Hayley Benton

hbenton@citizen-times.com

1. French Broad River Festival in Hot Springs. Every year during the first weekend of May, the small mountain town of Hot Springs comes alive with music. Three days of music, rafting and outdoor experiences await festival-goers at the 19th annual French Broad River Festival, happening April 29 through May 1. The festival benefits American Whitewater, The Mountain Area Child & Family Center and Hot Springs Community Learning Center — and is held at the Hot Springs Campground and Spa, 35 minutes from Asheville. The lineup includes (but isn't limited to) Sol Driven Train, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Bobby Miller & The Virginia Daredevils and Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds — and morning campground yoga sessions with Shelby Means. Get the details (and your tickets) at frenchbroadriverfestival.com.

2. Pick up some second-hand goods at The Odditorium's community yard sale. It's that time of year again. Get ready for spring cleaning. Clear out your closet and dust off those old winter boots: West Asheville's Odditorium is hosting its annual community yard sale on April 30. "Let's get together once again and sell our crap!" reads The Odd's Facebook event page. You heard 'em. Bring your extra knick-knacks to 1045 Haywood Road, beginning at 9 a.m. "Come, set up, have a drink, make some money, get some sun, go home happy!" the page continues. No sign up is required, but tables are first-come-first-serve.

3. Stephaniesid at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Dubbing themselves ‘pop-noir,’ Asheville band Stephaniesid has played hundreds of shows to variously sized crowds — once to nobody in South Carolina, once at Bonnaroo, once in Dublin, sometimes on huge stages and once at a funeral. But now the members of Stephaniesid are parting ways — making this May 1 appearance at Diana Wortham the band's farewell show. Proceeds from the concert benefit the Youth Education Scholarship Fund, and the night will feature the two scholarship winners from this year. Tickets are $35, $30 for students and $20 for children — and the show starts at 7 p.m., so don't be late! Check out dwtheatre.com for tickets and additional information.

4. Tiger Mountain Tangerine. Tangerine, Tangerine. Straight out of Seattle, the sister-led garage-pop trio will stop by downtown's Tiger Mountain on May 2. Having just released a new album, "Sugar Teeth," Tangerine's energetic and playful sound has been called "infectious ear candy" by The Seattle Times. While we agree with that sentiment here in Asheville, we don't think we'll be tasting any ear-infected confections any time soon — regardless of Tangerine flavoring. In all seriousness, though, the upbeat, '80s-inspired beats will likely have the crowd jumping with excitement. Be there at 10 p.m. with $5 in hand.

5. Woods plays The Mothlight. Stopping by West Asheville on May 4, Brooklyn-based Woods is sure to please the crowd. With sunny vocals and lingering, ethereal riffs (a la "Crimson and Clover"), some of Woods' tunes are reminiscent of 1960s psychedelic pop — others use brass for an almost reggae feel — and still others stay true to the dreamy pop/folk/rock sound of the band's roots. Opening up the May 4 show is the U.K. duo of indie poppers, Ultimate Painting, which lists its biggest influence as The Velvet Underground. The show starts at 9:30 p.m., with tickets at the door for $14. Save some money by buying them in advance at themothlight.com.