2014 CMJ Update: Outlaw Roadshow Begins Today; BV Saturday Lineup Announced

CMJ rolls onto its third day (and night), and here are a couple of updates (see our first CMJ 2014 post here). The Outlaw Roadshow, created by blogger Ryan Spaulding and Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz, is back this year and its three-day run of free gigs begins tonight at 7 p.m. at Bowery Electric (the venue for all three shows). Check the link, for you might still be able to RSVP for the shows (but make sure to get there early even if you do get confirmation).

The Outlaw Roadshow begins tonight at CMJ. See details below.

Tonight's Outlaw Roadshow lineup features Hollis Brown, Matt Sucich, Christian MacNeil & Seamonsters, Lily & the Parlour Tricks, Dan Blakeslee, and more. See the Bowery Electric website for more info.

Besides being free and having some good talent, the Outlaw Roadshow has this year's best CMJ poster hands down, in our opinion.

Brooklyn Vegan has now posted the lineup for its free Saturday day party. And the headliners are none other  than the NJ-based metro area punk favorites, Titus Andronicus. (See the full line-up on the poster below, and RSVP here.) Oh, and there's free beer, rum, and tattoos, BV notes. Sounds good to us. Both the Friday and Saturday shows are at Baby's All Right.

2014 CMJ Music Marathon Starts Today! Tips on What to See

See tips below on the best bands to see at CMJ 2014.

Prepare for live-music overload: the five days of the CMJ Music Marathon starts in just a few hours, Tuesday, Oct. 21st. That means hundreds of bands will be playing all over New York City. And you can see a lot of them for free (note: you may have to RSVP for many free shows, and then show up early because even with an RSVP the gigs are first come, first serve). And there are lots of unofficial shows, as well.

If you've got a flexible schedule and can make it to the daytime showcases, so much the better.

To dive into the massive number of acts, take a look at the official CMJ schedule (and download their free Oct. 2014 mixtape, featuring tunes from Purling Hiss, Young Magic, Matthew Dear, and more). For a more manageable, curated look at what's worth seeing, check these links (we've added more as we've come across them):

• The Oh My Rockness guide to official CMJ shows, list of 14 bands to see, and free shows during CMJ
• Flavorpill's "10 CMJ showcases you don't want to miss"
• NME's "16 bands you can't afford to miss at CMJ 2014"
• Time Out New York's "10 acts to see at this year's CMJ"
• Brooklyn Vegan takes a local perspective with "10 NYC artists to see at CMJ this week" (and see BV's own five shows at CMJ)

Here's a sampling of just a few of the showcases and other events going on during CMJ (which runs from the 21st to the 25th):
* No Sleep till CMJ II unofficial showcase from No Sleep Records & Brooklyn Vegan (Oct. 21st, 6 p.m.) at The Paper Box, Brooklyn with John Nolan, '68, Chris Farren, Run Forever, & more
* Bowery Presents day party (Saturday, Oct. 25th) at Piano's with The Wytches, Circa Waves, Water Liars, DMAs, & more
* Conscious Coupling showcase by Father/Daughter Records and Miscreant Records (Friday, Oct. 24th, 2 p.m.) at Silent Barn, Brooklyn with Comfy, Flagland, Girlpool, Bent Shapes, Leapling, & more
* Brooklyn Vegan free day parties (Oct. 24th & 25th, 12 Noon) at Baby's All Right, Brooklyn with Twin Peaks, Single Mothers, Protomartyr, & more (on Friday; Saturday lineup to come)

Rest up, check these lists and the CMJ website, and prepare for a great five days of live-music bingeing!

2014 CBGB Festival - Schedule, Ticket Info, and More

CBGB the club is just a memory, but its namesake music festival in New York is back for a third year. The 2014 incarnation, which runs from Wednesday, Oct. 9th from Sunday the 12th, once again features live music, film, panel discussions and workshops, and more. (You can find the full CBGB festival schedule here, and a similar version at Brooklyn Vegan.) The events take place at various venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

It's baaaack! See details on this year's CBGB Festival below.

Billy Idol gives the keynote address (along with an acoustic performance) at Center 548 (548 W. 22nd St.) on Thursday, well timed for his new album and autobiography. (Listen to Idol talking about his book on WNYC's Soundcheck.)

Among some of the other highlights of this year's CBGB Music & Film Festival: a free show at Bowery Electric on Thursday, and The Muffs at the Bell House and Macy Gray at City Winery, both on Friday. (See the full club show schedule here.)

And again, CBGB Fest will feature a free concert in Times Square: this year's (on Sunday) features Jane's Addiction, Robert DeLong, Devo, Surfer Blood and We Are Scientists. The show kicks off at 11 a.m., with Surfer Blood scheduled for 1:15 p.m., Devo at 4:30, Robert Delong at 5:25, and Jane's Addiction at 6:25 (all taking place at the Times Square South stage).

Film events include the world premiere of "Hardcore Devo Live;" "The Winding Stream," a film on the amazing musical legacy of the Carter and Cash families; and a 30th-anniversary screening of "This is Spinal Tap."

Each club show, film screening, and panel is individually ticketed; there are no all-festival passes. See specific links for music tickets, film tickets, and tickets to talks, panels, and other special events.

For more takes on what to see at this year's CBGB Festival, check out articles from the New York Post and Rolling Stone (all written a few weeks ago, before final schedules were issued). And follow CBGB on Twitter for updates.