UPDATED: Free concerts before Dallas Mavericks home games feature local bands

And, the bands were hand-selected by Pegasus News. Bonus!

March Mavericks is here! Sure, you're probably cheering on your favorite college basketball teams for March Madness. It's also the heat of the season for the Dallas Mavericks, and Pegasus News is sponsoring an outdoor concert for six home games in March and April in the AT&T Plaza -- the open space outside of the American Airlines Center.

The concerts are free and feature great local bands. The bands will play cover songs while you arrive at AT&T Plaza. Concerts start an hour and a half prior to tipoff and end 30 minutes before the game starts.

Come out to the American Airlines Center to hear a free show!

Saturday, March 12

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers

The free concert: The Gritz from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Constantly an instigator of groove and good times, The Gritz will play soul, jazz, R&B, and rock. They've opened for Boyz II Men and for Dallas diva Erykah Badu. They'll get you movin' and groovin'.

Friday, March 18

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs

The free concert: SouthBound Lane from 6-7 p.m.

SouthBound Lane sets off your Friday night with country western covers. But these guys aren't here to sing about their broken down truck or the dusty county roads; they're here to rock, Texas style.

Sunday, March 20

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors

The free concert: The Old 97's at 4:30 p.m.

What can we say about the great Dallas band The Old 97's that hasn't been said before? This alt-country band is a North Texas staple. Since 1993, they've released about a dozen albums, and though they've traveled the country, we're glad to call them ours. During the show, the band is selling tickets to watch the game with them after their show. If you've never seen The Old 97's, you've got to see them live on Sunday.

*UPDATE: ~~Tickets are required for this show.~~ General admission is free, but VIP tickets are available. You can win them from Jack FM.

Thursday, March 24

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The free concert: Downtown Fever from 6-7 p.m.

Called America's best wedding band, Downtown Fever will bring the funk. They'll go from "Don't Stop Believin'" to "Love Train" to Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" in a mix-up of cover songs that will get your booty shaking. You didn't know you liked to dance this much until you got the fever.

Wednesday, April 6

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets

The free concert: Downtown Fever from 6-7 p.m.

Downtown Fever is back for round two! If you didn't see them the first time, you'll have to catch them for this free show.

Friday, April 8

The game: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers

The free concert: The Villain Vanguard from 6-7 p.m.

Hailing from Fort Worth, The Villain Vanguard is all about peace and good times. Their horn section will rock your soul with funk and reggae beats.