Did you know that supporting local music not only helps to build a strong community, but it's also a significantly less expensive form of entertainment? Take this week's Local Gig List, for example—an enterprising showgoer could attend every single show on this list and spend less than $50. And many of this week's events are totally free.

For even more suggestions on things to do this week, consult the Current's event calendar.

Tuesday, February 5

Toki Wright

McNally Smith Auditorium, St. Paul

5 p.m., free, all ages

Rapper, activist, and McNally Smith hip-hop instructor Toki Wright plays a free, open-to-the-public show to kick off the school's "Live at Five" faculty concert series.

Coloring Time

Icehouse, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., free, 21+

Coloring Time's core members Joe Horton, Casey O’Brien, Graham O’Brien, Robert Mulrennan, John Keston, Adam Svec and Kristoff Krane invite accomplished saxophonist (and recent 416 Club grant winner) Nathan Hanson to join them for a set of improvised music.

The Chord and the Fawn

331 Club, Minneapolis

10 p.m., free, 21+

Sample the Chord and the Fawn's self-described "scrappy stray-dog folk pop" at this free gig, which kicks off their month-long Tuesday night residency at the 331. For this first installment they'll be joined by French Films About Trains.

Wednesday, February 6

Invisible Machines

Wild Tymes, St. Paul

8 p.m., free

Booked by the Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO), this free gig offers a sampler of under-the-radar acts. Also on the bill is Wilkinson James, Elliot Roche, and Sean Evenson & the Lazy Boys.

Thursday, February 7

Flavor Crystals and Leisure Birds

Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

Twin Cities-based label Modern Radio returns with another installment of their monthly showcase, this time with live acts Flavor Crystals and Leisure Birds in tow. Tom Loftus of Modern Radio and Chase Mathey of Radio K's Off the Record will also DJ throughout the night.

Brian Laidlaw and Lydia Hoglund

Aster Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $5, all ages

Bomba de Luz frontwoman Lydia Hoglund will debut tracks off her forthcoming solo album in the intimate confines of the Aster. Brian Laidlaw, meanwhile, will perform songs off his latest EP, Whiskey with Goliath.

Friday, February 8

The Twin Cities Funk and Soul All-Stars

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10 p.m., $10, 21+

Assembled by Secret Stash Records, the TC Funk and Soul All-Stars comprises members of many of the groups featured on their stellar funk and soul compilation, including the Valdons, members of Prophets of Peace, Willie Walker, Maurice Jacox, and more. Dust off your dancing shoes—this music is designed to make you move.

Mark Mallman

Turf Club, St. Paul

10 p.m., $7, 21+

Mallman returns to the Turf for the first time since his 78-hour Marathon 3. He'll be joined by openers Blue Sky Blackout and BNLX.

Community Pool

Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul

8 p.m., free, all ages

Gifted improvisors Nathan Hanson and Brian Roessler curate this weekly series, which aims to showcase the depth of talent in our local community. Performing this week will be Hanson and Roessler along with saxophonist Donald Washington and drummer Peter Leggett.

CLAPS

Hexagon Bar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

Minimalist synth trio CLAPS bring their ever-evolving live show to the Hex to headline a bill that also includes burgeoning garage rockers Hollow Boys, Real Numbers, and Velveteens.

Saturday, February 9

The Ashtray Hearts Album-Release Show

Icehouse, Minneapolis

11 p.m., $8, 21+

Celebrate the return of the Ashtray Hearts at this show, which will celebrate the release of the alt-country band's latest album, The Strangest Light. Opening the night is delicate folk trio the Starfolk.

The Best Love is Free

Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $10 adv/$15 door, 18+

Cecil Otter of Doomtree headlines this much-buzzed-about show, which also doubles as a release party for the fourth volume of the Best Love is Free compilation. As the title suggests the comp is free with admission, and the night will also feature performances by Later Babes, I, Colossus, and Sophia Eris of the Chalice.

Sleep Study

331 Club, Minneapolis

10 p.m., free, 21+

Travel back to the '70s underground with Sleep Study, who channel great post-Britpop bands like T. Rex and Big Star, and stay there for openers and power-pop enthusiasts Queen of France. Also on the bill is batteryboy, a new collaboration between singer-songwriter Cobey Rouse and Cloud Cult's violinist and back-up singer Shannon Frid.

Common Labor Album-Release Show

Hell's Kitchen, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., $5 for 21+, $7 for 18+

Hip-hop and folk-pop coexist peacefully on the lead single "Burn Down the Old School" off Common Labor's new Tales of the Troubadours, a collaboration between MCs Analyrical and Phingaz. They'll be joined at their release show by Guante, Mike the Martyr, Kuley, and host MaLLy.

Dream Sequence: Teenage Moods, Prissy Clerks, Nallo and Gloss

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, all ages

Here's an interesting experiment coming from four of the Minneapolis' quickest rising acts. Primarily curated by Teenage Moods, there will be projections, art installations and pillow forts all in tow, which invites the audience to sit back and really relax.

Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders Album-Release Show

Famous Dave's, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $6

A blues-rock album that should appeal as much to Eels and Black Keys fans as it will to the mainstays at Famous Dave's, What You Gonna Do? finds Alex "Crankshaft" leading his Gear Grinders through a set of dark, swerving songs that are delivered with equal parts swagger and sincerity. Crankshaft will be joined by a massive 12-piece band at this release show.

Sunday, February 10

The Ericksons

Hymie's Vintage Records, Minneapolis

3 p.m., free, all ages

Miss the Ericksons at their big album-release show last month? Don't worry, you'll have a few chances to see them for free in February—they'll be at Local Current Live with their full band on February 28 at the Amsterdam, and they'll do an in-store at Hymie's this Sunday afternoon.