SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012 >>>

1. Woody Guthrie is undeniably the most revered songwriter to ever strike a chord. Following his death in 1967, his son, Arlo, emerged as an anti-establishment songwriter and performer. He was a key component in the '60s folk protest scene as he penned socially conscious songs about his personal political leanings with humor and candor, and in doing so, he established himself as an artist; not just Woody's son. Come hear him sing "Alice's Restaurant" and other tunes at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

2. Directly following the Daffodil Parade this morning, the Tacoma Events Commission and South Sound Blues Association will host the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival at venues all over Tacoma, like The Swiss, Stonegate Pizza, the Harmon Brewery and Cutter's Point Coffee. Performers include headliners The Karen Lovely Band, Chester Dennis Jones Band, James King and the Southsiders, The Billy Shew Band and a boatload more. The Harmon Brewery will also be hosting the Third Annual Custom and Rod Car Show. And the after party will be at Stonegate Pizza with an all-ages and adult jam, both kicking off at 8:30 p.m. For more information, read our Q&A with South Sound Blues Association King Gary Grape.

3. The GLBT Book Club was founded by Matt Lemanski in May of 2011, but recently teamed with Tacoma Book Club magnate King's Books. Read the Weekly Volcano's interview with Lemanski in our Arts Section. This afternoon at 2 p.m. the GLBT Book Club will thumb through Becoming a Man by Paul Monette. Don't be surprised if the club hauls the chairs outside on the sidewalk.

4. In the summer of 1787, delegates from the 13 states convened in Philadelphia and drafted a remarkable blueprint for self-government - the Constitution of the United States. The first draft set up a system of checks and balances that included a strong executive branch, a representative legislature and a federal judiciary. After they kicked some British ass, the American people wanted strong guarantees that the new government would not trample upon their newly won freedoms of speech, press and religion, nor upon their right to be free from warrantless searches and seizures. So, the Constitution's framers heeded Thomas Jefferson who argued: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." Tonight from 5-9 p.m. inside King's Books, Timothy Smith, national vice president of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, will lead a discussion on the future of government surveillance and detention in the Pacific Northwest along with several organization. At about 7:30 p.m., most of the room will wish they were at the Arlo Guthrie show.

5. Tacoma's burlesque troupe the Gritty City Sirens take it off and shake it twice tonight at Jazzbones in performances that includes ballet dancer Joel Myers plus returning Siren Miss Pistolita. For the sweet details, read our Q&A with Gritty City Siren Rosie Cheeks.

PLUS: More entertainment options today in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours