THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 >>>

1. There are those who believe bluegrass should be played by only the traditional banjo-fiddle-guitar-mandolin-bass lineup - and that solos should be short. The success of Old And In The Way, and the subsequent rise of the Newgrass movement and the jazz-inflected, extended solo-playing Bela Fleck are abominations to them. Then there are those adore the jamming kind of bluegrass, which you'll discover at the Mandolin Café beginning at 6 p.m. What better way to recover from the frenetic activities of Easter and the past week than some hot foot-stomping, toe-tapping picking.

2. José Ignacio Valenzuela claims you must be proficient in the ways of mass media to advance your words. The rapidly-rising young novelist, playwright, and screenwriter from Chile, with a bookcase full of awards, says new technologies have not only changed the face of music, television, film, and entertainment. They have done the same with the publishing market, where booksellers and writers have had to learn to navigate new waters. Today, to write, sell, and promote, the author must be submerged in the mass media and have the appropriate skills and knowledge. Hear his thoughts on the matter at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rasmussen Rotunda on the University of Puget Sound campus.

3. Sight For Sore Eyes, Take Over, Navigator and Among Mayans perform an all-ages show at 6 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma.

4. Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Recently purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement regarding the food, which over time has been good, but not astounding-tastier than your typical pub food and still affordable. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke at E9 Thursdays and Saturdays, starting at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

5. Justin Stang, usually of Sideways Reign, and Jim Elenteny, ordinarily of Seattle band Nefarious Jones, unite to form the side project Science! We  know three things about Stang and Elenteny: they were voted Best New Band in our 2012 Olympia poll, they're playing The Royal Lounge at 9 p.m. with High Ceiling and Nefarious Jones, and their project is called Science! so they're OK by is (and, we suspect, Thomas Dolby). If you're busy tonight, they also play Saturday, April 14 at 4th Ave Tav.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours