Live music picks for WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 through TUESDAY AUGUST 9, 2011.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 / JOSEPH ARTHUR / DAKOTA TAVERN / 249 OSSINGTON AVE / $22 / 19+
Akron, Ohio singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur plays piercing jams with poetic lyrics as textured as his paintings, which grace the cover of his records. Arthur plays in support of his newest eighth LP The Graduation Ceremony.

THURSDAY AUGUST 4 / LIGHT FIRES / MOCCA / 952 QUEEN W / FREE / ALL AGES
SummerWorks begins with a free opening party at Mocca and a line-up that features some of the city's local gems: Raoul and the Big Time, The Elwins, Modern Superstitions, rising dance-pop duo Light Fires and more.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5 / SLOAN / ECHO BEACH / 909 LAKESHORE BLVD W / FREE / ALL AGES
Take the transit down to Echo Beach and catch a sweet free concert guaranteed to give you good summertime thrills. And the fact that the line-up includes all local bands makes it even better when Modern Superstitions, Whale Tooth and Sloan bring energetic rhythms and good, clean indie-rock.

SATURDAY AUGUST 6 / BONJAY / LOWER OSSINGTON THEATRE / 100A OSSINGTON AVE / $10 / ALL AGES
"We're home, we're stronger performers because of touring and we're energized," lead vocalist Alanna Stuart said in their recent interview about their upcoming SummerWorks show. And if there's a band you shouldn't miss at this year's SummerWorks it's Bonjay - a dancehall trio ready to get you dancing all night. And Toronto goth-disco group Lioness joins the line-up.

MONDAY AUGUST 8 / BON IVER / SOUND ACADEMY / 11 POLSON ST / $35-$45 / ALL AGES
Bon Iver's sophomore LP Bon Iver, Bon Iver is sure to top many best of 2011 lists, so naturally this show's sold-out. For those lucky enough to hold tickets expect to see a large band accompanying Justin Vernon through a haunting, dreamy and fulfilling set. Raleigh indie-rock band The Rosebuds opens for Bon Iver.

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Lead photo of Bon Iver by Pabst Theater.