Free Music - Eardrums Pop

As previously reported in "Music Free for All", the music site Eardrums Pop has many fantastic audio offerings for your listening pleasure, for the wonderful price of zero dollars. And each download contains artwork for the single or EP. How cool is that? Here are four recent standouts:

• If you enjoy the ukulele and/or dreamy female vocals then check out Early to Bed. The duo has a 3-song download featuring "Til We Arrive", a perfect little wake-up tune, as well as two addtional offerings.
• The quiet and playful song "There is Another Sky" by Olafachada suggests laying in the tall grass on a sunny day. Hailing from Portugal and Norway, the duo (Bernardo Fachada and My Little Pony's Ola Innset) are creatively goofy and a whole lot of fun, as evidenced on the other song available, "Tall With Hard Long Eyes".
• Alison Eales brings us the triad of songs "Land and Sea", "Vigils", and a cover of The Just Joans' tune "Overblown Gestures". If you enjoy the honesty of a girl, her thoughts and her guitar, then this will fit right into your collection.
• And last but not least, if your ears have an affinity for early Go-Go's or Pretenders, or current LA sensations The Like, then Koo Kooo Kitchen's 3-song EP is just the thing for you. "Sweet Caress" has the energy of frantic guitars dueling with the 2 singers' voices, and "Bedsheet" is a late night cab ride from a small club show to an afterparty in the big city.

So download away, tell your friends about the songs you enjoy, and catch the bands live if they come to a venue near you. Grassroots is where much of the best music is to be found these days, and finding it can be half the fun!

Abbie Barrett - Free Song

Somerville, MA sensation Abbie Barrett has put out a brand new song for free for all of her fans, both long-time and new. Head on over to her Reverb Nation page and grab "Marry Me (The Wedding Song)" for your computer, iPod, or other digital music player. And don't forget to check the top of our page for all of her New England shows, including this year's Wyman's Pond Music Fest. Tell your friends about the new song, and please let us know how you like it!

Love and Live Music

Okay, everyone knows that Valentine's Day is tomorrow. Flowers, a box of candy, dinner, blah blah blah... We humbly suggest an additional way to make the evening memorable - live music!

By taking that special someone to see a great local band or soloist, you are cementing the night into his or her memory forever. There is nothing like a fantastic song or three to add to the overall experience of a night of fun and romance. Here are some free (or inexpensive, where noted) options at interesting venues for several of our favorite cities:

Boston, MA:

• At TOAD (Porter Square) you will find roots rock by The White Owls at 8 pm, and then the Americana sounds of The Gilded Splinters at 10 pm.
  
• The Beehive at the Boston Center for the Arts will feature the vocal stylings of Panayota Chaloulakou, a sensual blend of jazz, World Music, Greek, and her own unique flavors - 8 pm.
  
• There is great jazz to be found at Les Zygomates Wine Bar South Street. Yoko Miwa will be performing solo piano from 6 - 9 pm.

Portsmouth, NH:

• Sharon Jones is performing a solo set at The Press Room's Jazz Grill - 8 pm.
  
• Irish music duo Oran Mor is at RiRa - 7 pm.
  
• A triple bill for The Red Door's "Hush Hush Sweet Harlot" series: Brian McGee, Woody Pines and Melvern Taylor and his Fabulous Meltones ($5 suggested donation) - 7 pm.
  

Elsewhere:

• Gardner Ale House (Gardner, MA) - Danielle Miraglia performs from 6 - 9 pm. And if you haven't made plans yet, check out their $45 Dinner for Two (reservations recommended).
  
• Fratello's (Manchester, NH) has Tim Cannon performing from 6 - 9 pm.
  

So if you don't have plans, or have something going on in the vicinity of these shows, why not add a musical accompaniment to your already uncommon evening you have planned for that special someone. Who knows? You might just come away with a new favorite band or song that the two of you can share for a lifetime.