This weekend on a shoestring

Yes, the whole week kind of funnels toward the 4th of July, with its sparklers and hot dogs and patriotic brass bands. But there’s also plenty to do before hand. Art openings, a local social and free music top the list.

Thursday, July 1
• “Community matters!” says press for the inaugural Local Social to be held at Malaprop’s (55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734). “Enjoy local music and local treats with your friends, family and neighbors. What better way to kick off Independents Week and celebrate all that Asheville has to offer?” Music from Sugar & Spice (pictured), food by West End Bakery, Short Street Cakes and Take the Cake, drinks by Green Man Brewing, Highland Brewery and Bouchon, decor by: Bloomin’ Art. 6 p.m.

• The Park Rhythms free concert series continues at Black Mountain’s Lake Tomahawk (401 Laurel Circle). MotownBlue (blues/funk) performs. 7-9 p.m. Info: 669-2052.

Friday, July 2
• Black Mountain Center for the Arts (225 W. State St., Black Mountain,669-0930) hosts an opening reception for Chrysalis in Art a 13-woman show. About the collective: “Though scattered from Arkansas to Indiana to Tennessee to North Carolina, the women try to meet at leas three times a year. In addition to collaborating with each other and supporting each other, they have participated in group shows and festivals.” The reception is from 6-8 p.m.; the exhibit remains on display through July.

• Asheville’s Eleven & the Falcons (pictured) just released a very experimental debut album (read about it here) and will play live at Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115) with Amy White (who Eleven & the Falcons describe as a “warbling folk sweetheart”). 7 p.m., free.

• Possum Jenkins, from Boone, recently played a secret show. Which is cool and all, but this Friday the roots rockers will perform a not hush-hush-at-all show at Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain, 669-0190). It;s free, too, so tell everyone. 9 p.m.

• The David Dhoop Band says “We play groove rock,” but this super-tight psychedelic/modern funk outfit does more than that. Smart lyrics and some of Asheville’s best musicians add to the formula. They’ll be at Hannah Flanagan’s (27 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-1922) 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 3
• From American Idol to Tressa’s to Xpress’ Best of WNC party, teen r&b collective Skinny Legs & All seems to be everywhere all the time. Further evidence: They’ll play as part of the Biltmore Park Summer Concert Series (located on Long Shoals Road at exit 37 off I-26). For people who rarely venture out of the downtown Asheville/West Asheville hub,  the recently-popped-up-like-a-mushroom-colony Biltmore Park Town Square is a startling proposition. But the free and family-friendly concerts have been garnering praise. 7-9 p.m.

• Lenoir-based bluegrass quintet The Neighbors describe themselves as “A little bit of bluegrass, a little bit of country, and a little bit of rock and roll with some comedy thrown in.” Nice! They’ll be at Feed & Seed (3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, 216-3492) at 7 p.m.

• Kavod (pictured) is from Charlotte and — if the demo on the bands is anything to go by — creates darkly pretty (thanks especially to Marcy Krenzin’s rich vocals) songs underscored by philosophical musings and driving rhythms. They share a bill with local Southern rocker/metal band Temptations Wings and local heavy metal band Subversion at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 8 p.m.

• Folk-pop trio Now You See Them has been logging some miles what with touring the region. They’ve also been putting in some studio hours. Which means we’ve been seeing less of ‘em. Rectify that situation at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 10 p.m., $5.