Northside Music is upon us. It seems like a zillion bands are playing and we get dizzy just from looking at the festival’s poster. But rather than be overwhelmed by the phrase “+ 400 more”, we’ve sorted through the offerings and have some recommendations for those who prefer to stick to one or two shows a night. So, without further adieu, here are our picks. Please note, the starred shows are free.

Thursday, June 11
*Luna/Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
McCarren Park
6:30pm
Free
This is a great bill. Chris Forsyth can shred. You’ll be spellbound by his skills. Face melting will ensue. As for Luna, Dean Wareham is an indie music god (remember Galaxie 500?), and when he gets together with his wife Britta Phillips, it’s magic. Luna has already been around the block and knows what their doing, plus the show is free. How can you go wrong?

Jacco Gardner/Nap Eyes/Heaven’s Gate
Rough Trade NYC
8pm
$12
We’ve already waxed poetic about Jacco Gardner. You can read here why this show is on our list.

1 Percent Presents: Monogold/Dead Leaf Echo/Monomyth/Sexores
Black Bear Bar
9pm
$10
We like to pace ourselves at these sort of festivals and this bill has got that chill, psychedelic factor. Stand back and prepare to be washed in fuzzy guitars and reverb.

Friday, June 12
*The Very Best/HEEMS/Irie Maffia/Jacco Gardner/Oy/Sevaliza/St. Grandson
McCarren Park
5pm
Free
If you only hit one show at Northside it should be this one. It’s got so much going on musically, many of the acts are from out of town (and far away), and it’s free. You can read a little bit about the Very Best over here. As for HEEMS, he recently dropped the bold and brilliant Eat, Pray, Thug, which he’ll be playing tracks from. Go to this show.

Ex Hex/Spider Bags
Music Hall of Williamsburg
9pm
$13
Mary Timony and her all-female crew specialize in pop-punk reverb rock, and they’re pretty damn good at it. Their debut album Rips, which came out last year via Merge, was one of the best releases of 2014. Dan McGee’s Spider Bags kick off the night with their seductive garage rock hooks.

Scenic Presents: Wild Yaks/Violent Bullshit/Youthquake/Gözer
Grand Victory
7pm
$10
Wild Yaks are locally brewed and don’t put on a show as much as try to create a chaotic communal music experience. Frontman Rob Bryn is a indie rock poet who pours his heart out on the stage. But he doesn’t do it in some mushy way, he yells it and he wants you to yell along too. The Yaks have a new album they’re pumping called Rejoice!, but are likely to play some old favorites too.

Alden Penner & Michael Cera/Small Black DJ Set
Knitting Factory
11pm
$15
Yeah, this bill has a name actor on it, but that’s not why we picked it. We’re diehard fans of The Unicorns, the Montreal band Alden Penner was in with Nick Thorburn way back when. They recently reunited and opened for Arcade Fire at the Barclays Center. Anyway, Penner is a gifted musician and if has teamed up with Michael Cera, we trust the music they are producing is amazing (listen to a sample below). Penner’s new EP Canada In Space is due out June 29 on City Slang on digital and vinyl formats.

Saturday, June 13
Panache Booking showcase: Calvin Love/Michael Rault/EZTV/The Holydrug Couple/Heaters/Moonwalks
Baby’s All Right
8pm
$12
We picked this showcase purely because its Panache Booking and they know their stuff. We trust this will be a fun and rocking show.

Bella Union Presents PINS/Doomsquad/Little May/Romance
Rough Trade NYC
8pm
$10
And now for something a little bit different, enter Canadian dark new age trio Doomsquad. They are currently on tour with Fucked Up and stop by Northside to play this Bella Union showcase with all-female pop-rock Manchester band PINS. Should be an interesting night.

Blonde Redhead/Chris Bear & Aaron Arntz
Warsaw
9pm
$25 adv/$30 at the door
Kazu Makino and the Pace twins (Amedeo and Simone) continue their touring ways following the release of last year’s Barragán via Kobalt. This Northside gig is the first of the trio’s area shows during their current jaunt (they’re back to play Webster Hall on June 23). Forming in 1993, Blonde Redhead haven’t been afraid to experiment with their sound over the years and their live shows are captivating. Opening are drummer Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear) and keyboardist Aaron Arntz, who are performing as a duo.

*Merchandise/Sunflower Bean/Gabi/Bully
UO Live Stage at Williamsburg Walks
2pm
Free
This is an outdoor daytime show on Bedford sponsored by Urban Outfitters. It’s worth getting there early for the opener Bully. Hailing from Nashville, the fuzz-pop 4-piece fronted by Alicia Bognanno are about to release their debut LP via Startime International. We suggest familiarizing yourself with their update to 90s grunge now (check out “Trying” below). If you miss them play here, they’re also opening the Best Coast/Built to Spill show at 50 Kent later in the day. Also on the UO bill is Gabrielle Herbst, who will fill the air with her etherial electronic project, and Sunflower Bean, who seem to be spreading their neo-psychedelic seed all over town right now. 4AD’s Merchandise close out the afternoon. Emerging from Tampa, Florida’s punk scene, Merchandise keep reinventing themselves. We believe they are currently touring as a 3-piece, but had 5 members not too long ago.

Sunday, June 14
*Light Asylum/Secret Guest Band/Honduras/Eskimeaux/American Wrestlers
UO Live Stage at Williamsburg Walks
2pm
Free
It’s another free outdoor show on Bedford courtesy of Urban Outfitters. This one tees off with Gary McClure’s lo-fi indie-pop project American Wrestlers. From there, the forecast turns dreamy as Gabrielle Smith’s Eskimeaux takes to the stage in support of O.K., out now on Double Double Whammy. Indie rockers Honduras and electronic music duo Soul Asylum should both bring the heat to close out this very solid afternoon.

Northern Spy Records Presents Sun Ra Arkestra/Shilpa Ray/PC Worship/Jooklo Duo
Rough Trade
7pm
$18
This bill is out of this world. Shilpa Ray is a goddess. Her voice is to die for and she has a new album out too, Last Year’s Savage.  Sun Ra Arkestra, who are under the direction of 91-year-old Marshall Allen, dazzle with their spaced out jazz. This bill should blow minds.

Viet Cong/Sannhet/Girl Band
Music Hall of Williamsburg
9pm
$15
Viet Cong are an industrial post-punk band from Canada who were born from the break-up of art rock band Women. Their self-titled debut, which ends with an 11-minute anthem called ‘Death’, is sure to be remembered when people make their best of 2015 yearend lists. Dublin’s Girl Band are also on the bill, and they put on a hell of live show. See them performing “Lawman” on KEXP below.