Our Northside picks — selected by Northside artists

The Northside Festival kicks off tonight, with hundreds of bands over the course of four days in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Not sure what bands out of the hundreds to check out? We asked some of our local favorites which acts they don’t want to miss. When they’re not playing their own gigs, of course.

THEOPHILOUS LONDON

Catch him: June 16 at Music Hall of Williamsburg

We say: This rapper is considered the driving force of the urban pop movement, gaining fans for his genre-bending sound and distinct style (hello, 1980s!). All before his debut full-length, “Times are Weird These Days,” drops next month.

His picks: Surfer Blood; Dom

Catch them: June 17 at Knitting Factory and June 18 at McCarren Park (Surfer Blood); June 17 at Brooklyn Bowl (Dom)

He says: “These are two of my favorite bands in 2011 — very progressive and amazing personalities.”

SHARON VAN ETTEN

Catch her: June 17 at McCarren Park

We say: This singer-songwriter is one of those rare talents, armed with a captivating voice and heart-rendering lyrics that demand your attention. It’s no wonder Bon Iver covered her break-out single, “Love More.” She opens for the king of indie melancholy, Beirut.

Her pick: Xeno and Oaklander

Catch them: June 16 at Public Assembly

She says: “I have never seen them before. I love everything that Weird Records does. I am curious how their live shows are translated from the records I know.”

Her pick: Mount Eerie from Anacortes

Catch them: June 19 at St. Cecilia’s Church

She says: “I haven’t seen him in years, but he writes really beautiful songs. I started listening to him when I decided to move to New York, so it also feels like music from the soundtrack of my life.”

JEREMY HAINES (from Project Jenny, Project Jan)

Catch him: June 19 at Spike Hill

We say: Joined by partner-in-crime Sammy Rubin, this electronic outfit makes instantly danceable, hilarious music while channeling bands like Basement Jaxx and Gorillaz. You’ll be nodding your head to their catchy beats long after they’ve packed up their laptops.

His pick: Tiny Victories

Catch them: June 17 at 285 Kent

He says: “I am really excited for Tiny Victories. They rock.”

His pick :Guided by Voices, Surfer Blood

Catch them: June 18 at McCarren Park

He says:  “I am even more excited for the McCarren Park shows (Surfer Blood and Guided By Voices, although Beirut is cool, too).”

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Get your Northside Festival badges now!

You heard that Beirut was hosting this year's Northside Festival, right?

Well, here's more pertinent information: badges are on sale now for the four-day festival, from June 16-19 at various Williamsburg and Greenpoint venues, including McCarren Park, where Beirut will play in a new 5,000 capacity outdoor venue on June 17.

You can get badges for $60, and tickets to Beirut's show here. Badges grant access on a first-come, first-served basis, in addition to all Northside ideas, art and film events. You can also get discounts at bars and restaurants. So it pretty much sounds like a no-brainer if you want to take advantage.

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'Fiery' talk on the Northside Festival

Ten years ago, Eleanor Friedberger didn’t have too many places to play in Greenpoint.

As one half of the duo Fiery Furnaces (her brother, Matt, makes up the other), she moved to the neighborhood looking to be close to Williamsburg, but not pay Williamsburg prices.

“There were hardly any bars, just Polish restaurants and a couple Thai restaurants,” remembered Friedberger. “I think Enid’s had just opened, but that was the only bar around here.”

Today, Greenpoint and its neighbor to the south have a wealth of bars and music venues — enough to support the whirlwind four-day Northside Festival, running June 24-27.

Friedberger is most excited about a gig that’s not even at a venue, but at the Newtown Barge Park in Greenpoint, where Les Savy Fav will be playing on June 27.

“It has the most spectacular views of the city,” said Friedberger. “There’s never anybody there, I kind of don’t want to talk about it. But I’m excited people are finally using the space here.”

Friedberger is thrilled there’s such a vibrant music scene today in and around her neighborhood.

“There’s new things opening every day,” said Friedberger. “Every time I go on tour and come back, it’s so remarkable to see how much of it has changed. I ride my bike around and I’m constantly doing double-takes.”

When not riding around Greenpoint, Friedberger spends most of her time rehearsing with the band on the opposite end of the borough in Dyker Heights.

“It’s going to be the next Williamsburg,” joked Friedberger. “There aren’t any bars or restaurants there at all. It’s prime to be taken over.”

Fiery Furnaces at Brooklyn Bowl [61 Wythe Ave. between N. 11th and 12th streets in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369], June 25 at 9 pm. Tickets $10. For info, visit www.northsidefestival.com.

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Dinosaur Feather's Greg Sullo's guide to the Northside Festival

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

From June 24-27, more than 100 bands will be performing at this year’s Northside Festival, a four-day marathon of shows in Williamsburg and Greenpoint that’s Brooklyn’s answer to SXSW.

It’s not just the music fans who will be venue-hopping this festival. Greenpoint’s Greg Sullo (left), the man behind the Brooklyn-based indie rock trio Dinosaur Feathers, said he’ll be checking out shows all weekend (except when is own band is on stage at Public Assembly on opening night).

“I’m really excited to see Fang Island and MillionYoung,” said Sullo. “If we weren’t there, I’d be at the Knitting Factory for the Cloud Nothings, who play really catchy pop songs with just enough noise.”

After catching some Z’s, it’s back to Public Assembly on June 25 for the Pop Tarts Suck Toasted show, featuring Dinosaur Feathers and “more great noisy pop from our friends Shark? and Darlings,” said Sullo. Next door, the Music Hall of Williamsburg will be filled with performers from the Woodist label, which Sullo hopes to sneak into.

