This weekend is somewhat of a free festival sandwich. You’ve got Apple Fest beginning Friday, LAAFF rounding out Sunday and in between… bluegrass, punk rock, a house party, a couple CD releases and some excellent singer/songwriters playing for tips.
Friday, Sept. 4
• The 63rd annual North Carolina Apple Festival takes place on Main St. in Hendersonville. It runs 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday. Musical headliners include Buddy K Big Band, The Extraordinaires and Too Much Sylva. Check the online schedule for the full entertainment run down. Most events—kids activities, a car show, parades, arts and crafts show, etc. are free; there’s also a pancake breakfast, an 8K race, orchard tours and more. 697-4557 or apple@ncapplefestival.org for info.
• Bluegrass band Branded Heart (below) plays The Fiddlin Pig (28 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 251-1979). 6:30 p.m.
• Psychedelic rockers The Steep Winding Road put in an appearance at The Garage (101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 505-2663). 8 p.m., $5.
• Indie-fusion act Wayfarers All (below) holds a CD release party at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612). 9 p.m., $5.
• Just home from a European tour, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues serves up authentic blues at Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445). 9:30 p.m., $5.
Saturday, Sept. 5
• House Party: Listener (from Siloam Springs, Arkansas—pictured below in a photo by Jonny Hoffner) Fienix and Spoken Nerd (from Nashville)play at 85 Congress Street, Asheville. 8 p.m., $5.
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• The fabulous Lyric (pictured below; her originals sound like an upbeat Tracy Chapman, a poppy Ruthie Foster and younger India.Arie) plays for donations at Firestorm (48 Commerce St., Asheville, 255-8115). Harmonizing duo Sweet Water Revolver will also be there. 8 p.m.
• Greenville-based Celt-fusion quintet Bote stops by The Town Pump (135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808). 8:30 p.m., $4.
• Restrict This, a punk band from Hendersonville, plays Mike’s Side Pocket (375 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 281-3096). The Loose Screws from Marietta, Ga. also play. 8:30 p.m., $3.
• If that’s not loud enough for ya, thrash group Severed Martyr will be at Bosco’s (2310 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, 684-1024). Resounding Silence shares the bill. 8:45 p.m., $5.
• Americana singer/songwriter Dave Desmelik celebrates the release of his new CD at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-9782). 9 p.m., $5.
Sunday, Sept. 6
• It’s all-day fun. For free. Check out LAAFF: Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Lexington Ave. in downtown Asheville between the I-240 overpass as College St. Find the full schedule here (Baraka Mundi – the Bandit Queens of Bellydance, pictured, perform at the Walnut Stage at 7:45 p.m.); read more in this week’s Xpress.
— Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
