Get excited: The NYC Popfest 2011 is happening this weekend! This festival is in it’s 5^th year, and while not one of the bigger ones out there, it has been growing in popularity and notoriety since its first incarnation in 2007. It’s not going to headline Radiohead anytime in near future; instead, expect a lineup with a few of the quasi-famous (along the lines of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Radio Dept.)  filled out by up-and-comers, most of which I’ve never heard of. In short, Popfest is the place to go for a weekend-long injection of shiny new indie pop.

Popfest this year has a distinctly outside-New-York flavor. While New York still makes a strong showing, bands are coming in from all over the East Coast and beyond. A few bands from California are making their way out. The U.K. has good representation, and Swedish, Japanese, and Australian bands are getting in on the fun as well.

Popfest takes place through Sunday, with shows at Cameo Gallery, Paul Smith Sale Shop, Santos Party House, Spike Hill, and The Rock Shop. For a full lineup of the weekend’s festivities, check out the Popfest website. The Cake Shop show last night sold out, and that was on a Thursday. I suggest pre-ordering your tickets ASAP. I’ll be at Cameo tonight, looking forward to Betty and the Werewolves. Come say hi!