Eight Gigs: Dar Williams

Sun., Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., Center for the Arts, $34-$40

Dar Williams fans can rejoice after a seemingly endless wait. Not only does she have a new album, called Emerald, she'll also be touring in support of it throughout the year—and then some. If you're a fan of smart, well-crafted singer-songwriter fare and thoughtful lyrics, look no further than Williams' back catalog. A strong proponent of liberalism and a great storyteller, her fan base has grown exponentially with each successive release. With her collaboration with Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky, she's proven there are no limits in the normally constricting folk scene. 314 West Main in Grass Valley, http://darwilliams.com.