There are all sorts of celebrations going on this week. One year anniversaries, EP releases and, well, we threw in some alt-country just to spice it up a little bit. Bostonist is looking forward to to warmer weather, but until then we know where they might be heating things up on stages around the Hub. Some of the great shows you might find a pair or two of Bostonist's ears this week.

Monday 2/20:
The Critique of Pure Reason has been organizing some very hip shows at PA's Lounge as of late. The next show features singer/songwriter Edith Frost & Britpop-inspired The Zincs.
Edith Frost: Playmate.mp3
purchase
18+, $12, 9PM

Tuesday 2/21:
Freak-folkers Animal Collective @ Avalon; you can read (or download as an mp3) their recent interview from the Phoenix.

Wednesday 2/22:
Synth-twee Canadians Stars @ Paradise Rock Club (sold out)

Thursday 2/23:
Middle East Upstairs. Locals The Main Drag layer on the hooks similar to Broken Social Scene, but sound anything but derivative. With Wildlife, Blanks, Shore Leave, Fixations.
The Main Drage: Swine Houses.mp3
purchase
18+, $9, 8PM

Harper's Ferry new indie-rock night "Paper". The Globe writes up this new night as "a club night featuring edgy bands, DJs, and the work of visual artists."
18+, 9PM

Friday 2/24:
TT The Bears. Anthemic rockers Taxpayer are inevitably compared to the likes of U2, Radiohead and Coldplay. Commercial, yes; but by all accounts catchy. With The Information, The Luxury, and The Debutantes.
Taxpayer: When They Were Young.mp3
purchase
21+, $9, 9PM

Saturday 2/25:
Kirkland Café . Punk poppers Three Nouns celebrate their one year anniversary with Eastwood Drive and The Beat Preachers.
$5, 9PM

Lizard Lounge. The eclectic Fluttr Effect celebrates the release of their new EP; songstress Sarah Rabdau opens with a free set (Soul Low, 8-9).
Sarah Rabdau: Light Up.mp3
purchase
21+, $10, 8PM

Alt-country Hem @ David Friend Recital Hall, Berklee
$15, 9PM

Sunday 2/26:
It's Honeypump at Great Scott, which brings noise rockers Mouthusand Major Stars, with Donna Parker and Pfefftiffuff.
18+, $7, 9pm

Middle East lines up a monster night for progressive hip hop featuring Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers and local stand outs Eclectic Collective & the Foundation. Eroc, Optimus, and DJ El have graced the Boston hip hop scene for years as the The Foundation.
The Foundation: Not Like All the Others and Let's Ride

Experimental electronica and avant garde world music finds a stage at Zeitgeist Gallery in Inman Sq. featuring the Insekt Pyramid Transmission Tour. Two key denizens of the French electronic underground: DJ/composer tzii, and DJ/producer Nyko Esterle and his RIPIT project appear. Also on tap is the psychedelic electonica collective Master Musicians of Hop-Frog, whose members have performed with the likes of DJ Cheb I Sabbah and The Radon Ensemble (Stooges, Violent Femmes).

Lora and Matt Durutti contributed this post