Indoors or outdoors, in venues big or small, music is always best served live. Packed with artists coming soon to our pretty city, this playlist will put you in the mood to groove. –Kelsey Dundon

“When I’m with You” -- Best Coast, May 23 at Biltmore

“Minnesota, WI” -- Bon Iver, May 25 at Deer Lake Park

“Disparate Youth” – Santigold, May 26 at the Commodore

“Thank You Space Expert” – Mogwai, May 29 at the Commodore

“Main Street” – Deer Tick, May 30 at the Commodore

“Love Lost” – Temper Trap, June 19 at Malkin Bowl

“Kiara” – Bonobo (DJ set), July 26 at Fortune Sound Club

“Shake it Out” -- Florence and the Machine, July 20 at Deer Lake

“Feel Love” – Ben Harper, July 4 at PNE Amphitheatre

“Elephant Gun” – Beirut, July 28 at the Orpheum

How do you make whoopee West Coast-style? Well, you could leave on your socks and Birkenstocks. Or you could put these local artists’ tunes on your playlist. Either way you’ll have a very Vancouver V-Day.

Teen Daze – Brooklyn Sunburn

Gang Signs – Prequel

Brasstronaut – Opportunity (No Gold Remix)

Cyclist and Pat Lok’s remix of The Rapture’s "How Deep is Your Love"

Humans – Clothespins

Bryan Adams – All for Love

No Sinner – Call My Name

Dan Mangan – Daffodil

Sarah McLachlan – Ice Cream

Said the Whale – Goodnight Moon

—Kelsey Dundon

Finally! The day has come when we can blast the Ghostbusters theme song on repeat! But that’s not the only frightfully good tune we’ll be listening to as we scarf down hand out candy tonight…

"This is Halloween" from the Nightmare Before Christmas

"Monster Mash" by Bobby “Boris” Pickett

"Somebody’s Watching Me" by Rockwell

"A Nightmare on My Street" DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

"Twilight Zone" by Manhattan Transfer

"I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow

"Addams Groove" by MC Hammer

"Thriller" by Michael Jackson

"X-Files Theme" by Mark Ayres

"I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 

—Kelsey Dundon

You could play “O Canada” on repeat, or you could stock your patriotic playlist with these tunes and rock your Canada Day BBQ true north style.

Junior Boys - "A Truly Happy Ending"

The Slew - "Problem Child"

Caribou - "Selfish Boy"

Miracle Fortress - "Tracers"

Shout Out Out Out Out - "Bad Choices"

Chilly Gonzales - "You Can Dance"

Jacques Green - "Another Girl"

Zeus - "How Does It Feel" 

Sloan - "G Turns to D"

Austra - "Lose It"

The Zolas – "You’re Too Cool"

Brasstronaut – "Hearts Trompet"

Broken Social Scene – "World Sick" 

Rural Alberta Advantage – "Stamp" 

Arcade Fire – "Sprawl II"

Crystal Castles – "Celestica"

Coeur de Pirate – "Comme des enfants (Le Matos Remix)"

Chromeo – "Fancy Footwork" 

Feist – "1234" 

Stars – "Take me to the riot"

—KD & AG

When you’re traff*cked (stuck in bumper to bumper) because of a pile-up on the Port Mann or a fender bender on the Alex Fraser, plug in the iPod and play this drive-themed Motown mix (because nothing nixes stress like soul music).

1. “Leaving Here” Eddie Holland

2. “I’ve Passed This Way Before” Jimmy Ruffin

3. “(I’m A) Road Runner” Junior Walker & The All Stars

4. “25 Miles” Edwin Starr

5. “Nowhere to Run” Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

6. “I Can’t Get Next To You” The Temptations

7. “100 Yard Dash” Raphael Saadiq

8. “You Can’t Hurry Love” The Supremes

9. “How Long Do I Have to Wait for You?” Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

10. “Uptight” Stevie Wonder

11. “Keep on Truckin’” Eddie Kendricks

12. “Freeway of Love” Aretha Franklin

13. “Cruisin’” Smokey Robinson

14. “Green Lights” Aloe Blacc

15. “The End of Our Road” Gladys Knight & The Pips

Purchase tracks on iTunes.