To promote his newest album, Andrew W.K. slipped out early from this year's Warped Tour to start his own fall tour. The album, titled "The Wolf" (Island), is the second released by Andrew W.K. and his band after years of solo recording and touring. His first album, "I Get Wet" (Island), featured screaming rock singles such as "It's Time to Party" and "Party Hard," which reached number 14 on British charts. He's a featured artist on MTV and according to Tapefuzz.com reviews, Andrew W.K. "shares the rebellious attitude of traditional hard rock, but eschews the angsty rage of most modern rock." If you missed him on the Warped Tour, catch him in Northampton this weekend. (Fri., 8:30 p.m., Pearl Street Night Club, Northampton. Tickets $15 at 586-8686.)

An exhibit opening this week at the Mead, titled "Off the Beaten Track: Contemporary Mindscapes," features explorations of different landscapes by contemporary artists. Two of the artists, Julie Hedrick and Shuli Sade, will host a conversation about their work along with two short films. Hedrick works with oil paint to explore the abstract while Sade combines photography and paint to examine the industrial world. (Fri., 4:30 p.m., Mead Art Museum.)

Everyone who loved "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" will be happy to hear that Eric Carle will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award this weekend. The presentation will take place during the Third Annual Massachusetts Book Awards, during which 12 other writers from the state will also receive awards for their work published in 2002. Stop by to meet the acclaimed illustrator and to see the museum. (Sun., 4:30 p.m., Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Hampshire College.)

Popular local singer Stephen Kellogg performs at this year's first Thursday Night Edge, a series of live musical performances at Mount Holyoke College. Springfield Union News called Kellogg's 2002 release, "Lucky Eleven," "the best local recording in years." He combines popular, rock and folk styles for a sound admired by John Mayer, Howie Day and Dar Williams. (Thurs., 8 p.m., Blanchard Campus Center Great Room, Mount Holyoke College. Entrance fee, $3 for five-college students.)

Part myth, part fiction, part legend, Niki Caro's "Whale Rider," this summer's little indie that could, is the beautifully told tale of Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), a young Maori girl who must overcome the bonds of her tribe's deep-seated traditions to assume her role as their leader. At its core, the film is a girl-power tale with all the elements of a conventional narrative. But Caro's direction is understated where it could be melodramatic, graceful when it could be routine, and unafraid to linger on lush landscapes, evening breezes, the pools of intelligence in its heroine's dark liquid eyes. It's Castle-Hughes who is most to thank for the film's sweet freshness; she summons dignity, wisdom and childlike joys and sorrows with so natural an air that she really seems mythical herself.