Spring has sprung, which means it's time again for the Spring Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance. More than 40 musical acts -- many of them local, many others from parts hither and yon -- will perform on two big outdoor stages, a large Dance Tent and an inimate Cabaret Tent. In addition to all the great live music, there will be camping, arts and crafts vendors, a sustainability fair, lots of food, storytelling, a poetry slam, instrument and crafts workshops, dance, yoga and on and on. It's a little ways out of town, but not far, at 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road, near Silk Hope in Chatham County. Shuttle buses run from Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham. You can get passes to the whole four-day affair or single-day tickets. All the information you could possibly need is at www.shakorihills.org or 542-8142.

ANIMATION & FINE ART GALLERIES: University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr. Through May 7: Pablo Picasso. May 8-June 9: Keith Haring: The POP Shop! 6-9 p.m. 563-2300. www.animationandfineart.com.

ART & SOUL STUDIOS: 122 Clay St., Mebane. Through April 24: Featured artists are Martha Hamblin, Susan Hope and Sudie Rakusin. 563-2300. www.artandsoulmebane.com/..

JESSE KALISHER GALLERY: 209 East Main St., Carrboro. Through May 7: 'Fluid.' May 8-June 11: 'Carrboro.' Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 967-4300. www.kalisher.com.

Music

ARTSCENTER: 300-G Main St., Carrboro. April 18: John Scofield Piety Street Band ft. Jon Cleary, George Porter Jr., and Ricky Fataar. Part of The ArtsCenter's sixth annual American Roots Series. 8:30 p.m. $39/$37 Friends. 929-2787. artscenterlive.org.

BLUE BAYOU: 106 Churton St., Hillsborough. Shows start at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 16: Dmitri Resnik. 9 p.m. April 17: Smokin' Joe Kubec & Bnois King. April 24: The Nighthawks. 732-2555. bluebayouclub.com.

CAROLINA INN: 211 Pittsboro St. 'Fridays on the Front Porch.' April 24: Big Fat Gap. 5 p.m. Free. The Carolina Inn offers its classic southern buffet and Tiny Vittles menu with full bar service. There is plenty of comfortable seating under the shady oaks and magnolias. 1-800-962-8519. www.carolinainn.com/.

CAT'S CRADLE: 300 East Main St., Carrboro. April 22: World Inferno; Friendship Society. $10 advance, $12 door. April 28: The Kills with The Horrors and Magic Wands. $15. 967-9053. www.catscradle.com.

THE CAVE: 452 1/2 W. Franklin St. Early shows, 7:30 p.m.; late shows, 10 p.m. April 18: Early, Corey & The Giants; late, Straight 8's, Resist Not. April 20: Boom Snake. April 21: Jimmy Brown. April 22: Early, Saint Solitude, The White Cascade, $3; late, Embarrassing Fruits, Polynya, Veelee, $5. . 968-9308. www.caverntavern.com.

GENERAL STORE CAFE: 39 West St., Pittsboro. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 16: Jazz with Tony Galiani. 7 p.m. April 17: Martha Bassett. April 18: Rootzie. 542-2432. www.thegeneralstorecafe.com.

LOCAL 506: 506 W. Franklin St. April 16: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head; A Rooster for the Masses. 9:30 p.m. Non-Smoking. $8 advance/$10 door. April 17: Signal '09; Sci-Fi; The Malah. 9:30 p.m. $8. April 18: Signal '09; TeeBEE; Focus; Shade. 9:30 p.m. $12 advance/$15 door. April 20: Southeast Engine; The Desmonds. 9:30 p.m. $8. April 21: Acid Mothers Temple; Sonic Suicide Squad. 10 p.m. $10 advance/$12 door. 942-5506. www.local506.com/.

OPEN EYE CAFE: 100-C E Main St., Carrboro. Music starts at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 17: Caroline Robinson and Alex Waters. April 18: Sturges and MeGeehan. 968-9410. www.openeyecafe.com.