College Street Pub, 4 College Street, Asheville, 772-1489). 8 p.m.
• Jenny Greer hosts the Brown Bag Songwriting Competition finals at Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550). $500 prize for winner. 8 p.m., free to watch.
• Check out Floating Action (pictured; bassist/vocalist Michael Libramento’s back from touring!) at Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain, 669-0190). 8 p.m.
• Americana/bluegrass group Brittany Reilly & Almost Acoustic (below) stops by Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445). 9 p.m., $5.
• The Hundred Hands performs with Blitch and Opus Grey at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 9 p.m., $5
• Singer/songwriter Michael Reno Harrell (pictured) plays the Back Room (2701 C Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 697-6828). 9 p.m.
• Indie rockers Grammer School will be at Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd, West Asheville, 281-3096). 10 p.m., free.
• Jam band Midnight Son used to be called Doobe & the Other Brothers (read about ‘em here). Head to New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445) around 10 p.m. to hear this band.
Saturday, Dec. 12
• Annual clearance sale: Local designer R. Brooke Priddy of Ship to Shore (426 Haywood St., West Asheville, 242-1378) holds her yearly sale. Everything on the racks is up to 70-percent off. Get there early. Noon-8 p.m. (in conjunction with the Shop West Asheville all-day event).
• Shop for lovely things: Two local artists (work below) — Alena Hennessy (prints, artwork) and Briana Benkoczy (Shine jewelry) — hold a trunk show at Studio Chavarria (84 Walnut St., Asheville, 236-9191). 3-9 p.m.
• Asheville on Bikes’ The Bright Light Biker is a community bike ride through downtown Asheville designed to highlight all aspects of the cycling community. According to press for the event, “The recent ruling in the Diez case has created outrage throughout the cycling community on a national and local level. Cyclists are teeming with frustration over the lax sentencing of a man who was found guilty of shooting a cyclist. In the face of this set back, it’s important to remember that Asheville has made significant steps toward establishing a bicycle friendly city.” Gather at Pack Square Park in City County Plaza at 3:30 p.m., Pedal w/ pride throughout our downtown streets at 4 p.m., culminate the celebration at Asheville Brewing Company on Coxe Ave. at 5 p.m.
• Kansas City’s Rev. Jimmie Bratcher (pictured) brings his searing Southern/Christian rock “Man! It’s Christmas” tour to The Rock (173 Monte Vista Rd., Chandler). Catch the spirit. 7 p.m., donations.
• Singer/songwriter PJ Brunson will be at Well-Bred Bakery (26 North Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300). 7 p.m., free.
• Parlour Players Presents DJ J.R.R. Foolkiller: embrace your inner elf. Shop for deals, sip free local brews. Parlour (9 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 253-4044). 7:30-10:30 p.m., free.
• Garage rock trio The Loud Crowd (pictured) joins Traxx and Oculi at Rock for Tots, a Toys for Tots benefit at Deep Six Cycles (12 London Rd., Asheville, info here). Bring a packaged gift for ages 3-13. 8 p.m., $3.
• Paul Masson (below) is a country folk singer songwriter from Baltimore, Md. According to Masson, “Songwriting is carpentry.” According to Masson’s publicist, the musician’s self titled EP “is being well received nationally, garnering him comparisons to Ray Lamontange for his voice and Hank Williams Sr. for his songwriting.” He’ll be at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115) 8 p.m., donations.
• Have a seasonal sweater and no place to wear it? This has been the year of ugly sweater parties. Rock yours at Kipper’s RADiculously Awesome Ugly Christmas Sweater & Booty Bumping Bonanza at BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). DJs include Dr. Awesome and Kipper with visual by Megan. Wear an ugly sweater, get in free, otherwise pay $3.
• Hip-hop artists Foul Mouth Jerk (pictured, of GFE) and DJ Football perform at TopR Holiday’s art show at Ox & Rabbit (12 South Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-8886). 9 p.m.
• Self-described “Super fun acoustic indie/folk” trio (and sometimes more) Now You See Them performs at Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445). 9 p.m., $5.
• Folk rock/Americana outfit The Corduroy Road parks at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9:30 p.m., $5.
• Warm up on a cold night with Austin, Texas-based rock/funk/Flamanco band Achachay, who perform for free at the Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-7597). 10 p.m.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
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