Your Ultimate Guide to CMJ in Brooklyn

CMJ Music Marathon is back! For those of you who don’t know, CMJ stands for College Music Journal and every year, for one week in October, thousands of bands perform throughout New York City. In its 33rd year, it gives people who work in the music industry as well as music fanatics a chance to be exposed to new artists. That’s where you – our readers – come in. This Tuesday kicks off the beginning of the festival, with the final day on Saturday. While most of the official showcases are held in Manhattan, there are a ton of shows in Brooklyn as well. No badge? No problem! We’ve picked out the best shows around the Williamsburg/Bushwick area that are affordable or, better yet, FREE. Also check out the top 8 breakout artists we think are going to make waves this CMJ!

If you have a show you’d like us to add, put it in the comment section and in the Events Calendar – we’ll throw it on the list! Take a deep breath and get ready for the week!

 10/15 TUESDAY:

#1 Heliotropes, Friend Roulette, Is/Is, Spirit Vine, Invisible Days @ The Paper Box (8PM) $5 advance, $8 doors

#2 CMJ: by Campers’ Rule Records: Spirit Plate, Radical Dads, Norwegian Arms, Caged Animals, Hippy @ Muchmores (7:30PM) $8

#3 BestNewBands.com CMJ Showcase: Shilpa Ray, Kissing is a Crime, Grand Resort, Eastern Hollows, Clouty @ Matchless (8PM) $7

#4 Sugar Mama Bk CMJ KICKOFF SHOWCASE: Crazy Pills, Hippy, The Brooklyn What, Sharkmuffin, Sideasideb, Starina & Wet Paint @ Legion Bar (6PM) $5

10/16 WEDNESDAY:

#1 SHOT! CMJ SHOWCASE: Perfect Pussy, Total Slacker, Sisu, Hunters, Tweens, Lodro @ The Flat (7PM) $8

#2 CMJ “SHOT!” HOUSE AFTER PARTY: Saint Pepsi, Kitty, Weekend Money, Kristina Tequila, Saloman Faye, Surprise guest @ Secret Location (12AM) FREE

#3 Newtown Radio PRESENTS – UNOFFICIAL CMJ PARTY @ Shea Stadium (8PM) $10

#4 Move Forward Music x Red Bull Sound Select x Plug Research: Rat King, Amp Live, Emily Bell, more @ Free Candy (8PM) FREE w/ RSVP or $7

10/17 THURSDAY:

#1 The Sky Report/Supercrush Studio/Bushwick Daily Unofficial CMJ Party with Psychic Twin, Andre Obin, Foxes in Fiction, Orange Gold Red, Public Speaking @ Bizarre (8:30PM) $5 (totes worth it!)

#2 My Social List 10/17 OFFICIAL CMJ SHOWCASE @ Muchmores (12PM) FREE W/ RSVP

#3 Deli Magazine Official CMJ shows: Heeney, Dead Stars, Slonk Donkerson, People’s Champs, Sway Machinery, EMEFE, Mammal Dap @ Spike Hill (8PM)

#4 Room Full of Strangers, American Party Machine, Raccoon Fighter, more @ The Paper Box (7:30PM) $8 advance, $10 at the door

#5 CMJ Showcase: Big Quiet, EULA, FAN-TAN, The Meaning of Life, Heavy Birds @ Legion Bar (8PM) $5

#6 IMPOSE, TERROREYES AND THE NEEDLE DROP AT CMJ @ Shea Stadium (8PM) FREE

10/18 FRIDAY:

#1 Aputumpu presents Official CMJ Showcase with: The Tontons, The Denzels, Osekre and The Lucky Bastards, The Grizzled Mighty + more @Muchmores (5PM) $8

#2 CMJ House Party with The Veda Rays, Happy Lives, What Model Citizens, Zula, Sharkmuffin, Wet Paint @ 1107 Irving Ave (7PM)

#3 BestNewBands.com Official CMJ Showcase: Caged Animals, The Veda Rays, Haybaby, Surfing @ The Flat (8PM) $5

#4 CMJ 2013 Showcase: Blue Sky Black Death w/ Sister Crayon, The Range (Album Release), Aurora Halal @ Cameo Gallery (11:59PM) 

10/19 SATURDAY:

#1 DIY Brooklyn Official CMJ Showcase: Backwards, Adam Aslan Pony, Island Twins, Zula @ The Flat (8PM) $5

#2 City Bird Publicity & The Vinyl District Presents CMJ 2013 @ Passenger Bar (2PM) FREE

#3 DINGUS’ CMJ MARATHON @ Free Candy (4PM) FREE

#4 My Social List 10/19 OFFICIAL CMJ SHOWCASE @ Muchmores (12PM) FREE W/ RSVP

#5 CMJ Showcase: My Teenage Stride, The Planes, Radical Dads, Slothrust, The Brooklyn What, Duke Evers @ Matchless (7:30PM) $8

#6 Unofficial CMJ Backyard Party!! Sideasideb,Sharkmuffin, N y t y l y, Honey Wild & more @ 94 Evergreen (5PM)

#7 Arbutus CMJ Showcase @ Shea Stadium (7PM) $10