The seventh edition of Northside Festival is taking over North Brooklyn this weekend to celebrate the beloved landscapes of music, film and technology.

By Francesca Beltran

Starting this Thursday, hundreds of emerging bands and some well-established acts will play throughout NYC’s trendiest borough. Like in most festivals out there, watching every single band is pretty much impossible, so here are some are some of our picks.

In the very heart of Williamsburg, McCarren Park’s FREE shows are at the top of the list with a great lineup that includes Luna, The Very Best, HEEMS, and Against Me! A couple of blocks away, The Inlet @ 50 Kent will host some fantastic acts like Neko Case, Rhye and Majical Cloudz on Friday; Best Coast, Built to Spill and Alvvays on Saturday; and Run The Jewels, Sleigh Bells and Vince Staples on Sunday. Other bands not to miss are Sunflower Bean at Williamsburg Walks, The Midnight Hollow at Union Pool, Drenge at Knitting Factory, Blonde Redhead at Warsaw, Calvin Love at Baby’s All Right, Jacco Gardner at Rough Trade, and Viet Cong at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Shows at McCarren Park are free with RSVP, and if you’re not a badge holder, you can purchase individual tickets for each event at the door (although we suggest you do it in advance). Northside is more than live music; it’s NYC’s answer to Texas’ SXSW, which means that aside from live shows, the festival also includes filmmakers and innovators. More information about Northside Film and Innovation showcases can be found here.