Everyone seems to be desperately holding onto their money these days. Call it what you want — being smart, frugal, tight, cheap, scared — the unpredictable economy has made going to concerts a luxury rather than a typical monthly expense.

Fortunately for the monetarily-disabled, Mission Creek has several free shows or readings every night this week. Here’s a quick-pick list for those who didn’t think they’d be able to participate this year.

Tuesday, March 30
Public Space One: Dinosaur Feathers with Replacing the Robots, So Much Fun, The Happy Chromosomes
Doors: 6:30PM
Ages: All-ages

The Mill: The Cave Singers with Birds & Batteries, Mondo Drag, and FREE PIZZA!
Doors: 8PM
Ages: 19+

Wednesday, March 31
Public Space One: Molly Ringwald with Capgun Coup, The Wheelers, The Wheelers
Doors: 7:30PM
Ages: All-ages

Yacht Club: Mannix! (final performance as a band) with Carusella, Beast Wars, Liberty Leg
Doors: 9PM
Ages: 19+

Thursday, April 1
Englert: Chuck D, Bomb Squad, Harry Allen
A Discussion on the Making of Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet (moderated by Kembrew McLeod)
Doors: 6PM
Ages: All-ages

Prairie Lights: A reading from Ashley Butler
Doors: 7PM
Ages: All-ages

Java House: Ed Gray with Star City
Doors: 8PM
Ages: All-ages

Blue Moose Taphouse: Nethervoid with Aseete, Dredge
Doors: 8PM
Ages: 19+

Friday, April 2
Motley Cow: Make Magazine Reading with Joel Craig, Rob Schegel, Katie Scanlan, Nick Twemlow, Fred Sasaki
Doors: 5PM
Ages: All-ages

Dawn’s Hide and Beadaway: Dawn’s At Dusk with several bands performing short sets. Free food and drinks!
Doors: 5PM
Ages: All-ages

Prairie Lights: Thomas Beller Reading with Ben Hale, Stephen Kuusisto and members of the Nonfiction Writing Program
Doors: 7PM
Ages: All-ages

Public Space One: Christopher the Conquered with Roommate, Porno Galactica, Mumford’s
Doors: 7:30
Ages: All-ages

Java House: Equilateral
Doors: 8PM
Ages: All-ages

Saturday, April 3
The Mill: Book Fair featuring the Iowa Review, Hobart, Opium Magazine, POETRY, Wag’s Revue, MAKE Magazine. Plus, free beer samples from New Belgium.
2PM to 7PM
Ages: All-ages

The Book Fair event also includes:
Colson Whitehead with Eula Biss, Kiki Petrosino at 4PM;
Literary Death Match presented by Opium Magazine and Anthology at 5:30PM

Java House: Poison Control Center with Chrash

That took a lot longer than I expected — the list of free events is huge this year. Enjoy the free shows and try to collect your pennies for the paid events. This is one big week of music, kids!

As always, keep up on Mission Creek Festival previews and recaps right here.