I thought the free shows were over, but it looks like there are some more in this batch!

Live music picks from Wednesday, March 11 to Tuesday, March 16, 2010

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 / FAKE BLOOD + BOY 8-BIT / FORTUNE SOUND CLUB / 147 PENDER ST / $25+ / 19+

I'm a huge fan of FAKE BLOOD, aka Theo Keating. His amazing remix skills are hard to resist. He takes great songs and reproduces them into intense dance mixes. I know that doesn't sound that unique and is easily comparable to other DJs. But FAKE BLOOD does something a little different; he manipulates the vocals and uses them as instruments (not all of his remixes are like this but most). I used to get annoyed when DJs did that but FAKE BLOOD pulls it off unbelievably well. He'll be playing with fellow remixer/electro musician and friend, BOY 8-BIT. Discounted tickets ($20) are sold out. They're going for $25 now.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 / THE ORPHEANS / THE BILTMORE CABARET / 395 KINGSWAY / $5-$7 / 19+

Vancouver band, THE ORPHEANS, will be playing READY! SET! GO! at the Biltmore. This band will take you back to the 70s (or back to when your music library was predominantly from the 70s). The event only costs $5 if you bring a non-perishable food item. If you can't arrange that, it's just $2 more.

THURSDAY MARCH 11 / THE REAL MCKENZIES / RICKSHAW THEATRE / 254 E HASTINGS / $15 / ALL AGES

Celtic punk band from Vancouver, THE REAL MCKENZIES, are doing a mini-tour for St. Patrick's Day before heading off to Europe. The band will start in Vancouver on the 11th and finish in Winnipeg on the 20th. Good thing they have a bit of a break before they head to Europe!

FRIDAY MARCH 12 / EFTERKLANG / THE BILTMORE CABARET / 395 KINGSWAY / $14+ / 19+

Danish band, EFTERKLANG (I always have a hard time spelling that), will be changing the atmosphere of the Biltmore this Friday. Despite EFTERKLANG's Danish roots, their music reminds me of a more upbeat, and English-singing, Sigur Ros combined with an influence of Bjork. The band is celebrating the release of their third album, Magic Chairs. The band also has some great videos. Here's a link to the latest one for their song "Modern Drift", which doesn't have much of that Bjork influence.

FRIDAY MARCH 12 / SAID THE WHALE / LIVE@LIVECITY DOWNTOWN / GEORGIA & CAMBIE / ALL AGES / FREE

SAID THE WHALE is playing another free show in Vancouver! I don't even know how many free shows they've played now, three? Or has it been more? This time they'll be playing at LIVE@LiveCity Downtown in that big blue tent area on Georgia and Cambie.

FRIDAY MARCH 12 / YOU BIG IDIOT / THE CELLAR / 1006 GRANVILLE ST / $10 / 19+

Somewhat new Vancouver punk band, YOU BIG IDIOT is playing the Cellar on Friday. This is an early show due to it being a Friday night and also being on Granville Street. Doors open at 7pm!

SATURDAY MARCH 13 / THE BIG PINK / VENUE / 881 GRANVILLE ST / $16.50+ / 19+

Best-known for their electro-pop song, "Dominos", and the interesting pick of a band name, THE BIG PINK is coming to Vancouver from Great Britain. They'll be playing with Brooklyn's A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS.

SATURDAY MARCH 13 / ARCTIC / THE RAILWAY CLUB / 579 DUNSMUIR ST / $10 / 19+

The Canadian band ARCTIC started as a solo project but unintentionally drew in musicians from Newfoundland, Ontario and BC. The band started with Marcus Martin in the Northwest Territories. ARCTIC's music is soft and soothing; reminds me of a still winter day. On Saturday, ARCTIC will be playing with the PEPPER SANDS, WALTZ DARLING, and all-female band NIXIE at the Railway Club.

SATURDAY MARCH 13 / MIKE DOUGHTY / THE BILTMORE CABARET / 395 KINGSWAY / $18 / 19+

Country/folk singer, MIKE DOUGHTY, will be performing an "acoustic evening" at the Biltmore. Keep in mind, it's Saturday at the Biltmore so it'll be an early show due to the Glory Days event that happens at 11pm. MIKE DOUGHTY is celebrating his latest release, Sad Man Happy Man.

SATURDAY MARCH 13 / THE WEAKERTHANS / LIVE@LIVECITY DOWNTOWN / GEORGIA & CAMBIE / FREE / ALL AGES

Manitoba band, THE WEAKERTHANS, is scheduled to play a free show at LiveCity Downtown. The indie/folk rock band is on the verge of releasing a live album from the Burton Cummings Theatre (expected to release March 23).

MONDAY MARCH 15 / THE TREWS / LIVE@LIVECITY DOWNTOWN / GEORGIA & CAMBIE / FREE / ALL AGES

Canadian rock band, THE TREWS is also coming to LiveCity Downtown for free. The band was recently nominated for a JUNO for their DVD, Friends and Total Strangers. They will be heading down to SXSW after their Vancouver/Whistler shows.

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Photo by Pete Ashton via Flickr.