“Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman” proclaims Americana singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cook on her 2007 full-length, titled, wait for it, “Balls.” Ah, but sometimes it takes a little tenderness, wistfulness and musical smarts, like on the Nashville-based Cook’s cover of the Velvet’s “Sunday Morning.” And in Cook’s case, it can also sometimes take a husband and collaborator: Her beau, Tim Carroll, contributes his ballad “Always Tomorrow” to “Balls,” and will perform alongside Cook for upcoming shows in Indianapolis and Danville.

So why, pray tell, are Cook and Carroll included in this Local Scene roundup, ostensibly devoted to local music, news and reviews? Well, for starters, Carroll grew up in West Terre Haute and played guitar as the youngest member in Bloomington punk outfit The Gizmos circa 1979. He stopped off in New York City — playing with the country-punk group The Blue Chieftans for several years — before moving to Nashville to try to make it as a songwriter.

Since he got to Nashville, Carroll has sold a song to John Prine, who’s popping up all over this week’s music section, and released several albums (although a record deal with Sire around the turn of the century fell through). He carries a punk energy and rawness into recordings of his own material, and he can spin a down-home country yarn with a heavy dose of irony: check out, for instance, “Elmwood,” the tale of a rural cop out to make money through speeding tickets, on his Web site (myspace.com/timcarollmusic).

Cook, who was born in rural Florida and went to college in Georgia, has had even more success selling records and garnering critical acclaim as a performer: Balls was named to several 2007 best-of lists, including those worked up by “No Depression” and “Country Standard Time.” She’s also a satellite radio host: Her show “Apron Strings” airs every Friday morning on the Sirius “Outlaw Country” channel.

May 16, Cook and Carroll will perform at the Monkey’s Tale (925 E. Westfield Blvd.) at 8 p.m. May 17, the two will make their way to Danville, Ind.’s Royal Theater (59 S. Washington St.) for the latest instalment in the IndieBrew Royal Music Series. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Danville show are $15 advance, $18 day of.

This weekend’s Broad Ripple Art Fair (in and around the Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.) boasts three stages of live music, all sounding off simultaneously at reasonable distances from each other. Chuck’s noted the jazz acts worth seeing, but there’s plenty more in other genres.

For instance, everyone’s favorite alt-folk ensemble Blueprintmusic — fresh off a West Coast tour and soon to release a live album —will take the NUVO Riverfront Concert Stage May 17 at 4:30 p.m. And then there’s Tonos Triad, another group with traditional string and keyboard instrumentation (upright bass, acoustic guitar, accordion, melodica, license plate) that’s not afraid to experiment, and go all atonal on you. They’ll play the RadioNOW Café Stage May 18 at 4 p.m.

The B 105.7 Great Lawn Stage will feature a bunch of folk and country-based acts: May 17 will see country baritone Fred Rothert, fragrant acoustic folk duo Patchouli and the drums and voices of the all-woman group Ashre; May 18 features the Acoustic Catfish Trio, the grunge-blues duo Left Lane Cruisers and husband-and-wife team The Richmonds (Jess and Vicki Richmond). Other acts on the café stage include the Celtic band Wild Mercy and acoustic guitarist Michael Kelsey May 17; and purveyors of the European folk tradition Traveler’s Dream Duo May 18. And to round out the NUVO Riverfront stage: May 17 will see the Zionsville-based Kendal Phillips Band; while the duo Hybrid Strings, Caribbean-influenced The Tides (headed by Michael Beck of Dog Talk fame) and the Duke Tomatoe trio all take the stage May 18. Times and other details are at www.indplsartcenter.org.

Blues rock guitarist Gene Deer, The Don Stuck Band (headed by the X-103 morning DJ), Sub Mission, Dennis Hill and others are playing a benefit concert at the Lions Club in New Palestine, Ind., (28 E. Main St.) Sunday, May 18. The brainchild behind the show is 10-year-old New Palestinian and electric guitarist Carson Chase, who was compelled to throw a charity concert to benefit the 5- and 7-year-old sons of a family friend who unexpectedly died in his early 40s. It’s become a part of Chase’s 4-H project to boot. The concert is free, with donations accepted for the family. All performers and soundmen are also donating their time.