This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, Aug. 19
• Read about Montford Park Players’ performance of Troilus & Cressida here; join a Shakespeare Discussion Group at the Black Mountain Library (105 Dougherty St., 250-4756) at 7 p.m., and then attend the performance (with the discussion group) by the Montford Park Players on Sunday, Aug. 22. The group will meet at the Black Mountain Library at 6:30 p.m. to carpool to the play. (The play, by the way, also takes place Friday and Saturday evenings and is free.)

• Singer/sonwgriter Miriam Allen writes, “I’m back after a year long stint in Charleston, SC (shrimping, eating shrimp, writing songs about shrimp – I know, it’s sexy.) I’m back in Asheville and Miriam & the Pasionistas will be playing the Town Pump (135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808).” 8:30 p.m.

• “Glam-tastic troubadours Triple Cobra will be showcasing new, more ‘rock infused’ material, on yet another U.S. Tour to roud out summer 2010,” reads a press release. The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612), 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 20

• Echo Gallery at Biltmore Park (Long Shoals Rd., 687-7761) holds an opening reception for its latest show, Clay featuring the work of new member artists Lori Theriault, Anna Koloseike and Dawn Dalto, and guest artists Joey Sheehan, Heather Tinnaro, Jennifer Goff, Holly deSaillan, Adele Macy, Heather Allen-Swarttouw, Angelique Tassistro, Becca Floyd, Cynthia Lee and Timothy Maddox. (All those names required a heck of a lot of typing — no cut and paste here! — so put the effort of good use and check out the exhibit. Reception from 5-8 p.m.

• Teen bluegrass/gospel quartet Rye Holler Boys debuts at Sylva’s Concerts on the Creek series (Bridge Park Pavilion, Sylva, 962-1911). About the band: “The Rye Holler Boys range in age from 16 to 18. They perform traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel, blending the sounds of Nashville with the sounds of Western North Carolina.” 7 p.m., free.

• Yes, we have a feature on this show in this week’s paper, but it’s four bands — two from France, two from Asheville — for a mere $5 (in advance). That’s French pop acts General Bye Bye and Hold Your Horses! with Asheville indie-pop groups Saint Solitude (pictured) and Wages. Club 828 (64 N. Carter St., Asheville, 252-2001), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 21

• The Cisco Playboys perform Western swing, rockabilly, Honky tonk and Cajun (and, heck, probably “Free Bird” if you ask nicely) at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9:30 p.m., $5.

• Rockers The Whappers (who, according to their bio, “will not apologize, compromise, or relent”) play Fred’s Parkside Pub (122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920). 9 p.m.

• Asheville’s The Funk Messengers don’t require much description. Sax, bass, drums and guitar; the play funk (natch) as well as r&b, jazz, Latin and hip-hop, all rolled into one Saturday-ready package. They’ll be at Tressa’s (28 Broadway St., Asheville, 254-7072) at 9 p.m.

• World music collective Nataraj (heavy on the drums) turns the back room at the LAB (39 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-0212) into a dancey, meditative, otherworldly experience. Sliding scale starts at $5. 9:30 – p.m.