Live music picks for WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 through TUESDAY DECEMBER 14, 2010.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8 / BADLY DRAWN BOY / GREAT HALL / 1087 QUEEN ST W / $27.50 / ALL AGES
Damon Gough, better known by his stage name Badly Drawn Boy, has crossed the Atlantic yet again to hit up the Great Hall in Toronto in support of his seventh studio album, It's What I'm Thinking Pt.1 - Photographing Snowflakes. Badly Drawn Boy is one of those hit or miss acts live, generally dependent on Gough's notoriously longwinded stage banter, but when he's on, his is definitely a must-see show.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY DECEMBER 9 & 10 / BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE / SOUND ACADEMY / 11 POLSON ST / $30 / ALL AGES
Definitely the hottest ticket this week, Broken Social Scene returns to Toronto for pair of shows at the Sound Academy on Thursday and Friday. Nostalgic indie rocker's Superchunk have been announced as the opening act for Thursday's show, but Broken Social Scene and their label Arts & Crafts are remaining tight lipped about Friday, billing only a 'surprise guest' for the evening.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY DECEMBER 10 & 11 / AUDIO BLOOD HOLIDAY PARTY / RIVOLI / 332 QUEEN ST W / $20 / 19+
The December 7 edition of BlogTO's Audio & Video round-up featured a special Holiday Mixtape from Audio Blood Media, which features the artist's performing this Friday and Saturday at the Rivoli for Audio Blood's two year anniversary and holiday party. Friday night will see Charlotte Cornfield, Sandman Vipe Command, and Make Your Exit, while Saturday gets Teenage Kicks, Clothes Make The Man, and The Balconies. To top it all off, both nights will have special surprise guests performing. I'll be there Saturday, but both shows will be a great way to kick off the holiday season.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 / TRICKY / MOD CLUB / 722 COLLEGE ST / $20 / ALL AGES
Famed English trip hop musician, Tricky, is known for his "dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering lyrical style", fusing rock and hip hop in an experimental electronica sound that is pretty damn hypnotizing. Tricky looks to captivate the audience with that sound when he plays the Mod Club on Sunday.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 / WE WERE HEADS & THE ARTFUL VANDELAYS / RANCHO RELAXO / 300 COLLEGE ST / PWYC / 19+
The PWYC series of shows at Rancho Relaxo are some of the best in the city and a great way to hear some new music. Tuesday will be no different as Toronto's We Were Heads, The Artful Vandelays (who are debuting their new guitarist Bryen Shi), as well as Jim Store Juniors will be taking over the venue for a nice evening of independent rock music.

For more music listings, head on over to our events calendar.

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Lead photo of Broken Social Scene by ryanophoto, member of the BlogTO Flickr Pool.