What's happening tonight

Luke Winslow-King

The weekend starts early this week. Here's a run down of some things happening tonight in Brooklyn:

Festivals: It's finally here: the four-day Northside Festival kicks off tonight, with many things to choose from, so put your badge to good use. Our picks: the opening party at Studio B (259 Banker St.), with Brightblack Morning Light, The Hold Steady at Music Hall (66 N. 6th St.) with Hype of the States, and Uncensored Interview's curated night with Sharon Van Etten and Ivana XL at Union Pool (484 Union Ave.). Put on those running shoes.

Books: For those who missed it the first time, Ben Greenman will be reading from his new novel, "Please Step Back," 0tonight at Cobble Hill's Book Court (163 Court St.) at 7 p.m. Published by DUMBO's Melville House, the book, which has gotten a lot of local positive press, tells the rise and fall of a '60s rock star in an absorbing, entertaining pseudo-bio.

Music: Straight from The Big Easy, Luke Winslow-King plays music inspired by New Orleans rag time, impressionism, delta and country blues, poetry, folk, and classical composition for a sound that is both rustic and elegant. He plays in Williamsburg tonight at Radegast Hall & Beer Garden (113 N. 3rd St.) at 9 p.m. and tomorrow at Zebulon (258 Wythe Ave.) at 10 p.m., pulling from his new album, "Old/New Baby," slated for release this August.