“The blissed-out grooves of Real Estate and psych country of Woods may lure me away from Public Assembly for a few minutes,” said Sullo.

The next day, the musician plans on moseying down the street from his Greenpoint apartment to the Newtown Barge Park.

“You will definitely find me there for the epic rock anthems of Titus Andronicus,” he said.

Later that night, it’s off to Berry Park, for sets from his two favorite Philly bands, Grandchildren and Drink Up Buttercup.

After three days of rocking, Sunday is the homestretch.

“If I’m still standing, I’ll be at Brooklyn Bowl for Keepaway and Glass Ghost,” said Sullo.

In addition to our guide, Red Bull just might be your best friend this weekend.

Northside Festival will be June 24-27 at various venues including Berry Park [4 Berry St. at Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint, (718) 782-2829]; Brooklyn Bowl [61 Wythe Ave. between N. 11th and 12th streets in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369]; Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Wythe and Kent avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400]; Newtown Barge Park (Commercial, Dupont and West streets in Greenpoint, no phone); and Public Assembly [70 N. Sixth St. between Wythe and Kent avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 384-4586]. For info, visit www.northsidefestival.com.

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Northside Fest full schedule here

The Northside Festival schedule is finally finalized.

There are way to many bands to list here, so start planning your weekend here.

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Northside Fest to return

From Greenpointer, the Northside Festival is on tap again for this year, June 24-27.

Last year's saw top acts such as the Hold Steady, Sunset Rubdown and Bishop Allen, with venues ranging from established halls to rooftops.

Organizers the L Magazine will roll out the list of bands, gallery events, film screenings over the next few months.

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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.

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Festival coming to the Northside

The Hold Steady

By Meredith Deliso

Austin has SXSW. Chicago has Lollapalooza. New York City has CMJ. Now, Brooklyn has the Northside Festival.

From June 11 to 14, Williamsburg and Greenpoint will be flooded even more than it already is with music, arts and film.L Magazine formed the festival to celebrate the thriving independent music and art scene in the city, a festival that, though maybe a long time company, the neighborhoods are just ripe for now.

“The festival just couldn’t have happened before now because Williamsburg and Greenpoint were still developing and growing,” said L Magazine Publisher Scott Stedman. “We’ve reached a point where there are enough great venues and galleries in the neighborhoods to support a festival of this scale. And with so many exciting bands and artists coming out of North Brooklyn, we thought it was a perfect time to bring all the elements together for a weekend, turning the area into one big stage for great music and art.”

With their Director of Programming Chantelle Hylton and music editor Mike Conklin taking the reigns, the magazine has pulled together a diverse program of established acts, like The Hold Steady (Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 11), Sunset Rubdown (Studio B on June 12), Bishop Allen (Studio B on June 13), and The Dodos (Studio B on June 14), as well as local up-and-comers. In particular, some of the eight bands you need to hear now that the magazine compiled in an issue this past April, specifically pow wow!, Savoir Adore, The Beets, The Albertans, Xylos and Anamanaguchi, will also play the festival.

“The opening party with Brightblack Morning Light will be pretty wild as well,” said Stedman of the June 11 event, at Studio B, which also features Mariee Sioux, Zomes, Daniel Higgs, as well as a rooftop BBQ from chef Kelly Geary of Sweet Deliverance. “There are hundreds of events going on – and more being announced every day, so it’s hard to choose [a favorite].”

In addition to the magazine’s own minds, they also got a little help from some friends in getting acts together for the festival, with dozens of influential NYC-based music businesses, including blogs, record labels and radio stations curating their own showcases. JezebelMusic.com (June 12 at Cameo Gallery), FREEWilliamsburg (June 12 at Death By Audio), IMPOSE Records (June 13 at Death By Audio), Less Artists More Condos (June 13 at The Shank), Brooklyn Based, along with Gothamist (June 13 at Public Assembly), and BrooklynVegan (June 14 at Europa) are just some of the Brooklyn-based businesses that have lent their talents and expertise.

Venues didn’t need any prodding to get on board, with over 50 music venues and galleries throughout the neighborhoods getting involved, including established spots like the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Pete’s Candy Store, Glasslands Gallery and Union Pool, as well as newer ones like Cameo Gallery and Bruar Falls. The festival will also christen Berry Park with a show during a Sound Fix-curated show featuring Death Vessel, BELL, Teengirl Fantasy and Weekends on June 13.

About those galleries – beyond music, artist receptions will occur throughout the neighborhoods, with L Magazine working with the Williamsburg Gallery Association to coordinate with galleries like Art 101, Figureworks and Slate. Fittingly, an event will coincide with the WGA’s 2nd Fridays, with a meet-and-greet with Joe Mangrum at Ch’i Contemporary Fine Art on June 12 (you can also watch Mangrum in action the following day at Ch’i as he creates a large sand painting outside the gallery).

With excitement building for the fast few months for the first one, the Northside Festival looks to be take over North Brooklyn each year, as L Magazine will make it an annual event.“Countless members of the independent music community have contacted us about being involved on some level, from curating showcases to throwing parties,” said Stedman of this year’s response. “And we’ve seen a ton of positive feedback from fans: the lineup of artists is generating lots of excitement as is the affordability of festival badges.”

At only $45, the badges definitely are a steal. Buy yours here if you haven't done so already.

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