Today through Sunday at the Eden Fairgrounds, the Charlie Poole Festival celebrates the life of one of the most colorful and influential country music pioneers. From 1925 through '31, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers recorded several classics, including "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down," "Hesitation Blues" and "Old And Only in the Way," which inspired the name of a bluegrass quintet formed in the 1970s by the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and newgrass mandolinist David Grisman. Today's old-time band concert features the Freighthoppers, Martin and Johnson, and others. On Saturday, the McPeak Brothers bluegrass band will perform in place of Jim Lauderdale, who was forced to cancel because of vocal problems. On Sunday, festivalgoers will be treated to a tour of sites that were important to the life and legend of Charlie Poole. (336) 623-1043 or (336) 627-0375.

Today's Fridays on the Front Porch series at Chapel Hill's Carolina Inn features the world-class bluegrass of Tony Williamson. Also tonight, Tommy Edwards and Carolina Lighting (Alice Zincone, Rick Lafleur, and Keith Thomas) will perform at the Pittsboro General Store.

On Saturday, Bill Kirchen and the Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods will offer high-energy country fun at the N.C. Museum of Art. Formerly guitarist with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and a superb front man in his own right, Kirchen is best known for such string-burning underground favorites as "Hot Rod Lincoln." An outdoor showing of the film "Thunder Road" will follow the concert.