If you dig ragtime and early jazz and string bands and so forth, don't miss Pokey LaFarge at White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $8. LaFarge has a new LP coming out this summer on Jack White's Third Man Records, so keep an eye out for that.
The Weekend Theater's production of "The Paris Letter" opens this weekend. It's the story of Wall Street powerhouse Sandy Sonenberg, who finds his personal and professional life threatened by the unraveling secrets of his past. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through May 18, $12-$16.
"Dinner on the Grounds" is a fundraising dinner to benefit Our House, with live music from Lagniappe, Terry House, 6:30 p.m., $150.
The rockabilly trio Eskimo Brothers comes to Maxine's, 8 p.m., $5 adv., $7 door.
Country hit-maker Mark Chesnutt plays an all-ages concert at Juanita's, with Jason Campbell & Singletree and Brandi Shae opening, 10 p.m., $22 adv., $25 day of.
The Joint will satisfy your need for live rock 'n' roll, with Dangerous Idiots and Go Fast, 9 p.m., $5.
Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers bring their neo-soul/jazz/hip-hop hybrid back to The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $10.
Folky faves Don't Stop Please (now based in Fayetteville) perform with Flipoff Pirates at an 18-and-older show at Stickyz, 9 p.m., $5.