The Downtown music fest returns for its 10th edition this week, and you won’t have to race all over town to take in the action. This time, it’s happening on four stages at two familiar venues: Beauty Bar and the Bunkhouse. Here are nine of our picks to help you get started, then visit neonreverb.com for a complete schedule.
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Most Thieves
From: Las Vegas
Put them on a playlist with: Imagine Dragons, The Killers, Snow Patrol
Go because: The Killers have handpicked them to open shows in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, and polished songwriter Eric Koch writes the sorts of songs you could hear on the radio sometime soon.
When: Thursday, March 21, 11 p.m., Beauty Bar
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Acid Baby Jesus
From: Athens, Greece
Put them on a playlist with: Black Lips, The Sonics, Brian Jonestown Massacre
Go because: Their twisted garage-pop caps off a globe-spanning Slovenly Recordings showcase that also features Amsterdam’s The Anomalys, Puerto Rico’s Los Vigilantes and Montreal’s Hellshovel.
When: Thursday, March 21, 1 a.m., Bunkhouse
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Brainstorm
From: Portland, Oregon
Put them on a playlist with: Dirty Projectors, Vampire Weekend, Talking Heads
Go because: The tunes on their latest album, 2012’s Heat Waves, are arty but accessible, embracing African rhythms, post-punk textures and sing-along melodies.
When: Friday, March 22, 9:45 p.m., Beauty Bar
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Coastwest Unrest
From: Las Vegas
Put them on a playlist with: The National, The Pogues, Blitzen Trapper
Go because: It’s the release show for the sound-expanding third album High Times on Lowly Streets. Also unveiling new discs at the fest: veteran cow-punkers The Clydesdale (on the same bill) and Brendan Scholz’s Mercy Music (Saturday at Beauty Bar).
When: Friday, March 22, 11 p.m., Bunkhouse
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Caveman
From: New York City
Put them on a playlist with: Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, The Shins
Go because: They’ve toured with Here We Go Magic and The War on Drugs, and their upcoming second album has breakout potential. See them before it gets expensive to.
When: Friday, March 22, 11:45 p.m., Beauty Bar
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A Crowd of Small Adventures
From: Las Vegas
Put them on a playlist with: Wolf Parade, Billy Bragg, Arcade Fire
Go because: Jackson Wilcox has a batch of interesting new tunes, and this show’s a great way to dip a toe into the local scene (the folky Dusty Sunshine, bluesy Same Sex Mary and hook-y Big Friendly Corporation are also on the bill).
When: The Weekly showcase, Saturday, March 23, bands begin at 8 p.m. (Crowd plays at 10:30 p.m.), Bunkhouse
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Old Man Markley
From: LA
Put them on a playlist with: Flogging Molly, Old Crow Medicine Show, Steve Earle
Go because: You didn’t get enough of the punky bluegrass crew at Punk Rock Bowling, or never made it Downtown to see a band our reviewer said “burned up the stage like speed-punkers who’d pawned their electric instruments for rent money.”
When: Saturday, March 23, midnight, Beauty Bar
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Rusty Maples
From: Las Vegas
Put them on a playlist with: The Shins, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Decemberists
Go because: They’re the Vegas band of the moment, touring their way back from South by Southwest and gearing up for an even bigger summer tour. This is your chance to catch ’em between road trips.
When: Sunday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Bunkhouse
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Milk Music
From: Olympia, Washington
Put them on a playlist with: Dinosaur Jr., Metz, The Stooges
Go because: The fuzzy guitar-rockers have played Pitchfork Festival, toured with much-buzzed Iceage and have a new album out next month titled Cruise Your Illusion. Really.
When: Sunday, March 24, 11:30 p.m., Beauty Bar
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