While the "Eastside" indie rock scene has been garnering much attention, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that The New Los Angeles Folk Festival is this Saturday at Historical Monument 157 in Lincoln Heights. According to the festival's Kickstarter page, it "...celebrates the emergence of new L.A. folk in all its shapes and contrasts. It's the people's music. It's traditional and experimental, acoustic and electronic, throwbacks and progressive ideas." In addition, the festival will offer projections, charity raffle, beard contest, The Little Frenchie food truck, and surprises, with proceeds benefiting the Environmental Defense Fund's Gulf cleanup. more ›

Earlier this month, local record label Manimal Vinyl (see our interview last year with its founder) held its 2nd Annual Manimal Festival at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. "In its second year, the two-day event showcases bands on Paul Beahan's record label... alongside musically bohemian peers," described Daiana Feuer from Papermag. "Manimal's experimental pop catalog -- which began most notably by releasing Bat For Lashes' record two years ago -- lends a unified voice to freak folk and its close cousins, many which are collected on yearly tribute albums to Madonna, The Cure, and in 2010, David Bowie. Manimal's focus mainly follows two streams: The ethereal, spooky soloist tradition [and] the dance beat, taking pop to strange outer space." more ›