There are a couple of events this weekend which will provide a variety
of free music.  First off is the J&R Music Summer Expo in honor of
the opening of the J&R Musical Instruments Store.  A variety of
musicians will play there at through Sunday.  Two worth your attention
are:

Marshall Crenshaw, Friday at 12:00 noon.  There's a good chance that
you've heard Marshall's signature song, Someday Someway (and if you've
heard it enough times you probably know the words).  Marshall has been
writing and performing for more than 25 years now, playing guitar and
writing great hummable melodies.  What's more, for a few years at the
turn of the 21st century, Marshall lived here in Park Slope.  J&R
Music, 23 Park Row, 1st Floor (A or C to Broadway Nassau, 2 , 3 or 4 to Fulton St).

Leslie Mendelson, Sunday at 12:00 noon.  I've seen Leslie play for the
last 2 1/2 years and I can tell you her adult pop songs are worth
catching.  Her album, Swan Feathers is due out on June 30th, but I
would not be at all surprised if there will be a few around for sale on
Sunday.  And after some time out of the center of the musical universe,
Leslie is a Brooklyn resident again.  J&R Music, 23 Park Row, 1st
Floor (A to Broadway Nassau, 2 , 3 or 4 to Fulton St; Note that A to Brooklyn is not stopping at Broadway Nassau and C not running on Sunday)

Sunday also is the third annual Make Music New York celebration.  Previously noted in OTBKB has been the Accordion Forest and Singalong at The Old
Stone House, part of that celebration.  Pierre at The Gigometer has provided OTBKB Music with a list of some of the other better performances today:

Juliet Echo (8:00pm) – First Avenue and Houston Street
And The Revellers Fell (6:00pm) – Grand Ferry Park
Maggie Doucet (3:00pm) / Stephen Clair (4 – 5:30pm) – Kill Devil Hill
Joséphine (3:00pm) – Urban Cottage
Lili Roquelin (1:00am) – Astoria Music Shop
Alicia Jo Rabins (6:30 -8pm) – Riverside Park
Athena Reich (1 – 2pm) – La Perla Garden
Tamara Hey (4:00pm) – 2nd Ave and E 10th St
Joe Thompson and the Comfortable Catastrophes (1:00am) – City Hall Park
Cassis and the Sympathies (5:30pm) – Tavern on the Green
Karen Mantler (2:00am) – DeSalvio Playground
Bill Popp and The Tapes (3 – 4pm) / Little Kitten Space Girl (5:30
-6pm) – Washington Square Park
Stephane Wrembel (1:00pm) – Fada Restaurant
Venice Beach Muscle Club – Coney Island
Her Vanished Grace (11:30am ? 12:15pm) / Rebecca Pronsky (2:45 ?
3:30pm) / Sharon Van Etten (5:30 ? 6:15pm) – Sackett St Block Party
Daru Oda (noon – 3pm) – Inspired Design
Hot Box (5:15pm) – Spike Hill
Matt Singer (5:00pm) / Willie Breeding (7:30pm) – Bar Matchless
The Scandinavian Half-Breeds (4 – 6pm) – Lovin' Cup
Randi Russo (4:00pm) / Lorraine Leckie (5:00pm) – Pass Out Record Shop
Amanda Monaco (4:00pm) – The Creek

(For more information about the bands or venues listed above, check The Gigometer)

 –Eliot Wagner