Friday, May 14
• The Asheville Area Arts Council exhibits Real In The Unknown: New Paintings by Ben Betsalel through May 29. Opening reception is Friday, May 14, from 5-8 p.m. Free.
• Bluegrass meets reggae in aptly named The Casserole, making the drive from Wilmington to Highland Brewery (12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville, 299-3370) for a free 6 p.m. show.
• Local Americana musician Richard Barrett and his band Little Friday perform at Luella’s. 8 p.m., free.
• Jeff Santiago of Broomstars fame, breaking out on his own of late, plays an 8 p.m. solo show at Craggie Brewing (197 Hilliard Ave., Asheville, 254-0360).
• Brooklyn-based jazz/folk-rocker Pamela Means (called, by Curve magazine, “One of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry today”) makes a stop at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). 8 p.m.
• Crazy/brilliant local experimental rockers The South French Broads plays “a three-set show, yo!” at Town Pump (135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808). 8 p.m.
• Atlanta-based electro-rock quartet today the moon, tomorrow the sun takes the stage at New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445). 9 p.m.
• Tik Tok, from Providence, Rhode Island, performs vintage swing with a fairly genuine Louis Armstrong kind of sound. Lots of horns and juke joint piano. Check them out at LaRue’s Backdoor (237 Haywood St., Asheville, 252-1014). 9 p.m.
• Pro-rocker Mick Glasgow and his band The Rose Familiar put in an appearance at Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd. Asheville, 281-3096). 9 p.m.
• “We were gonna call ourselves ‘Thunderclap’” admits Knoxville’s Kelsey’s Woods. But would they still have played achingly pretty, fiddle-driven Americana? The group stops by The Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-7597). 9 p.m.
• Now You See Them with Wilmington Americana band The Fustics (read about them in this week’s Smart Bets) perform at Mo Daddy’s (77 Bltmore Ave., Asheville, 258-1550). 9:30 p.m., $5.
• In Plain Sight dance party returns for its monthly residency at BoBo Gallery (22 North Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426. 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 15
• Fanaticon, “A celebration of comic book culture and its fans” is held all day (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) at Pack Place (2 South Pack Sq., Asheville, 253-3227). Free. How I Became The Bomb (pictured) plays at 1 p.m. and The Falcon Lords play at 3 p.m., both on the Museum Courtyard Stage.
• Bountiful Cities’ 8th Annual Birdhouse Auction, held from 4-7:30 p.m. at Christopher’s Garden (307 Waynesville Ave., behind the Rocket Club in West Asheville). Says a press release, “As always, it will feature handcrafted birdhouses, bat houses and other garden art created by local artists and craftspeople. The hour-long pre-auction viewing begins at 4p.m. with delicious appetizers and finger-foods provided by Slow Foods Asheville. At 5 p.m., the real action gets going when Jen Lauzon of LaZoom tours takes the mic to emcee our real live auction. So, don’t forget to sign up for your paddle, and be part of the fun!” Info: 257-4000.
• Rootsy Brooke Clover Band makes an appearance at Good Stuff Grocery (133 South Main St., Marshall, 649-9711). 8 p.m., free.
• Inspired by “Tim O’brien, The Books, Doris Day, Cole Porter, Gill & Dave, Dean Martin, Norman Blake, The Beatles,” Carborro-based duo Mandolin Orange bring indie/folk to Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). 8 p.m.
• If you think you know what kind of music to expect at an Irish Pub, you probably wouldn’t name bluegrass band Julia Ann & Laurel Ridge. But this is Asheville, people, so if you want to throw back your Guinness with a generous helping of twang, head to Hannah Flanagan’s (27 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-1922). 9 p.m.
• Local punk band King-Sized Killers (pictured) shares a bill with JoJo Taterhead Revival and The Hooliganz at Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd. Asheville, 281-3096). 9 p.m., $3.
• Sonic Boom Dance Party takes place at The Garage at Biltnore (101 Fairview Rd., Asheville) with DJs Koji (full on/goa psytrance, Karma (dark psytrance), TKitty (hardstyle/hard trance), Billie Blaze & J-Star (hard techno/schranz), ND-skyz (drum n bass) and Aeros (hard dance/psytrance) as well as T.O.U.C.H. Samadhi & Asheville Full Moon Collective, lighting by 333 Events and VJs Theoretical and MS House Kat. 10 p.m.-to 6 a.m. (Yes, you read that correctly. This is an all-nighter, kids!) Arrive early: Cover is only $5 before 11 p.m.
• Black Mountain may be a long way from the Mississippi Delta, but Cajun/zydeco/Louisiana style dance band Bayou Diesel doesn’t seem to think that’s a problem. Practice your two-step at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 10 p.m., $5.
• Greenville rock guitarist Taylor Moore takes the stage at Tressa’s (28 Broadway St., Asheville, 254-7072) with The Bordeaux Brothers. 10 p.m.
• Their name sounds potentially Christian rock-y but The Brand New Life is actually kind of Afrobeat, kind of psychedelic, kind of jazz-improv and kind of free form. Plus, they wear some of the most colorful outfits this side of tie-dye day at a summer camp arts and crafts building. They play The New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445) with local funk/fusion group Melodious Earth. 10 p.m.
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