CMJ 2015 is in full swing. The festival takes its name from the College Media Journal, which was started by Robert Haber in 1978. Haber’s publication was aimed at college radio programmers and their audiences, a crowd which is still well represented at each year’s festival. This year the CMJ speaker schedule includes talks and workshops on the radio resumes, interviews and the history of student-run radio as well as the CMJ College Radio Awards.

As much as the five day, non-stop marathon still honors its history in college radio, it also delves into the live scene. Well over a thousand bands with varying levels of exposure play venues all over New York. From the basement-like space of Cake Shop to the expansive Brooklyn Bowl, artists gather to play their best and celebrate music. This year’s line-up includes bands of every genre and size. Seeing all of them is infeasible, but here are about dozen acts that you can’t miss.

– – – – – – – – – – T H U R S D A Y – – – – – – – – – –

Glass Animals
Genre: Indie Rock
Set Time:
Thu, October 15, 8:00 PM
@ Terminal 5
Listen To: “Black Mambo”

Girls with Brown Hair
Genre: Indie Rock/Comedy
Set Time:
Thu, October 15, 8:06 PM > 8:16 PM
@ The Unicorn
Listen To: “Dad Rap”

Panda Bear
Genre: Experimental
Set time:
Thu, October 15, 9:00 PM
@ Bowery Ballroom
Listen To: “Boys Latin” off of Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper

The Maccabees
Genre: Indie Rock
Set Time:
Thu, October 15, 11:00 PM > 11:45 PM
@ Mercury Lounge
Listen To: “Spit It Out”
off of Marks To Prove It

Palehound
Genre: Indie/Punk Rock
Set Time/s:
Thu, October 15, 9:00 PM > 9:30 PM
@ Union Pool
Fri, October 16, 1:45 PM > 2:15 PM
@ Palisades
Sat, October 17, 11:30 PM > 12:00 AM
@ Pianos
Listen To: “Molly” off of Dry Food

– – – – – – – – – – F R I D A Y – – – – – – – – – –

Have Mercy
Genre: Punk Rock
Set Time:
Fri, October 16, 6:30 PM
@ Marlin Room at Webster Hall
Listen To: “Collider”

Microwave
Genre: Indie Rock
Set Time:
Fri, October 16, 6:30 PM
@ Marlin Room at Webster Hall
Listen To: “Stovall” off of Stovall

Department
Genre: Indie/Pop Rock
Set Time:
Fri, October 16, 9:15 PM > 9:45 PM
@ Alphabet Lounge
Listen To: “Systems” off of Aporia

Gang of Thieves
Genre: Funk Rock
Set Time:
Fri, October 16, 11:00 PM > 11:45 PM
@ Fontana’s
Listen To: “Cocoa Mocha”
off of Thunderfunk

Celestial Shore
Genre: Indie Rock
Set Time/s:
Fri, October 16, 8:00 PM
@ Baby’s All Right
Sat, October 17, 2:00 PM > 2:30 PM
@ Fulton Stall Market
Listen To: “Creation Myth”
off of Enter Ghost

– – – – – – – – – – S A T U R D A Y – – – – – – – – – –

Narc Twain
Genre: Indie
Set Time:
Sat, October 17, 6:30 PM > 7:20 PM
@ Pianos (Upstairs)
Listen To: “Downhill”

State Champs
Genre: Punk Rock
Set Time: Sat, October 17, 7:00 PM
@ Webster Hall
Listen To: “All You Are Is History”
off of Around The World and Back

The Wonder Years
Genre: Punk Rock
Set Time:
Sat, October 17, 7:00 PM
@ Webster Hall
Listen To: “Cigarettes & Saints”
off of No Closer to Heaven

Motion City Soundtrack
Genre: Pop Rock
Set Time:
Sat, October 17, 7:00 PM
@ Webster Hall
Listen To: “Lose Control”
off of Panic Stations

Kate Nash
Genre: Singer/Songwriter
Set Time:
Sat, October 17, 11:30 PM > 12:30 AM
@ Bowery Ballroom
Listen To: “Sister”
off of Girl Talk

Potty Mouth
Genre: Punk
Set Time: Sat, October 17, 7:30 PM > 8:10 PM
@ Bowery Ballroom
Listen To: “Cherry Picking”

-Zoe Marquedant