Free music this week and free music every week . . .

Well, none of you caught Fred Eaglesmith on Monday (I was checking), so I hope some (or even one) of you made it to Nick Lowe's show at the Aladdin. Would love to hear some feedback on it.

I'll post my concert choices for the next week in another post later today or tomorrow along with a couple of shows to keep on the radar for later in the month and early November.

In this post I'd like to highlight music that's FREE. Yes, we don't have to spend a fortune on tickets to hear some great music in this town on virtually any night.

There are two notable opportunities to see touring acts for free at Music Millennium this week - tonight (Wednesday) at 6 PM the Everybodyfields (who are also playing tomorrow night at Mississippi Studios) and Marc Cohn tomorrow at 6. Mark will be back for a full show at the Aladdin at the end of November, but this is a cool opportunity for a free preview. He hasn't put out a recording for almost 10 years, but Join the Parade was released yesterday and sounds like it could be quite good. I saw him last time through at the zoo (summer 2005) and was impressed.

The following are reminders of local music you can hear free every week . . . most of them are early too, so they work well for us old farts (you know who you are) . . .

. . . and this is only the tip of the iceberg . . . let me know if you have some favorites that aren't on my list.

• Monday's include the Dan Balmer Trio at Jimmy Maks (8 PM) and Lloyd Jones (solo) at Halibut's (8 PM)
• Tuesday's choices include the Pete Krebs duo at Mississippi Station (7 PM . . . right next to Mississippi Studios) and Joe McMurrian at the White Eagle Saloon (8:30 PM)
• Wednesday nights include Reggie Houston at the Laurelthirst (6 PM) and Bob Shoemaker at the Muddy Rudder in Sellwood (8 PM).
  
• Thursday has lots of choices, with Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst (6 PM), Lauren Sheehan at the Muddy Rudder (8 PM), Lloyd Jones w/band at the Tillicum Club (8 PM), and Mel Brown's B3 Organ Band at Jimmy Maks (8PM, okay, this one is $5)
• Friday's include Little Sue at Imbibe (6 PM)
  
• Saturdays, of course, include James Low at the Laurelthirst (6 PM) , and
• Sundays always have "church" with the Freak Mountain Ramblers at the Laurelthirst (6 PM), but also include Swing Papillon at Mississippi Station.

So hopefully when you need a shot of some live music and don't know what to do, you'll remember some of these choices and head on out!

Oh . . . but do remember to feed the tip jar!