TEDIndia’s Lakshmi Pratury will be interviewing two TED speakers next week in the Bay Area:

+ March 30, 2009, hear TED2009 speaker Nandan Nilekani, the founder of Infosys and the author of Imagining India, at the Crowne Plaza Cabana in Palo Alto, 6:30-8pm. Tickets: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Premium tickets (includes reception, book and priority seating) $100 members, $125 nonmembersMore info.

+ On April 2, 2009, hear John Francis, author of Planet Walker, at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St., San Jose, 6:30-8pm. Tickets: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. More info.

Both events are presented by the Commonwealth Club, Silicon Valley. For tickets, call (800) 847-7730 or register online at www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.

+ Meanwhile, up in San Francisco on April 2, the wonderful Jill Sobule is playing songs from her new album to benefit the 826 Valencia writing lab. Drinks at 6:30pm, concert at 7:30pm. Tickets: Minimum donation of $100 to benefit the free student programming at 826 Valencia. Online ticketing: 826valencia.org/sobule

+ And this Thursday night, March 19, in New York City, catch the white-hot pianist Eric Lewis in a set at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. If you loved ELEW’s TEDTalk performance — drop by. Doors 6:30, show 7:30. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 door. Get tickets online or (866) 55-TICKETS. More info.