THURSDAY

If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap! Tonight, the Battlefield Band crosses the Pond and plays downtown. They’re heralded as an integral part of the Scottish music revival, combining traditional and modern instruments and sounds. They play at SOhO at 8. Round up them kiddies, young and old – it’s time for corn dogs and cheesesteak sandwiches! Through Sunday, the Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is at the Earl Warren Showgrounds . The expo is from 4-9 p.m. and the carnival is open until 10 on school nights. On weekend nights, the carnival ends at midnight, and you can even catch musical acts like Debra Farris. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and kids 5 and under are free.

FRIDAY

Even though Oprah’s quit her book club, I bet this guy’s got some things for you to read. Tonight, Arts & Lectures presents Ira Glass, creator and host of National Public Radio’s “This American Life,” which showcases colorful essays and stories of the unsaid side of living in this crazy country. He’ll be performing “Lies, Sissies and Fiascoes: Notes on the Making of a New Kind of Radio” at Campbell Hall. The performance is at 8. Tickets are $20/15 general, $15/13 UCSB students. Also tonight, Gay Santa Barbara presents a performance by and reception with Y’ALL at the Center Stage Theater. Tickets are $10/8. It all starts at 7:30. Call 963-0408 for more information.

SATURDAY

“If I have to sing ‘Kumbaya’ one more time…” Sings Like Hell kicks off their 11th season tonight with Ron Sexsmith and Adam Cohen at the Lobero Theatre. Sexsmith’s been praised by Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney and John Hiatt – his inspirations – and Cohen’s (as in Leonard) songs have been praised as having “real blood and beauty” by Rolling Stone. The show is at 8. Tickets are $34.50 in advance, $39.50 at the door. Call 963-0761 for more information. During the day, check out “Discovering Ikebana: A Flower Arranging Workshop” at the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. You’ll learn about the simplistic beauty behind Japanese floral arrangements from 10-2 p.m.

SUNDAY

Women and art have nothing to do with body paints. Today, Arts & Lectures presents author Susan Vreeland at Victoria Hall. She’ll be reading from her new work, The Passion of Artemisia, a historical novel about one of the first women to impact male-dominated art history. The reading is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $6 general, $5 UCSB students. Victoria Hall is located at 33 W. Victoria St. Call 893-3535 for more information. Later tonight, the Cielo Foundation for the Performing Arts presents its 21st Annual Basically Bach concert in the Presidio Chapel at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. Tickets are $20/15/10. Call 965-4408 for more information.

MONDAY

What would Larry do without any appendages? Tonight, The Lawrence Arms play at the Coach House. The Lawrence Arms have been broadcast on skaparade.com, and attest to thinking that Alkaline Trio and Bouncing Souls are “cool bands.” Their show is at 8. Cover is $8. The Coach House is located at 110 Santa Barbara St., downtown, just off of State Street. If hep sounds are more your style, you may want to go out a little earlier. As part of its weekly Jazz Monday series, SOhO Restaurant and Music Club presents the sounds of Peter Copeland and Greg Leroy at 6 p.m. and the Stu Goldberg Quartet at 7:30. SOhO is located at 1221 State St., just above Victoria Court.

WEDNESDAY

Keep yourself Cool, Calm & Collected. As part of National Poetry Month, Arts & Lectures presents an evening with Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Carolyn Kizer. Kizer’s accomplishments include persuading President Lyndon Johnson to lift a ban against Chilean poet Pablo Neruda from entering the U.S., and her resignation from the Academy of American Poets has helped begin reforms for it to become more inclusive of women and writers of color. She reads at 7:30 in Corwin Pavilion and the event is free. Prelude your evening of culture with Nexus artist Eric Lister’s senior show. The show opens with a reception at 6:30 in the CCS gallery.