Check out tonight's free open mic night with Dustin Saucier at Slainte Wine Bar & Lounge

I’ve already been going pretty hard this week and I don’t see signs of anything letting up right on through the weekend so might as well hoist up this midweek Party Pants and settle on in for the ride. If we can hurdle this hump we’ll be on the home stretch towards the freakin’ weekend, so let’s power on through this Hump Day, shall we?

Jazz up your Wednesday evening with an early show down at Gingko Blue on Fore Street where Standard Issue will be playing all of the classics from the Great American Songbook. Tonight’s gig gets underway right around 6 o’clock and is absolutely free, so swing on by, have a cocktail, and enjoy some golden era tunes.

The 5^th Annual Portland Phoenix Best of Awards Show gets soulful this evening with a straight up dance party for the masses with music provided by Forget, Forget, DJ Tremendous Cream, and DJ Marieke Vi. Help celebrate this year’s readers’ choices for the 2013 Best of Portland Awards in more than 100 different categories. Tonight’s event is free and starts right around 6:30pm at Port City Music Hall on Congress Street.

If you’re looking to check out some free open mic action in Portland tonight, then be sure to swing on by Slainte Wine Bar & Lounge over on Preble Street for this week’s installment of their open mic night. Starting at 8 o’clock you can check out local musicians sing some songs or even sign up to play some tunes of your own. Hosted by local singer-songwriter Dustin Saucier, tonight’s free event is always a good time, so check it out.

Down at Bull Feeney’s on Fore Street in the Old Port the Squid Jiggers return to the stage with their own brand of folk music that’s perfect to pair with a tall pint of tasty beer. Tonight the duo gets the good times rollin’ right around 8.

The Big Easy on Market Street in Portland kicks off another year of highlighting local hip-hop with another installment of Rap Night this evening. Each and every Wednesday night local rap royalty Ill By Instinct and El Shupacabra team up to host their epic weekly party featuring sme of the brightest rappers around. Things get fresh starting at 9 o’clock, so head downtown and check it out.

Flask Lounge on Spring Street in Portland presents the first installment of Unknown Pleasures, a post-punk, synth-pop, new wave, goth-industrial throwdown dance party. The fun starts at 9 o’clock and is absolutely free so check it out.

Folk rock trio Silent Sam & The Evans will be pleasing earholes this evening as they a show starting at 9 o’clock down at The Thirtsy Moose Taphouse in Portsmouth. These guys are super nice and extremely talented so if you’re into some good tunes and good times, then check ‘em out.