Holy moly. Damn, now I wish I wasn't volunteering, so many amazing acts!!! Good thing I'll still see Wilco, Sam Roberts, and Matt Mays.  

These are artists whom I will never again support. Shame on you for your support of this anti-democratic elitist farce.  

With fans like you, who wants your support.  

What you're saying is completely nonsensical. Please keep your rantings to yourself. Anti-democratic and elitist? Get over yourself.  

Yay! Google Calendars!  

Why are the concerts at BC place 20,000 tickets for $22, and the other 10,000 are free? Are they giving tickets away for free? WTF. I think i bought tickets about 3 months ago and now I find out that they are giving them away. What a bunch of B.S.  

I hope the artists are getting paid for this. Were they asked to volunteer too?  

I also hope the artist are getting paid for this. Been asked to do a few things myself for free already by VANOC. Screw that, this town is too expensive to waste my time while the higher ups are dining like swine and patting themselves on the back.  

So I call 1-800-tickets to find out where you get the tickets...she says they're 22 dollars apiece (using the Stereophonics as an example) and the "free tickets" have only been released to charities and so forth, not the general public. 22 bucks is a good price to see a lot of these bands and artists, but The Straight should do their research before posting information which is going to result in a mass of confusion.  

hey "never buy these acts"....nobody cares. why are you even on this calendar! you secretly love the games cause they give you something to complain about.  

Hey chris z,

I'm pretty sure only the bands playing at BC Place cost $22. If you click on the band name on the calendar it displays which location they're playing at. Most of them are playing at David Lam Park, which appears to be free. However, some bands are playing at BC Place. Stereophonics is one of those bands and since I'm assuming that's who you want to see then that will cost you $22. This is all clearly stated if you simply click on the acts name.  

Matisyahu!  

Are any jazz artists being presented in this series?  

Vishten provide excellent music!  

so much for local acts being given priority.  

@ lol...."so much for local acts being given priority."

What does that even mean? Do you even know what you are talking about?

 

I totally agree with chris z, that stupid calender tells you nothing. Why tell the public that some tix are free when they are not? Why even mention that there are some free tix when none are in fact available? Or is that their way of patting themselves on the back, "look at us, we are helping charities!" Thats like making a donation to an organization and then taking out a full page ad in the straight to tell the world all about how good your deed was. Silly  

22$ tickets is a different venue than the free concerts. Yes some of the artists are doing two shows...one free, one not!!  

I've heard that broken social scene is playing. Is this true? And if so when do they play?  

Yeah. They are playing at the Queen Elizabeth among many other great Canadian bands for the Neil Young tribute. Should be amazing.  

Well, "never buy these acts", with by far the most votes on this topic, it looks like democracy ran you into the ground on this one and the masses have spoken. As for elitism, don't give me that crap about the homeless and downtrodden -- they represent less than 2% of the population, and to subvert public policy to center around them is elitism exemplified.

If we really had the democratic majority speaking, we wouldn't have these free events in our neighborhood, as they attract the more undesirable elements of society.  

Olympic Fan the vast majority of comments are an attack on one poster ,thus the post did its job and you all fell for it Baaaaaa

You got owned!  

If the Straight really wanted to provide a guide to free music in Vancouver during the Olympics, maybe they should have put in a little more effort than just list the ones at LiveCity Downtown, LiveCity Yaletown, and BC Place (which aren't free). What about Robson Square? What about Ontario Pavilion? What about Alberta House? What about Atlantic Canada House?

The next step would then be to expand it to cover free music in Metro Vancouver and then you can get include all the major acts in Surrey and Richmond. I can't wait for the Olympics, it's a concert lover's dream!  

@Free Concerts, we're working on it. Check back tomorrow afternoon (February 5) for lots of new listings.  

There's a facebook group (Feb2010 Free) that's compiling a huge calendar listing of all the free events during February. You'll be able to download the file or view it on google calendars.  

The shows that will be happening at the Richmond O-Zone still haven't been added yet...  

Hey Trevor,

What's the exact link to this facebook group? I tried searching "Feb 2010 Free" in facebook and found nothing.  

a giant truckload of corporate rock. I wonder if all the band members will be wearing VISA shirts and tell us to eat at McDonalds

 

@Travis Lupick, There are lots of great concerts missing from here, and almost 80% of them take place at either Ozone (Richmond) or Holland (Surrey).  

WOOOHAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAM ROBERTS AND DEADMAU5 HERE WE GOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!  

Delhi to Dublin kicked ass tonite out in Richmond. good to see Rick Hanson do his thing with the torch.
The announcer though was the worst ive ever seen in 37 years. For an hour he just repeated "Make some noise Richmond BC "
The 30 minute long Royal Bank Commercial was as pathetic. B-BOYS wearing RBC tights ? We know your the sponsor, you should be, you have everyone's facking money you 28% extorting thieves. I left hating the RBC Brand even more after tonight.  

