Spring has sprung, and like in the movie Shawshank Redemption, we are free (and doused by a lot of rain this week)! Let’s make the most of it. There are a myriad of places to keep you in budget, buzzed, and get that little cardio going to help with the winter bulge. Here are you top picks for this weekend starting tonight (Thursday)!

#7  Showpaper Benefit: Low Fat Getting High, Bennio Qwerty, Big Neck Polic, Fins @ Living Gallery (THURS 8:30PM $10, All Ages FOREVER)

Local Band round up alert. Nothing is more fun than getting down for a cause. Super close knit of friends helping another friend out. By the way these bands bring heat, so dress accordingly.

#6 Felix Da Housecat, Metro Area, Kate Simko @ Verboten (FRI $20)

New Verboten Venue, Old School Legend, and current talented supporting acts to stretch that admission fee through the night. Remember we are still mourning the loss of Frankie Knuckles, so let us not forget who we still have on this Earth and embrace the music.

#5 The Electric Mess featuring: BipolaroidOrgansCheap Sneakers @ Radio Bushwick (FRI 8 pm $8)

Radio Bushwick is taking the holy grail in new found sounds and niches, which is hard to do in the most niche place, that is tucked in a niche place called Bushwick. Believe the hype about The Electric Mess.

#4 Tunnel Vision: JTC, Container, ITAL, Earten Sea ( ex Black Eyes), Aurora Halal @ Shea Stadium  (FRI 10PM $12/15)

Container put on a clinic during his Boiler Room session, complete with making people forgetting they were on TV and showing serious techno face. Our own darling Aurora Halal of the Bushwick is Melting series is also holding her own with this line up. DON’T SLEEP.

#3 Little RacerHondurasThe Teen AgeWhite Repear Baby’s All Right ( SAT 9PM $8 )

Four bands picked to play at Baby’s All Right, dancing ensues. Honduras are Brooklyn’s finest and according to my little spies, Little Racers are going to be little no more with this EP release. Congrats!

#2 House of Screwball DJs with DJ Sex Libris, DJ Darcey @ Skytown ( SAT 10PM $Free )

Skytown is laying it down – Picture courtesy of Skytown

Dance party all weekend long. Tropical Funk to Garage is where it is at this Spring, and there is no shortage of this madness here.

#1 Late Night Swing Dance Party with The Pendulum Swings @ 1 Knickerbocker (SAT 11pm, FREE)

Late Night Swing Party – Courtesy of Knickerbocker

Bushwick’s Big Jazz Band performs, sans cost, at 1 Knickerbocker this Saturday evening. There’s no finer evening in store than heading over to 1 Knick to munch on a fantastic meal of duck ears, oyster mushrooms, oysters and more, then grab some cocktails and head to the back room for some jazzy live entertainment.