Tonight: Singer Songwriter Night at the Lawrence Arts Center

Unknown quantities make for a show that can keep an audience on its toes. When blues-rock guitarist Fast Johnny Ricker plays host to a showcase of singer-songwriters tonight at the Lawrence Arts Center, he’ll preside over a couple of newcomers and one well-reputed performer.

Daniel Quin Shay and Rayyan Kamal are fresh to the scene, while Preston Girard is an established player with two albums (Simple Life and Along Chicago) under his belt. Girard’s thoughtful, poetic adult alternative should make for an interesting counterpoint to Ricker’s Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired licks

Ricker and Girard guarantee high-quality entertainment, and the possibility of something new and exciting from Shay and Kamal makes the $5 ticket price well worth it. Failing that, the Arts Center has concessions and a full bar. The show gets going at 7:30 p.m. and is all-ages.