THURSDAY 5/1
“Paws on the Runway,” a benefit for Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE), will be held at the Governor’s Mansion at 6 p.m., $50. At 7 p.m., the Ron Robinson Theater will host a free screening of the documentary “Inequality for All,” narrated by Robert Reich, followed by a panel discussion. Nashville country singer Frankie Ballard (“Helluva Life”) will be at Juanita’s with The Swon Brothers (from NBC’s “The Voice”) at 8 p.m., $10. Local favorites Swampbird will play at the Afterthought at 9 p.m., $7.
FRIDAY 5/2
“Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” the documentary about the 1970s power pop band, will screen at Ron Robinson Theater at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with drummer Jody Stephens, $5. The Weekend Theater’s new production, “A Strange and Separate People,” opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will run every Friday and Saturday through May 17. Tickets are $12-$16. “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” the Academy Award-winning film based on the play by Lucy Alibar, will screen for free at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art at 7:30 p.m., followed by an outdoor Creole concert by Snake Eyes and the Bug Band. Blues guitarist and drummer Cedric Burnside (grandson of the Fat Possum legend R.L. Burnside) will be at Vino’s at 9:30 p.m., $8.
SATURDAY 5/3
At 6 p.m., the Connor Performing Arts Center at Pulaski Academy will host “Jackson to Jai Ho: Icons and Their Songs,” a fundraiser for Harmony Health Clinic featuring dancing, music, a fashion show, dinner, a silent auction and guest speaker Gov. Mike Beebe. Director Christopher Kay and crew will be at Market Street Cinema at 6:30 p.m. to present a free screening of their documentary “Of By For” (a critical look at dark money in politics). Country-rock band The Wild Feathers will be at Revolution with Stephen Neeper and the Wild Hearts, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 day of. Arkansas native singer-songwriter Adam Hambrick will be at Stickyz at 9 p.m. with Canopy Climbers, $7 adv., $10 day of. Locals American Lions will hold their album release show at Bear’s Den Pizza in Conway, 9 p.m. Little Rock indie rock groups Whale Fire and Sea Nanners will be at White Water, 10 p.m. Former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland and his new band The Wildabouts will play at Juanita’s at 10 p.m. with The Raskins, $37 adv., $40 day of.