Nice try with the abbreviated calendar, but is there a calendar somewhere that's complete for downtown, including pay acts at Hockey House, Irish House and Victory Ceremonies? Plus at all the other free(?) "houses" and "pavilions" like the French and Swiss at Granville, Alberta, Atlantic Provinces, Saxony, Robson, German etc etc.  

I first heard Garou on the radio one day when i was lying in bed. I just had started my HepC treatments (3 months in bed - did not work oil well, see what is next this year). I had also met my current partner Wilma. A tall strong man who helped me each day go through the treatments and to this day HE IS STILL WITH ME. He has shown me a love that Garou sings about in his song "First Day of My Life". Everytime i hear that song i think of me lying in that bed and Wilma smiling at me and showing me the true meaning of of Love. Held me when i cried after the injections and reassured me that life will go go on as it will for everyone. I am thankful to the Creator for Wilma each day I am with him. Garou will be performing on the 15th - the day I leave for a Confernece on HepC - I really wish I could say Merci to Garou for such a Beautiful song that means so much to me.  

@ Jiff if you have an iphone, the Bell 2010 Guide app just got released and it has all of that stuff. It's pretty thorough.

@Free Concerts there's a huge "off the o-dar" list going around of free dj parties and aftershows by the bands -- none of which are at any of the Olympic venues. Search around and you'll find them, right Trevor? ;)

@Grant M - that's like falling on your face and claiming you meant to do that. Now you and "Never buy these acts" go change your diapers, you big cry babies.  

this is an awesome calendar...thanks for posting ;-)))  

As an Inuit I feel the Inukshuk is a joke as the olympic symbol considering how much the Harper government has not done for the Inuu peoples.Especially the Inuit residential school survivors who were given a slap in the face instead of the compensation package awarded to other aboriginal people.The labrador Inuu have been too long ignored by this government.Somehow Father Canada saluting the inukshuk while wearing his inuit mukluks(longlegged moccasins) seems to be the ultimate hypocricy
 

after party every weekend at Vogue alley store at E.hasting/penticten cls to london drugs store  

Could we all (including the Georgia Straight) please stop calling these "free" concerts? They are publicly funded—the "sponsors" are buying advertising rights and time, they are not "paying for" the concerts; advertising is tax-free, so you are paying again.

You have paid for these concerts. And that goes for anybody who has ever paid a penny of pst, gst, bc income tax or federal income tax (not to mention any municipal taxes and sin/luxury you have laid down).

While other...um...people may have voted for the people who decided this was all a good idea, and the good people of Vancouver and Whistler may have decided for all of the rest of us that it was a good idea, YOU are paying for it all.

So, GO GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR...watch the downhill on TV, cheer for whoever you want to win, complain and scream and demand accountability, but get out and enjoy as much as you can of what you have ponied up for. Once it's gone it's gone and then the shit can really hit the fan...  

It's missing Surrey Events!  

You people complain too much  

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!! go dunk ur heads all u haters  

wow!! i was going to go to the alexisonfire concert tonight nut unfortunately something came up :( but thank the dear lord for clearing my schedual on the 18th for MARIANAS TRENCH!!! WOOHOO!!! LETS JUST SAY...I LOVE BEING CANADIAN!!!! <3 and all you haters out there, as someone has already said, please, go and dunk ur heads :) thanks lol i think having soo many free concerts is a great way for the people from other countries to see what we are made of and how welcoming we all are :D haters...grr >:(  

is deadmau5 on friday 19+ only?????  

@cindy', Nope, Friday's Deadmau5 show is all ages. Arrive early, though. LiveCity is predicting longer lines than usual for this one.

Line updates should be posted on LiveCity's Twitter feed throughout the evening.  

I regret not going to deadmau5. Part of me is dead inside =(  

I have never read so much bull in my life just enjoy all the good vibe and free music guys wow.. its once in a life time event. Live it, love it, enjoy it.. chill guys.. there`s so much to enjoy , see and do...If by now u have`nt sorted it all out ask someone most people know whats going on..
just enjoy the Games in our back yard. Line ups are long a new Canadian sport i do think.. LOL. so lets win gold in that too .. Means we all love music.. Giddy up.. Enjoy everyone.. xoxo

 

this list is missing the countless bands performing inside the Pavillions which is also free

 

@der, bands playing the Pavilion are listed here: Free and local musicians in Vancouver during the Winter Olympic Games.  

I went to see that band inward eye tonight, got there at 11:35, waited until 11:45 when I asked a security guard when they were on annnnndddd low and behold, they had already played! Beautiful. I didn't know it took a band 5 minutes to finish a set. Bad sarcasm aside, I'm bummed. And there were only 4 dancing hos.  

I love Olympics and music events both. But i can't go for this Olympic 2010 in Canada. But i don't miss it on TV. For music event we can listen games related songs on www.loudbeats.com.