What is Northside Festival?  Well, it’s a music festival put on each year in New York City by The L Magazine that focuses on the best indie music this city has to offer.  It’s not a typical music festival hosted in a park over a two day period.  Instead, various venues in NYC play host to a weekend of shows and a Northside badge gets you into all of them for a small fee of $80 (buy here).

There’s tons of bands in town for the festival this year, so we’ve sorted through them all and made some suggestions.  Take a look, a listen, and get our of your apartment and into some music venues this weekend!

Seapony is coming to NYC for the first time and is set to unleash their summer jams on an unsuspecting crowd of music lovers.  Their tunes are beach ready and perfect for any fans of Cults or Tennis.  You’ll be humming “With You” for days!

Wednesday, June 15 @ Glasslands (8PM)
Thursday, June 16 @ Bruar Falls (8PM)
Friday, June 17 @ Pianos (9PM)

Javelin is the perfect blend of electro and outlandish 80s pop.  Their Northside set will, without a doubt, be one to remember. Drink a lot, see Javelin, party til the sun comes up.  Party people in the house.

Saturday, June 18 @ Glasslands (10PM)

We told you to see her at SXSW, but we realize not everyone in NYC flew down to Austin for the festival.  Now is your shot to see this New York via Maine lady in action.  Recent gigs with Beirut and Pearl and the Beard have prepped her for the limelight and now Lady Lamb the Beekeeper is about to explode.  At least you’ll be able to say you saw her way back when.

Thursday, June 16 @ Union Pool (8PM)

Obviously this is the biggest name on the list.  On the off chance you haven’t heard of Atlas Sound, then you NEED to see them.  They have been a favorite of mine for years.  Bradford Cox does not stop pumping out the jams.  St. Cecilia’s church is sure to be a great venue for the Atlas Sound’s psychedelic sound.

Thursday, June 16 @ St. Cecilia’s RC Church (7PM)

These guys (and girl) just did a residency at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn in May and packed the house each time.  They are Awesome live and singer Tanya Horo is sure to seduce anyone whom is on the fence about this band.  Oh, and they have come to NYC all the way from Australia.

Friday, June 17 @ Glasslands (9:30PM)

Ravens & Chimes have been kicking around the NYC scene for a few years now.  Their chamber pop rock feel recalls Arcade Fire, but a bit folkier.

Friday, June 17 @ Spike Hill (7:30PM)

Ambassadors have a couple of singles available for streaming on their BandCamp.  They are at their best when they are banging loudly on the toms.  Let’s hope to see a lot of that on Saturday night at Spike Hill.

Saturday, June 18 @ Spike Hill (10PM)

Asobi Seksu is awesome!  Their brand of shoegaze pop with Yuki Chikudate’s soft crone is infectious.  Glasslands is going to be a great venue to see them, but dress light as Glasslands is sure to feel like a sauna on a June night in NYC.

Sunday, June 19 @ Glasslands (11PM)

Big Tree is a female vocalist led folk-rock band from the Bay Area via Brooklyn.  Their name implies an environmentally conscious group, which is true: they tour the United States in a van that runs on vegetable oil.  Fans of Tori Amos will be happy.

Sunday, June 19 @ Spike Hill (5:30PM)

Monogold released a new critically acclaimed album earlier this year in The Softest Glow.  Live, the three piece sounds huge and their drummer makes great use of roto toms.  Be sure to end the Northside Fest by checking them out at DIY venue 285 Kent.

Sunday, June 19 @ 285 Kent Avenue (9PM)