Now that the warm weather has finally thawed New York’s frozen core and melted away everyone’s collective doldrums, it’s time for the city’s countless music festivals to start popping up, and one of them – perhaps one of the city’s most unique – is about to hit this Thursday night.  The Brain-Cave Festival, now in its third year and taking place at Europa in Greenpoint from April 11 - 14, bills itself as something of a music and multimedia extravaganza, and will feature a ton of NYC acts like Hooray for Earth, Peelander-Z, Lemonade, The Suzan, Monogold, Eula, Zongo Junction, Forgetters (mems. of Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil/Against Me!) GunFight!, Quiet Loudly and more, plus live art, video projections, DJs and other surprises (not to mention an open bar each night!). For festival founder Luis Velasquez (CaraBella Presents) and co-producer Gabo Rodriguez (Supercrush Studio), Brain-Cave is a chance to showcase a wide variety of musical acts alongside art – a combination of ear and eye-candy guaranteed to mess with your senses and rattle your own brain cave.  The festival has grown exponentially since its humble beginnings at Shea Stadium in 2011 and its stint at the Bell House last year, and now boasts four nights of music and art. For only $12 a night (or $40 for the whole festival - advance pricing), you’ll get four days of Brain-Cave, including a day show at the Greenpointers.com Spring Market on Saturday.  Get more info on the fest here.

Tomorrow, come support some local history through the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society at the Onderdonk House with a selection of some of the city’s finest indie rock bands, food and booze at the Arbitration Rock Festival. Bands include Not Blood Paint, PassKontrol, Bad Credit No Credit (pictured), Backwords, GunFight! (streaming) and more. Also, as summer’s starting to wind down (it’s already August?!), you might want to come for the opportunity to bask in the sun! More info here.

Aputumpu, Birddog Productions, My Social List and Brooklyn Brewery present Breakout Sessions' Summer Highlights Fest this Saturday at Brooklyn’s newest venue, Delinquency (1031 Grand St.). The day-long event is not to be missed, and will feature such local luminaries as Grand Rapids, Lost Boy?, The Yellow Dogs, GunFight!, Osekre & the Lucky Bastards, Roadside Graves and more! It’s also the CD release of current Deli NYC Artist of the Month Dust Engineers (streaming below). On top of all these sweet bands, Brooklyn Brewery has generously donated two, two-hour blocks of open bar to the event, which means you’re more than getting your money’s worth. More details here.

No Northside Badge? That’s OK, you can still come out to Pianos tonight for the second night of the Natureboy residency, featuring also Deli favorites Shenandoah & the Night, GunFight! and interesting newcomers Grow Up to Be Cowboys. Between Natureboy’s captivating and atmospheric folk-pop, Shenandoah and the Night’s pensive, country-tinged indie rock and GunFight!’s bombastic country-punk, there’s a bit of something for everyone to drink to.