NORTHERN EXPOSURE

The Northside Festival, CMJ’s Williamsburg-specific baby bro, which starts Thursday, will once again bring more big names to a neighborhood full of them. This year, none is bigger than the four recruited to play Friday evening’s McCarren Park stage: of Montreal, Jens Lekman, the Thermals, and Beach Fossils will all be dropping by for what will surely be one of the best indie-rock events of the summer. Other festival highlights? Twin Sister and Physical Therapy headlining the Stereogum’s Cameo Gallery soiree on Saturday and Crystal Stilts and Amen Dunes at the Sacred Bones showcase on Sunday.

Fri., June 15, 7 p.m., 2012