KEXP FAVORITES LIVE & FREE!: Kick off the weekend tonight by heading to KEXP's Concerts at the Mural, the first of the free all-ages concert series put on at the Seattle Center. Tonight's tunes will feature a few of KEXP's favorite bands: Blitzen Trapper and Throw Me The Statue. The show is tailored to the culturally curious, seeking out best of the area’s independent music scene. Most importantly, the beer garden opens at 5 p.m. with the show shortly after. 6:00-8:00 p.m., Fri. // Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre, 305 Harrison St // Free (not including beer) more ›

IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN: Today's the second day of A Drink for the Kids, the 7th annual Vera Project travelling fundraiser running through Saturday's show at Neumo's with Robin Pecknold and Throw Me the Statue. Show your support for the all-ages club by ordering a Stone IPA or the designated A Drink for the Kids cocktail at one of several bars around town. Tonight the venue is Ballard's Hazlewood, a bar we love so much that we wish we could just scoop it on up and move it to the Hill. 6-10 p.m. // Hazlewood // 2311 NW Market St // as much as you drink more ›

FIVE YEARS OLD: Yup, that's Neumos, turning the big five tonight with a party. Helio Sequence, Grand Hallway, and Palmer Electric Co. take the stage tonight. Entry is free when you buy a drink at Moe Bar, which also means it's 21 and over. 8 p.m. // Neumo's // 925 E. Pike St. // free!, 21+ more ›

A couple days ago, we asked Seattlest readers for music recommendations, and while we haven't had a chance to really check out everything they recommended, there is one stand-out we have fallen for: Telekinesis. Essentially a solo project by local singer-songwriter Michael Benjamin Lerner, it's a fantastic mix of danceable garage rock with decent lyrics that don't make you wretch, reminiscent of Guided By Voices. And, in a fine twist of fate, tonight happens to be their CD release party, at the new Croc, for their self-titled debut. Headliner is Throw Me the Statue, another fine local band; it's 21 and over. more ›

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As an all-knowing, all-seeing hivemind, Seattlest has your Bumbershoot recommendations handled. If you're going to brave the crowds, bathroom lines, and ever-present corporate tents, you should at least be equipped with the right kind of inspiration to make it all worth your while. more ›

Friday: Catch Common Market (4:30) and U.S.E. (5:30) at the main stage, then skip over to King Cobra for the second half of Truckasaurus (6:00). Take a dinner break (may we suggest eating something protein-heavy?), then get yerself to Neumo's for Thee Emergency at 7:45. After that, we suggest Das Llamas (it's their last set...THEIR LAST ONE!) at 9:45 at the Cha Cha. To round out the night, buy yourself a fancy rum drink at Havana and party until the wee hours with DJ Curtis. more ›

's status as a cult album. more ›

With everyone still nursing their post-NYE hangover, there's not much going on this weekend in terms of live music. In fact, your best venue bet for the foreseeable future is Chop Suey. Head there tonight to help Unscrew the Croc Employees with a all-local lineup including Coconut Coolouts, The Intelligence, The Girls, and Das Llamas. more ›

As previously mentioned, Les Savy Fav play Neumo's tonight. If the idea of a pregnant dude spitting water on you doesn't quite float your boat, head to the Croc to check out Cave Singers and Fleet Foxes. Tonight is also a free-free-free hip hop show at the War Room with Bun B and Swizz Beatz, care of the redundantly good people at Goods and Zune. Show up early; the last event like this, with Clipse... more ›