Vancouver is expensive. Like, really expensive. And if you’re anything like us, after spending 90 per cent of your income on rent and food, chances are that there’s not much left in the kitty for entertainment—unless you know where to look.

Ever summer, CBC hosts the Musical Nooners: a concert series that—true to its name—starts at midday and runs until 1 p.m. every weekday. Held on the CBC plaza at 700 Hamilton Street, the event features artists performing everything from indie pop to folk, soul, and country, uniting downtown desk jockeys and outdoor-lunch-eaters in their appreciation of first-class local acts. And did we mention it was free?

The first concert launches on Friday (July 7) with a nautical theme. Juno Award-winning indie rock band Said the Whale will headline the special two-hour show, with three piece Fake Shark opening the day with their unique brand of groove-heavy alt-pop. In honour of the occasion, Hamilton Street will be closed between West Georgia and Robson to accommodate the revelers.

"I can’t think of a better band than a local favourite like Said the Whale to kick off opening day,” Jon Siddall, lead producer for the series, says in a press release. “Their upbeat music will put everyone in a good mood all day long. Every year we have the top ‘must-listen’ to bands on the Musical Nooners stage and this year is no exception. There will be something to make you tap your toes and sing out loud, no matter your musical tastes.”

The daily showcases will also feature two more special dates. For those with children, Kids’ Day on August 2 promises to be better than any summer camp (largely because, again, it’s free). Will Stroet of Will’s Jams from CBC Kids is slated to take to the stage to delight young fans, singing songs about libraries, eating vegetables, and bike rides with plenty of actions and sing-along choruses. Scout from CBC Kids and Parka from Parks Canada are also set to make an appearance, running a craft centre and guiding children through an exploratory scavenger hunt.

Two weeks later on August 15, the show will be taken over by Aché Brasil: a group that celebrates Brazilian culture. Specifically focusing on Capoeira—an art form that combines dance, music, acrobatics, and martial arts—the collective will dominate the stage with gravity-defying displays of kicks and self-defence tactics performed to the sounds of the berimbau and upbeat drumming.

In total, the event will span 35 concerts during its two-month residency. And, just in case we haven’t mentioned it yet, it’s all free.

CBC Vancouver’s Musical Nooners is at the CBC plaza at 700 Hamilton Street every weekday from Friday (July 7) to August 25. All shows run from midday to 1 p.m. For more details and the full schedule, check this out.

Follow Kate Wilson on Twitter @KateWilsonSays