MusicFest NW

Willamette Week organizes one of the best Oregon musical experiences of the year at their annual MusicFest NW, this year going down Sept. 3-6 (and not conflicting with the Eugene Celebration for once!). Held at Portland's variously harrowed and hailed venues big and small (Doug Fir, Crystal Ballroom, Wonder Ballroom, etc.), this is probably the only chance you'll get to see some of the darker indie kids dashing across town in broad daylight to catch a set by M. Ward. Like last year (Wolf Parade, Okkervil River, etc.), here's hoping some of these bands bleed down to Eugene before or after their MFNW set.

Here's the lineup (so far):

• Vampire Weekend
• TV on the Radio
• Mogwai
• The Murder City Devils
• Del the Funky Homosapien
• M Ward
• The Helio Sequence
• Xavier Rudd
• Old 97's
• Menomena
• Polvo
• Nada Surf
• The Cool Kids

PLUS: The Whigs • Jedi Mind Tricks • John Vanderslice • Dan Deacon • Seaweed • The Night Marchers • Blitzen Trapper • The Builders and The Butchers • Deerhunter • Steel Pole Bath Tub • Trans Am • Mirah • Fuck Buttons • Centro-Matic • Crooked Fingers • Bobby Bare Jr. • Monotonix • Fucked Up • Poison Idea • Matt and Kim • Nebula • These Arms are Snakes • Old Time Relijun • Colour Revolt • Death Vessel • Witchcraft • Stevie Jackson (of Belle and Sebastian) • The Blakes • The 1900's • Forro in the Dark • Bodies of Water • Rupa and the April Fishes • The Joggers • Supernova • Oxford Collapse • Calvin Johnson • Pierced Arrows • U.S.E. • Blue Giant • The Shaky Hands • Port O'Brien • The Mommyheads • Totimoshi • Sleepercar • Space Cookie • Akimbo • Past Lives • The Muslims • Pwrfl Power • The Devin Phillips Band • Kaia • Starfucker

Four-day wristbands bump up to $50 this year, but can you complain with this kind of action going on?