Raleigh
N.C. Ag Jam
Walnut Creek AmphitheaterThe marketing doesn’t quite match the reality for the Got To Be N.C. Products Ag Jam. The Ag Jam’s idea of its titular support for local farms, for example, isn’t that of any of our dozens of regional farmers’ marketsone of the 30 or so “local” businesses setting up shop is Butterball. Concert headliners Gretchen Wilson, Josh Thompson, Sarah Buxton and Jason Jones are from Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas and Florida, respectively. (Was Kelly Pickler busy?) Still, a low entry fee of $10-$20 and food items costing in the single digits are worth the trip to the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, which usually charges stratospheric amounts for the smallest serving. Several good local acts, like Johnny Orr and the South Station Band, are on the ticket, too. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. and run all day. For more, see www.ncagjam.com. Sam Wardle
Durham
Harmonica Showdown x 4
Papa Mojo’sSpace won’t permit a comprehensive list of the individual awards that harmonica players Mel Melton, Li’l Ronnie Owens, R.J. Mischo and Johnny Sansone have won. So let’s leave it at this: The most inexperienced of these four has been going at it for more than 20 years, and they’ve all earned the endorsement of industry bellwether Hohner Inc. One backing band is not enough for these masters of the craft, who blow in turns and pairs tonight, so both Melton’s Wicked Mojos and Owens’ Grand Dukes support the evening of pulling, puffing, bending and breaking. Drink specials and half-price gumbo help offset the $12 cover at 9:30 p.m. Saunter to www.papamojosroadhouse.com for more specs. Andrew Ritchey
Carrboro
Old Aesop’s Tales
The ArtsCenterThe Rags to Riches traveling theater group puts on this special show of classic children’s stories recommended for audiences pre-K to third grade. On the way to the market in Athens, Zoe meets a nice old man who helps pass the time by telling three tales: “The Lion and the Mouse,” “The Country Mouse and the City Mouse” and “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Who is this mysterious man? Find out at the show, which starts at 11 a.m. Tickets are $7. For more information, visit centerlive.org or www.rags-to-riches.org. Zack Smith
