Spring is a time of rejuvenation. Flowers come alive with the rain, hipsters get back on their bikes and tours get ramped up. In DC, Spring is also the best season, with perfect temperatures to get all you need in before the sweltering, suffocating heat of the Summer. With tons of options coming up, like the annual Cherry Blossom Festival (March 26 – April 10), it may be hard to set your schedule. Let us at FP assist. Below are our picks for the great shows coming to DC in the next few months, where tickets are still available.

Our picks:

3/10 – Wild Flag (featuring Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney/NPR blogs/Portlandia fame) – The Black Cat

3/11 – Wye Oak + Lower Dens – The Black Cat

This Friday will be a Charm City centered night, with two heavily buzzed Baltimore bands gracing The Black Cat main stage. Wye Oak, a two-piece airy folk rock band with noise flourishes, are celebrating their 2011 release, Civilian. Think Beach House, but on a shore where the waves crash a bit harder.

3/13 – Streetlight Manifesto - 9:30 Club

3/13 – The Rural Alberta Advantage – Rock N Roll Hotel

3/14 – Pete Yorn – 9:30 Club

3/15 – Murs – DC9

Murs is a sort of pariah to the hip hop community. The thinking, feeling, punk rocking, vegan rapper has been on the scene since 1996, but somehow continually gets looked over, despite being signed to Warner Bros. back in 2008. His rhymes are personal yet relatable, showing a relaxed, down to earth guy who likes to chill and think too much about girls. Check out his major label debut, Murs for President.

3/15 – Rocky Votolato/Matt Pond – The Black Cat

3/22 – DeVotchKa + Mariachi El Bronx – 9:30 Club

Cinematic, symphonic folk-punk band DeVotchKa bring their entrancing, full bodied compositions to the District late in March. This show will be chock-full of serbian references, strings and chills on the back of your neck. They are touring in support of March’s 100 Lovers, reviewed here. DeVotchKa will be joined by so-Cal hardcore punk/mariachi band, Mariachi El Bronx.

3/23 - The Gay Blades - DC9

3/24 – OFF! – The Red Palace

3/24 – Fujiya & Miyagi – Rock N Roll Hotel

3/25 – The Mountain Goats – 9:30 Club

3/26 – Kevin Devine – The Red Palace

3/27 – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group – 9:30 Club

Mars Volta fans rejoice! The prolific, mind squeezing guitar of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and his band of merry weirdos will surely bring a night to remember to 9:30. Sounds ranging from wet, prog guitar to Caribbean rhythms to Middle Eastern crooning will be in abundance. Keep an open mind and you just might lose it.

3/31 – The Felice Brothers – Rock N Roll Hotel

4/1 – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Black Cat

4/2 – Warpaint – The Black Cat

4/5 – Destroyer – The Black Cat (Kaputt review)

4/5 – The Octopus Project – DC9

This theremin wobbling, drum smashing, effect mashing high energy Austin four piece are known for their mile-a-minute live shows that incorporate instrument trades, live sampling and weirdo background films. This is a must see for fans of experimental experiences.

4/8 – Black Lips/Vivian Girls – The Black Cat

4/10 – The Old 97′s – 9:30 Club

4/14 – Toro Y Moi + Braids – Rock N Roll Hotel

4/17 – Sharon Von Etten – The Red Palace (Bowery Ballroom show review)

4/19 – Mogwai – 9:30 Club

These Scottish guitar gods are riding high after their well received Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, but this tour will be an interesting one. Mogwai recordings never seem to live up to the power and sheer heavyocity of their live shows. As always, Mogwai put on a deafening, spine-tingling set, but we’re curious  to see how their new material stands up in person. Suggestion: bring ear plugs.

4/21 – Maps + Atlases – Rock N Roll Hotel

4/26 – LOW – The Black Cat

4/27 - Titus Andronicus – The Black Cat

Do I really need to keep talking about how much I love this band? Just go. Do it.

4/27 – Dave Hause (of The Loved Ones) – The Black Cat

4/29 – Frank Turner - The Red Palace

4/30 – The Appleseed Cast – Rock N Roll Hotel

5/1 – Pinback – The Black Cat

5/6 – Tame Impala – The Black Cat

5/8 – James Blake – Rock N Roll Hotel

James Blake has made the phenomenal leap from grimy London dupstep producer to sultry singer songwriter seem easy. His debut self-titled album, reviewed here, has become a breakout hit across the pond as well as stateside. Take this chance to catch him before everyone else does at Pitchfork Fest this summer. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 12 at noon. Don’t snooze.

5/10 – Phosporescent – The Red Palace

5/10 – …Trail of the Dead + Surfer Blood – Rock N Roll Hotel

5/11 – Paul Simon – D.A.R. Constitution Hall

5/13 – Aesop Rock + Kimya Dawson – Rock N Roll Hotel

6/3 – Man Man – The Black Cat