This Week's Live Picks

Monday: Bela Fleck + Toumani Diabate @ Central Park Summerstage 8pm FREE
There was a time when being a fan of "world music" took a special breed of person, someone who was adventurous enough to shop in weird sections of their local record store and try things that weren't on the radio. Thanks to the internet that's no longer the case. Instead people all over the country are starting to realize that music doesn't just come from here and England, there's a lot of places with some awesome music. Tonight you get to see two of the finest in the world do their thing for absolutely nothing! This is an absolute privilege people, don't let it go to waste!
Bela Fleck - "Kinetsa"
Toumani Diabate - "Kaounding Cissoko"

then...PB&J @ Secret Location somewhere that rhymes with Bludlow 12am FREE
Stereogum got some young Swedish folks to come play a special show after they are done opening for someone up around Penn Station. Figure it out or follow Stereogum's twitter for details.

Tuesday: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit @ City Winery 5pm FREE
Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell has done pretty well for himself since leaving the band. He's released two solid albums of alt-country tunes, toured the world, and really built a following for himself. Tonight you can catch him doing his act for free right as the workday comes to an end. Don't miss it!
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - "Streetlights"

then...The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Dig, + Hollerado @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 8pm FREE
It's always tough when the great free summer shows that New York City has run on the same day. You're left to choose between venues, convenience, how much you wanna see the band, who draws the most attractive women, whatever your criteria may be. Tonight you won't have to do that! You can see Jason Isbell at City Winery then hop on the L train and head on over to see the much buzzed about The Rural Alberta Advantage. If you hustle you'll also get to see The Dig and Hollerado, both of which are worth seeing but The Rural Alberta Advantage are a can't miss from what I've heard!
The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Frank, AB"
The Dig - "Any Day Now"
Hollerado - "Juliette"

Wednesday: Alberta Cross + Phonograph @ Brooklyn Bowl 8pm FREE
Word on the street is that Brooklyn has a new music venue and a new bowling alley and they are the same place! That's pretty fantastic news, but if you're like me you probably don't believe in things until you see them for yourself. It's called being a "doubting Thomas". Lucky for us Brooklyn Bowl is throwing a free show featuring Alberta Cross and Phonograph and we can totally prove its existence then. I hear the bowling is not free so we'll just have to make do.
Alberta Cross - "Known For Long"

Thursday: Marnie Stern + Drink Up Buttercup @ Santo's Party House 7pm FREE
Keeping the week of free shows going is a truly fantastic bill over at Santo's Party House. I don't know what the occasion behind all these free shows is, but I am certainly not going to be the one to question it. I'm also not going to ask why the playful loudness of Drink Up Buttercup is being paired with the serious and technical noise of Marnie Stern. Instead I'm just going to say these two bands are awesome, so enjoy!
Marnie Stern - "The Package Is Wrapped"
Drink Up Buttercup - "Sosey and Dosey"

Friday: Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, + Slow Club @ South Street Seaport 6pm FREE
The penultimate Seaport Friday of the season brings a bunch of bands I don't know much about to the Pier 17 stage. Since I don't know the bands all that well I'll hope that it's like the time I saw Hot Chip and Oppenheimer at the Seaport and was absolutely blown away by two bands I knew nothing about at the time. That's the best part of all these free shows - you can experiment and if you don't like the band you just get really drunk!
Casiokids - "Togens Hule"
The Wave Pictures - "Bumble Bee"
Slow Club - "It Doesn't Have To Be Beautiful"

Saturday: Rhys Chatham @ Lincoln Center 7:30pm FREE
Last Rhys Chatham attempted to perform his 200 guitar experiment live but was shut down due to the uncooperative Mother Nature. Hopefully things will stay clear for it this year because to witness 200 hundred guitarists playing in unison will be quite the sight to behold!
Rhys Chatham - "A Crimson Grail Part 2"

Sunday: The Fiery Furnaces + Dark Meat @ Williamsburg Waterfront 2pm FREE
Yes folks, it is a full week of nothing but free shows. There are some decent shows that you can go and pay for, but why would you? Today you get the amazing sounds of Dark Meat and The Fiery Furnaces, plus a DJ set from Simian Mobile Disco. It may not all mesh well on paper, but when you're looking at that skyline, listening to free tunes you can't possibly go wrong!
The Fiery Furnaces - "Drive To Dallas"
Dark Meat - "Freedom Ritual"