Coming all the way from the land of the January midsummer to the Arkley Center tonight at 7 p.m., Australia's Tommy Emmanuel is widely recognized as one of the most talented guitarists in the world, joining the ranks of such greats as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges in the legion of solo virtuosic pickers. Melodies, harmonies and comped chords slide from his fingers as effortlessly as solar radiation onto a massive southern continent full of psychedelically venomous creatures, an ancient and persecuted society of Dreamers, and the spillover from the prison brigs of 19th century Britain. ... OK, I kind of went off the rails there thinking about Robert Hughes' excellent book about criminal-class transportation to Australia, The Fatal Shore, but I am back. Emmanuel is a flat out amazing guitarist and opener JD Simo has earned his stripes, too, with a more bluesy electric sound. ($49)

If you are in Eureka but would rather hear some good old punk rock, The Siren's Song has a show for you at 8 p.m. Pisscat from Sacramento has a pretty straightforward and raw punk sound, meaning that its name and style are a perfect match. Local skate punk group Imperial Destructo and the low-rent shimmer of The Scum Lourdes pad out the bill nicely. Should be fun. (Price TBA.)