Lost In The Trees This is not quite the type of haunting experience you probably imagined encountering at the Milestone. This 12-piece orchestral ensemble from Chapel Hill, lead by mastermind and tortured soul Ari Picker, creates beautiful, soul-bearing music combining folk with unconventional classical that will make your toes curl. Picker could sing about a rock, but with stunning composition and sweeter-than-buttercream vocals, your head would still be spinning in amazement. With Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, LA Tool & Die and Lady Blanche. Milestone (Sam Webster)

Jim Weider's Project Percolator Actually, he spells it "ProJECT PERCoLAToR," which I'm sure has some meaning, but I've neither the time nor the energy to parse it. No, Jim Weider's not the weightlifting supplement guy, but rather a seasoned tickler of the Telecaster guitar. His new project (excuse me, ProJECT) features fellow roadhawgs Rodney Holmes (drums), Mitch Stein (guitar) and Steve Lucas, along with a sampler and loop machine or two. Weider's real claim to fame is having played with The Band, albeit a "The Band" which was a little past its expiration date and perhaps more correctly described as "A Band." Regardless, Weider's more than just another guitar player. Double Door Inn (Timothy C. Davis)