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Weekend of Wonder The Weekend of Wonder is your “golden ticket into the world of pure imagination, perfect for children, families and everyone who loves magic,” according to a press release. The event begins at the Asheville Community Theatre, where the main performances will take place. The magic will then spread out into the streets where “a dream team of master magicians will appear at over a dozen venues in a dazzling showcase of close-up, stage and street magic, one-man shows, lectures, workshops and all-star galas.” The Weekend of Wonder takes place Friday through Sunday, May 2-4. Tickets start at $10 for individual shows with some free offerings. Weekend passes are $150 adults/$100 kids. weekendofwonder. com/asheville. Photo courtesy of Jay Scott Barry
The Gospel of Flying Saucers, Dinosaurs & Love Although it’s tricky to describe the central philosophy of local R&B outfit The Secret B-Sides (flowers, spaceships, prehistoric creatures and the intersection thereof), once you’ve danced to one of the band’s sultry, funky, mood-enhancing jams, it begins to make sense. Happily, the Secret B-Sides singer-songwriter Juan Holladay has teamed up with illustrator Bobby Morgan on The Gospel of Flying Saucers, Dinosaurs & Love a self-described “post-modern gnostic gospel in comic book form” in which “both scientific and religious dogmas are joyfully discarded in favor of free association and absurd fun.” The first installment is presented at Highland Brewing Co. on Friday, May 2. Mountainwalker opens at 5 p.m., the Secret B-Sides perform from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. highlandbrewing. com. Photo courtesy of the band
Brian McGee “By the time every 30-something punk dude and their mom had picked up an acoustic guitar and started singing ‘This Land is Your Land,’ Brian had found his way back up to the East Coast, this time to Asbury Park, N.J.,” says the bio of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and former Ashevillean Brian McGee. The Philadelphia native moved north a couple of years ago, reuniting with Plow United, the pop-punk band of his misspent youth. With that group he recorded 2013’s Marching Band, then went on to make his third solo album, Ruin Creek. It “combines punk brevity with rain-streaked folk minimalism.” Find out exactly what that sounds like when McGee returns to Asheville on Saturday, May 3. He plays The Odditorium with May Early and Chris Head. 9 p.m., $5. ashevilleodditorium. com. Photo by Greg Pallante
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The Accomplices When The Accomplices come to WNC, the Lowcountry string band makes it worth its while. You have three chances to catch the four-piece from Savannah, Ga., this week. According to a press release, the band is “not quite country, not quite bluegrass, not quite jam band but a remarkable amalgam of all of the above and more. The Accomplices create a timeless, energetic sound full of audio texture, gorgeous harmonies and thoughtful songwriting.” The band will play at The Trailhead on Sunday, May 4, 6:30 p.m, free. A Good Stuff Grocery show takes place on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m., and $5 includes a copy of the band’s new record. Then they’ll stop by One Stop on Tuesday, May 6, at 9 p.m., $2. theaccomplicesband.com. Photo by Jon Waits