• Courtesy of the artist
• Leo Kottke plays the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2.

Leo Kottke is a fingerpicking, open-tuning master craftsman of the acoustic guitar who, along with the late Michael Hedges and later player Kaki King, reinvented the possibilities inherent in the six-string medium for futureheads to hem and haw over. Come see for yourself at 8 p.m. at The Arkley Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. ($49). Bring an aspiring guitarist and excite a young mind.

Over at the Arcata Playhouse at the same hour is the seventh annual celebration of the birthday of Joni Mitchell, with the first of two nights featuring — what else? — the music of Joni Mitchell, as performed by some of Humboldt's best ($15). Come see Jan Bramlett, Morgan Corviday, Beverly Twist, Marcia Mendels and many more interpret the true blue sounds of Song to a Seagull.