Thursday, April 8
Nashville-based Jill King, touring in support of her new album, Rain on Fire (take that, James Taylor) brings her personal mesh of blues, pop, r&b, country, jazz and rock to Firestorm Café (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). 7 p.m., free.
• Michigan’s The Ragbirds write songs that are satisfyingly quirky and poppy (they also take lots of quirky photos — check their Myspace page — of hula hoopers, food co-ops and Halloween costumes). The band plays Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville , 258-1550) at 8 p.m., $5.
• Local western swing band Maggie & Her Mistakes open for singer/songwriter Matt Butcher at BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). 9 p.m., free.
Friday, April 9
• Greenfest at UNC-Asheville (1 University Heights, 251-6685) includes a number of public events including:
— Transportation panel focusing on the steps the university and the City of Asheville are taking towards sustainable transportation practices, 1:30 p.m.
— Appalachian State University professor Joe Rinehart will present a discussion on wind energy in Western North Carolina. Rinehart will focus on the proposed state ban on wind energy, 2:30 p.m.
— Panel on “Interfaith Responses to Climate Change” with Rabbi Rob Cabelli of the Temple Beth Israel, Casey Berger of North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light and Rebecca Levy of UNC Asheville Hillel, 3:30 p.m.
— Eco-feminism pane with Tracy Rizzo, UNC Asheville professor of history; Melissa Burchard, UNC Asheville associate professor of philosophy; and Grace Campbell, UNC Asheville humanities lecturer, 4:30 p.m.
— Folk music duo Sweet Water Revolver (pictured) performs, 5:30 p.m.
— Environmental author/activist Kirkpatrick Sale speaks on “Bioregionalism: Your Home as Your Country,” 7:30 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union, Alumni Hall.
Events are on the UNCA Quad unless otherwise indicated. Rain location is Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.
• Singer/songwriter Ian Thomas jump-starts the weekend with a set at Highland Brewery (12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville, 299-3370). 5 p.m., tips.
• Is Lizzy Pitch the name that this singer/songwriter was born with? If so: Lucky, right? (Actually, upon reviewing her blog, she notes — after a particularly hairy post about getting robbed in Chicago, “oh yea and i changed my name to lizzy pitch :)” She pays the Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-7597) at 8 p.m., $3.
• Gringo Star gets points for its pun of a name. And for garage-y surf-pop. And for stopping through Asheville on tour. New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445), 10 p.m.
• Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands describes its sound as “maddeningly eclectic.” Pretty, dreamy, languid vocals, circus-y hurdy-gurdy melodies, experimental pop, exotic soundscapes. Nice. Broadways (120 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 285-0400). 10 p.m.
• The fabulously soulful RubySlippers returns with a full-band performance (Chuck Lichtenberger, Ben Bjorlie and Michael Libramento) at Tressa’s (28 Broadway St., Asheville, 254-7072) just in time for singer/songwriter Molly Kummerle’s birthday. 10 p.m.
• Local surf rockers Dick Dale Earnhards joins The Surf Church at the Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 10 p.m., $5.
Saturday, April 10
• Funky-jammy-fluety Peace Jones puts on an acoustic performance at the Downtown Market (45 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 255-8858). 1 p.m., free.
• The Zealots (with a revolving cast of players, including George Terry, Aaron Price and Bill Reynolds) take the stage at Craggie Brewery (197 Hilliard Ave., Asheville,254-0360). 8 p.m., $5.
• Tropical/retro/soul group Floating Action returns from tour to play Warren Wilson College (701 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa, 298-3325). 9 p.m.
• It’s been awhile since Sons of Ralph played Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave.,
Asheville, 252-5445). That dry spell is over at 9:30 p.m. $5.
• Americana/experiemntal singer/songwriter Jonathan Ammons has been too long absent from the local music scene. He remedies that at 9 p.m., debuting a new band (the Electric Ghost) and new album at BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). $5.
• Matt Kurz One — that’s garage rock from Athens — will pretty much blow your hair back. Seriously. Test my theory at The Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-7597). 9:30 p.m., free.
• Indie-pop trio Shod My Feet returns to Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 281-3096), 9:30 p.m.
• See everything listed above (okay, maybe not everything) and then head over to Broadways for the excellent retro/indie/heavy/dramatic/super-stylish rock of Albatross Party (pictured) with Magnetic Flowers from Columbia, S.C. 10:30 p.m.-ish. $5.
Sunday, April 11
• These days, when the divorce rates are reaching at least 50-percent, it’s nice to see a husband and wife spending quality time together. Like Junichi & Megumi Matsuzaki of Hiroshima, Japan. He sings and plays saxophone and self-made instruments; she plays sitar through sound effects. Together they are Joyful Sonic Wash. They’ll performs at BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426) at 8 p.m. sharp. $5.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
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