This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, July 29
• Canadian rockers Ordain is, according to press, “Originally from Melbourne, Australia, where they placed three top-five songs in the JJJ Unearthed competition, Ordain relocated to North America in 2008. Prior to their relocation, Ordain played before 25,000 in the New Zealand Parachute Rock Festival. The band is now “under watch” by two major labels, and we have recently secured a promotion deal with Big Noise, which company was directly involved in the launch of Christina Aguilera’s career and currently works with American Idol alums Katharine McPhee and LaKisha Jones.” So, see ‘em while you can: They stop by the Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 8 p.m.

Friday, July 30
• Since their sort-of debut at the LAB a couple months back, some of us have been waiting for the Wages EP. That time has come: The trio drops EP2 at Black Robin Hero Studio in the Lyman Street Riverview Station (191 Lyman St., Asheville). 9 p.m. Donation.

• Live/electronica band The Hundred Hands say, “You should come on down and take a closer look at The Hundred Hands and feel the electric sounds of our music: A Live Psychedelic Performance” takes place at Emerald Lounge (112 N. Lexington Ave., 232-4372) with special guests A Ghost Like Me. 10 p.m., $5. Here’s a video preview:

• “Minrose Gwin, a professor of contemporary fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, reads from, discusses, and signs copies of her novel, The Queen of Palmyra, an atmospheric debut about growing up in the changing South in 1960s Mississippi,” writes Malaprop’s (55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734), where Gwin will appear at 7 p.m. Also, notes author Lee Smith calls The Queen of Palmyra “the most powerful and also the most lyrical novel about race, racism, and denial in the American South since To Kill a Mockingbird.” Free.

• Studio 103 Fine Art Gallery (103 West St., Black Mountain, 357-8327) presents work Black Mountain based photographer, Rebecca D’Angelo. An artist reception takes place from 5-8 p.m. with wine, cheese and music by Jenne Sluder. The exhibit runs through August 25. 

• Asheville based teacher/skater/mixed-media artist Peter Parpan holds a show with collaborator/illustartor Justin Offner at Push Gallery (25 Patton Ave., Asheville). 7-10 p.m. Writes Parpan, “This show includes more than 30 paintings, installation elements and several dozen framed drawings and collages created in the past 9 months. Music provided by In Plain Sight, Asheville’s hottest DJ/Producer trio.” DJ collective In Plain Sight also performs at the opening.

Saturday, July 31
• Regional author Lawrence Thackston reads from and signs The Devil’s Courthouse, “a Southern mystery-thriller that takes place in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina during a tumultuous period in the early 1970s.” Check out a review here, or meet the author in person at Malaprop’s (55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734). 7 p.m., free.

• Big Daddy Love is one big-hearted bluegrass/folk rock fusion band. You can read about them here or you can just check them out for yourself. At the LAB (39 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-0212). 9:30 p.m., $5.

• Atlanta’s Flying Oatsmen like loud things: Loud tie-dye, loud pants, loud jam rock. You’ll get all of the above at Tall Gary’s College Street Pub (4 College St., Asheville, 232-0809). 9 p.m.

• Shak Nasti, from Orlando, claims, “provides an escape from your every day, run of the mill band with pop-infused melodies that co-exist with experimental interludes of pure funk delight. In the world of Shak, infectious grooves and pulsating rhythmic flow dare you to remain seated.” Take that dare at the Pisgah Brewery (150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain, 669-0190). 9 p.m., free.