Live music abounds in Salisbury this weekend

Trees Leave returns to the Blue Vine on Friday.

Dylan Gilbert

Jacqueline Lee

Linus van Pelt

Shayne O'Neill of Future Kings of Nowhere.

Donna Hughes

Divided By Four

You don't need to go far to hear live music this weekend. Downtown Salisbury will be offering plenty of choices.

Trees Leave will be returning this Friday to The Blue Vine, 209 S. Main St.

This Nashville alternative-folk-rock duo consisting of Cobi Ferguson (guitar, djembe, mandolin, vocals) and Wyatt Espalin (fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, harmonica, lead vocals) have been playing music together for close to a decade, marrying their bluegrass roots with their love of rock, blues and traditional country music.

Showtime is 9 p.m.-midnight, and there is no cover.

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"Dylan Gilbert: a Trip to the Zoo Summer Tour 2009" makes a stop in Salisbury this Friday with a show starting 7:30 p.m. at the Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St.

After playing more than 250 shows over the past few years and independently releasing two full-length albums, an EP and several digital albums, Gilbert has hit the road again with his unique brand of live show fueled by high energy, samples and noise makers.

"If degrees were based on talent, Gilbert just might have that doctorate"said Jeff Hahne of Charlotte's Creative Loafing Magazine. You can judge for yourself this Friday.

The experimental indie folkster from Charlotte will be joined by sometime-Salisburian Jacqueline Lee, a 20-year-old who writes songs about mischievous children, T.S. Eliot poems and throwing boyfriends in garbage dumps.Also performing: four-piece folk rock/alt country group Linus vanPelt (hailing from and strongly influenced by the mountains of North Carolina) and as an added bonus, Future King of Nowhere's Shayne O'Neill will be on hand with his sharp eye for mundane details and wry wit.

Admission is $4 (that's a buck per act), or bring two friends for the "three for $10" deal. It's a no smoking venue, and this is a no alcohol show. All ages are welcome. Concessions will be available.

On view will be LGAC's "Americana" art exhibit. The Looking Glass shop will also be open with art and handmade crafts by local artists.

For more information about the show, call 704-633-ARTS, or visit www.salisburyartists.org.

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A Blue Vine favorite, Donna Hughes, will be back in town Saturday, performing from 9-11:30 p.m. The songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist has composed over 250 songs, recording over half of them. Her songs have also been recorded by Alison Krauss and Union Station (My Poor Old Heart) the Seldom Scene (Sad Old Train) and more artists.

Twelve of her originals, along with two unique covers (including Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"), comprise "Gaining Wisdom," Hughes' first nationally-released album. It was produced by the legendary Tony Rice, and features contributions from an elite group of supporting musicians and harmony vocalists such as Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rhonda Vincent, Carl Jackson and Alecia Nugent.

There will be no cover charge Saturday. For information call 704-797-0093.

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Rowan Blues and Jazz Society is sponsoring an Old School Music and Dancing Night Saturday, beginning 8:30 p.m. at Looking Glass Artist Collective. The band Divided By Four will be playing in the black box. Shag dancers are welcome.

This is a fundraiser to support the jazz festival to be held in Salisbury this October. Admission is by $7 donation. Concessions will be available. For more information call 704-636-2811 or go to www.rowanbluesandjazz.org.