The weekend comes a day early this week, with the Picador’s annual birthday bash. It’s the third annual celebration of, not really the inception of the club, but of the rebirth of the former Gabe’s as a spiffy new joint. Of course no matter the name, the club continues to be one of the key cogs in maintaining the music scene not just in Iowa City but in all of the state of Iowa. The list of bands, both seminal and influential, as well as unknown and long gone, to have played there can probably go on forever. This weekend the celebration lasts four nights and is a totally free bash to champion a large part of what makes our music and arts scene in Iowa City totally great. Here’s a quick and handy day-by-day rundown of events so that you can get there when you need to be there - we’re betting you can’t take it all in, but guessing that some of you will try. Apologies to every other venue in town this weekend, but this is where we’re gonna be.

WEDNESDAY
An art show/open house with over 30 local artists displaying work. Some if not all of it will be for sale, so if those walls are looking bare after the big move, this is where you need to be. There’ll be a $5 raffle to benefit United Action Youth and mellowed out tunes from some of our favorite locals: Lwa and Twelve Canons, as well as some others. With this kind of event, you just can’t be sure who might show up and set up.

THURSDAY
An expanded, birthday-style Physical Challenge. Coolzey and Mr. Boogie-Man host a East vs. West DJ Battle - not sure what this means, considering we’re smacked in the Midwest, but it sounds intriguing. Meanwhile, dollar pints of booze will be flowing downstairs to complement a set from dance-punks Beast Wars, as well as DJ sets from Joshyboy and the School of Flyentology.

FRIDAY
Friday you get to indulge your rock ‘n’ roll tendencies to the fullest, with a full plate of Iowa City bands. The Tanks headline the night after returning from a brief August tour, but make sure to get there early for Coyote Blood and Sam Locke-Ward in the beer garden at 7pm, followed by upstairs mayhem from the likes of Snow Demon, Petit Mal, Datagun, Viking Fuck, Bongrider (I thought the Nethervoid show was their last…?), and probably like 8 or 10 more. Don’t hit the whiskey too hard - you’ve got to make it out again Saturday.

SATURDAY
The final night of the weekend is more geared to the metal and noise enthusiast in you, highlighted by Aseethe and Shores of the Tundra, who have a wicked new split 12″ on Scenester Cred. It’s limited to 300, but they’ll probably have some for you to have and hold at this date. Grism, Supersonic Piss, Manimal, and others finish up the night.

Again, this whole thing is free so you’ve got no excuse! See you there.