As we explored yesterday, there’s a lot to be thankful for. And we all love being a part of the crowd at concerts but, if you’re like me, I’m not a huge of fan of fighting the crowds while doing my holiday shopping.
So here’s a special Live Fix Black Friday post packed with online (and easy) holiday gifts ideas for live music fans, free downloads and top picks for weekend shows.
We’ll get right to it and kick off this mega-post with a list of Black Friday Deals and other holiday gift specials from our sponsors.
I wanted to make it real easy to find cool gifts for concert fans that you could order easily online or even from your smartphone while you’re at the show, so I combed through all the offers and picked out the best gift ideas and deals from Wolfgang’s Vault, Amazon, Best Buy, Musician’s Friend, Toshiba and iTunes.
Wolfgang’s Vault: Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals, Public Playlist, Concert Vault
One of the reasons, I’m a huge fan of Wolfgang’s Vault is because their collection of downloads let you discover both the past and present in great live rock and pop music.
Like they do every week, Wolfgang’s Vault has a great list of featured artists that you can check out in the the Public Playlist, Concert Vault and $4 daily deals on full concert downloads
.
And this weekend, from Black Friday, November 26th, through Cyber Monday, November 29th, you can save 15% on all concert downloads.
WGV’s WVIP Memberships would also make a great gift for any live music fan because a Wolfgang’s Vault Membership includes:
- $50 credit toward downloads and merchandise
- higher quality streaming
- automatic 30% discount on concert downloads
- 10% on store purchases, and many more perks
If you’re wondering, the downloads can be transferred to your iPod, burned to a CD or whatever you wish. And all of the downloads are available in both high-quality 256k mp3 and lossless CD-quality FLAC format. And if you’re looking to go mobile, go check out the WGV iPhone app.
For more info on why I think Wolfgang’s Vault is an awesome site for concert fans, check out our review of WGV and this article about Live Fix and WGV being featured in the Wall Street Journal.
And as a special offer to Live Fix readers, WGV will give an additional 10% of any purchase of merch and downloads from now until 12/31/2010 when you use the Promo Code: FIXED
Top Picks and Live Music Gifts on Amazon
Amazon makes it really easy to find and send gifts to live music fans, such as their 100 Greatest Live Albums
You’ll also want to check out their:
Amazon’s Top Selling Album Discounts
And to make listening easy and more mobile Amazon has deals on MP3 players, headphones and other electronics, too.
Amazon also has free downloads
What’s Rockin’ On Best Buy
Best Buy is having a Thanksgiving weekend sale 11/25 -11/27 that’s featuring specials on stuff music fans love including:
- iPod and MP3 Players
- Music
- Free 1-Month Napster® Subscription with Select MP3 Players
- $40 Gift Card with 32gb iPod Touch
Why Toshiba Helps Keep Live Fix Running
I wouldn’t be able to do much without my Toshiba Satellite because it plays a vital role in producing and publishing Live Fix. And if you’re looking to upgrade your laptop set up Toshiba is offering these deals from Black Friday through Cyber Monday:
- 20% off any Toshiba Laptop Accessory when you use coupon code: ACSY2010 11/26/2010 to 11/29/2010
- Black Friday Sale. Satellite C650D for only $299. Get $150 off, plus take an additional $50 off with coupon code: FRIDAY1 (first 1000 redemptions).
For That iTunes and Beatles Live Music Fan
Got a Beatles fan on your list? Then you’ll want to check out the newly released collection of The Beatles songs, albums and videos on iTunes.
And for Beatles fans who want to own a classic live concert by the Fab Four, you might want to surprise them with The Beatles’ Live At the Washington Coliseum, 1964 that’s available now as a music video download on iTunes.
You also can’t go wrong with an iTunes gift certificate.
Let Music Fans Rock with Musician’s Friend
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a music maker on your list, Musican’s Friends Gift certificates
and The Gift Center and Back in Black Friday Week
are great places to find ways to gifts that truly rock.
Free Downloads On MOG Music Network
Now, let’s see what on the menu for free downloads today…
This week our sponsors and partners over at the MOG Music Network have a bunch of new releases from Kayne West, Rascal Flats, Robyn, Cee-Lo Green, Bruce Springsteen, Kid Cudi, Wu-Tang, The Tallest Man On Earth, N.E.R.D., Kid Cudi and Cee-Lo Green and others.
Many of those releases have been on my recent favorites list, and I’ve started to wonder what the songs will be like live as the artists get ready for, or continue, their current tours.
A subscription to MOG would make a great holiday gift and you can download or stream all those new releases, and as many other albums as you want, when you sign up for a FREE 14 day trial at MOG.
For a full review that explains why I love MOG, check out this review of their highly addictive music subscription service.
What You Missed
In case you’ve missed them, go check out the other free downloads from Girl Talk, Keys N Krates, Pixies and others that we’ve featured previously on Live Fix.
Concert Previews: Chicago Human Rhythm Project and Holiday Shows
Alight, now for the live shows…
Our friends at CHIRP (Chicago Independent Radio) are having a holiday concert series featuring the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s 20th Anniversary Season with Global Rhythms 6, with 50% of ticket sales going to support CHIRP.
Here’s the details:
Friday, Nov. 26, 8pm
- Diabolus in Musica
- Be the Groove
- BAM!
- Fulcrum Point New Music Project
Saturday, Nov. 27, 8pm
- Step Afrika! Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater
- Ensemble Espanol Youth Company
- BAM!
Saturday, Nov. 27, 3pm
- Jump Rhythm Jazz Project
- BAM!
- Fulcrum Point New Music Project
- St. Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts
- South Shore Drill Team
Sunday, Nov. 28, 3pm
- Step Afrika!
- Tatsu Aoki, the Miyumi Project
- Tsukasa Taiko
- BAM!
- Fulcrum Point New Music Project
- South Shore Drill Team
It all takes place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 Randolph Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
Tickets are $15-$55 and you can buy them here: And be sure to use the promo code CHRP-RADIO to receive 10% off your ticket.
What’s Going On At Our Favorite Music Venues?
This weekend is so packed with show that we’ll just tell you that the The Bottom Lounge, Metro, Empty Bottle Presents, Double Door, Lincoln Hall and The Hideout all have great shows going on this weekend to benefit local charities and provide fans with a much needed escape into live music.
And as always, be sure to check out the ThrillCall widget in the right-side column for other local Chicago concerts.
What’s Next…?
That’s it! We hope you have a great weekend of shows. Let us know how it goes and share your favorite experiences in the comments below.
Stay tuned for this week as we explore Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp and more exciting adventures in live music!