When it comes to the local NYC scene, Bryant Park’s Emerging Music Festival (EMF) is the place to be. Returning for its third year, the festival is a hotbed for community and creativity. As the city’s only exclusively local festival, EMF is a can’t miss opportunity for everyone interested in keeping up to date with the scene. And the best part is that entrance is completely free of charge (and there isn’t even a line to get in!) The two day event will take place on August 18th and 19th, and will feature bands like Landlady, 79.5, Rips, and more. Until then, listen to The Deli’s playlist of all the performers streaming below. - Lilly Milman 

Brooklyn rockers Rips made a name for themselves in the local scene with the sheer number of shows they’ve played since forming in 2013, and a sound that blends rawness and melody. Their debut, self-titled LP took a while to take shape but is finally being released this summer. In their preview single “Malibu Entropy” (streaming below,) they maintain the fuzzy, punhcy sound and casual attitude of garage rock, while adopting dreamy melodies and guitar progressions reminiscent of fellow Brooklynites Real Estate. The record release party will be hosted at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on July 1st at 8 pm. - Lilly Milman

 With their most recent album, Providence surf-garage rockers, Atlantic Thrills, re-embrace the Vices and excesses of American rock n roll.  Harkening back to the psych/surf rock bands of the 60s and adding a modern indie/garage flavor, Thrills challenges the need to wait for the weekend to indulge in some.....extracurriculars.  Classic vocal melodies and blistering guitar riffs make Vices the perfect soundtrack for all your iniquitous behavior.  Check them out at AS220 in Providence on 4/24 with RIPS and Midriffs. -Brian Varneke

Our Best Emerging of NYC band or 2015, psych garage trio Acid Dad will be headlining Baby's All Right on Saturday 12.17 with two other gritty vintage sounding local bands, Gymshorts and Rips. Enjoy their tunes below, but if you want to experience their true brute sonic power (and irresistible sensual antics), don't miss them live!

Our friends at OhMyRockness know a thing or two about what band plays where in NYC, and every year in December they publish the list of the local artists that played the most shows in the past 12 month: it's the 'NYC's Hardest Working Bands of 2016' list. It must be noted that, since OMR's deals with "Indie Rock" live listings, you won't find any songwriters or DJs or funk bands in this list. It seems like all bands are guitar based too for some reason. Since we were in the mood, we created a Soundcloud playlist of these ten artists, check it out below!