PopA perennial smart-pop favorite, John Hiatt offers...

Pop

A perennial smart-pop favorite, John Hiatt offers a first-rate lyrical wit tied to a sensitive and knowing heart; his musical range takes him from Neil Young-ish electric crunch and Band-like elegance through to country twang and a Memphis soul man’s ardor. His last tour emphasized the electric crunch, but with former Camper Van Beethoven guitarist David Immergluck now in his band, it’s likely that a more folkish and folksy side will come out. Still probably most widely known as the writer of Bonnie Raitt’s hit “Thing Called Love,” Hiatt keeps on expanding his cult following with consistently good work, including his current album, “Walk On.”

* Who: John Hiatt.

* When: Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m., with Ron Sexsmith.

* Where: Sunday at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. Monday at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

* Whereabouts: Galaxy: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Harbor Boulevard, head north on Harbor and take the third right, Lake Center Drive. The theater is on the left. Coach House: Take Interstate 5 to Camino Capistrano and go south. The Coach House is in the Esplanade Plaza, on the right.

* Wherewithal: $22.50-$24.50.

* Where to call: (714) 957-0600 (Galaxy); (714) 496-8930 (Coach House).

Comedy

Most people are probably familiar with Ralph Harris through the recent ABC sitcom “On Our Own,” in which he played the flamboyant and dress-wearing “aunt” Mama J to keep him and his six brothers and sisters together as a family after their parents are killed in a car wreck. Stand-up comedy, however, is what landed him that role after he was plucked from Hollywood’s Laugh Factory during a showcase. The “Tonight Show” veteran talks about relationships and other standard fare but adds characters and physical twists to keep the stage busy.

* Who: Ralph Harris.

* When: Tonight at 8:30 p.m., Friday at 8:30 and 10:30, Saturday at 8 and 10:30, Sunday at 8:30.

* Where: The Improv, 945 E. Birch St., Brea.

* Whereabouts: Take the Lambert Road exit from the Orange (57) Freeway and go west. Turn left onto State College Boulevard and right onto Birch Street. The Improv is in the Brea Marketplace. on the right.

* Wherewithal: $8-$10.

* Where to call: (714) 529-7878.

Kid Stuff

Kids may need a steamer trunk to carry the variety of ethnic crafts they can make at “Passport to Ideas” during Youth Arts Day on Saturday at the Irvine Fine Arts Center. Eight drop-in workshops will give 3- to 10-year-olds the chance to make such items as clay Aztec sun gods, Indonesian shadow puppets and Egyptian hieroglyphic prints. Between sessions, they can don African-style garb and sit in with Lazar Houetin and the DJO-GBE band or bop to the Mayan and Aztec beats of America Indigena.

* What: “Passport to Ideas.”

* When: Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m.

* Where: Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Ave.

* Whereabouts: From the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, exit at Culver Avenue and go south. Turn left on Walnut, left on Yale.

* Wherewithal: $3 for children 3-10; free for accompanying adults.

* Where to call: (714) 724-6880.

Performance Art

John Fleck is best known as one of four artists who successfully fought denial of NEA grants in 1990, and as a star of TV’s “Murder One.” Saturday at the Huntington Beach Art Center, he presents a work of performance art called “me III.” In it, Fleck plays a minor celebrity who grapples with the intimacy of live performance. Issues of public persona and media power collide with body politics, sexual fears and mortality. Video images blur people with products and sensuality with consumption.

* Who: Performance artist John Fleck.

* When: Saturday at 8 p.m.

* Where: Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 N. Main St.

* Whereabouts: Take the Pacific Coast Highway to Main Street and head north.

* Wherewithal: $8-$10.

* Where to call: (714) 374-1650.