The first annual Northside Music and Arts Festival is set to defy the recession and go ahead in Brooklyn on June 11-14 this year. The festival will mirror the setup for CMJ and SXSW, with bands playing in multiple venues across Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Badges are on sale now at a very reasonable $45 for a limited period.

The lineup has been partially announced , and it looks like a decent selection of big and small bands. Sunset Rubdown, Brightblack Morning Light and Bill Callahan are among the established names playing, while promising newcomers such as the Beets (who are highly recommended) and Cymbals Eat Guitars are also among the artists appearing.

The Northside Festival has been put together by the L Magazine, but has also been partially organized by local record labels, blogs and radio stations. A number of art galleries are expected to stage exhibitions to coincide with the event. The Brown Paper Tickets site, which thankfully carries significantly less additional charges than most ticket agents, has $45 badges available here . [ Earfarm ]