In addition to sporting events, this year’s Winter Olympics will feature a large and surprisingly diverse schedule of free concerts.  Being held at two ‘LiveCity’ venues in downtown Vancouver, the concerts will span the length of the games and represent an excellent opportunity to take in high quality music for zero dollars.  Here’s a sampling of some of the performers who will take the stage:

• Wilco
• DJ Spooky (!)
• Matisyahu
• Deadmau5
• Jully Black
• Damian Marley
• Blue Rodeo
• Jets Overhead
• Buck 65

Not bad at all.  I plan on seeing several of these shows, if not all of them.  And here’s the entire schedule (PDF).

It’s nice to see VANOC and the City attempt to expand the impact of the Games beyond simply a few sporting events.  As the LiveCity site notes,

“Over the years, Olympic Games Host Cities have come to recognize that the overall Olympic and Paralympic experience and celebration must include many activities and opportunities that attract, entertain, engage, inform and excite people of all ages throughout the Games period.”

Despite Vancouverites’ past ambivalence and, occasionally, outright opposition, to these Games, Olympic excitement is beginning to envelope the city as the opening ceremonies draw closer.  Hopefully it’s an indication of the experience to come.