For better or worse, Art-a-Whirl has turned into a small-scale, even more heavily bearded and beery version of Austin's South by Southwest Music Conference, with a bunch of bands performing at the same time around northeast Minneapolis.

A seasoned vet of either event will tell you it pays to draw up a schedule ahead of time. You know, in case things get a little blurry. Here's my schedule this year, with entirely subjective (but totally awesome!) picks. I listed multiple options during the busiest times in case one venue is too packed.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. Swimsuit Area (331 Club outdoor stage)

7 p.m. Little Man (Indeed Brewing) or Viva Knievel (Bauhaus Brew Labs, 7-10 p.m.)

8 p.m. Zoo Animal (Fair State Brewing) or Slim Cessna's Auto Club (Indeed)

9 p.m. The Blind Shake (331 Club outdoor) or Gramma's Boyfriend (Fair State)

Midnight: Mrs. (331 Club)

SATURDAY

2 p.m. Roe Family Singers (331 outdoors)

3 p.m. Rich Mattson & the North Stars (Indeed)

4 p.m. Sam Cassidy (Indeed)

5 p.m. Valet (Anchor)

6 p.m. Fury Things (331 outdoors) or Chastity Brown (Lisa Elias Metal Studio)

7 p.m. L'Assassins (Psycho Suzi's, 7:30) or Pink Mink (331 outdoors) or Black Market Brass (Bauhaus)

8 p.m. Retribution Gospel Choir (331 outdoors) or Rupert Angeleyes (Indeed)

9 p.m. Sims (Grumpy's, 9:15) or Mixed Blood Majority (331 outdoors)

SUNDAY

3 p.m. Unknown Prophets (331 outdoors)

4 p.m. Paul Metzger (Indeed) or General B & the Wiz (331 outdoors) or Gramofone (Anchor)

5 p.m. The Stress of Her Regard (Anchor Fish & Chips) or Grant Hart (Indeed)

6 p.m. Romantica (Anchor)

8 p.m. MaLLy (331 outdoors)

MORE INFO

Anchor Fish & Chips: 302 13th Av. NE., 2-8 p.m. Sat., 2-7 p.m. Sun.

Bauhaus Brew Labs: 1315 NE. Tyler St., 7-10 p.m. Fri., 3-10 p.m. Sat.

Fair State Brewing: 2506 Central Av. NE., 5-10 p.m. Fri.

Grumpy's Northeast: 2200 NE. 4th St., noon-10 p.m. Sat.

Indeed Brewing: 711 15th Av. NE., 6-10 p.m. Fri., 1-10 p.m. Sat., 1-6 p.m. Sun.

Lisa Elias Metal Studio: 1129 NE. Van Buren St., 6-10 p.m. Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.

Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge: 1900 NE. Marshall St., noon-10 p.m. Sat.

331 Club: 331 13th Av. NE., 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri., noon-1 a.m. Sat., 1-9 p.m. Sun.

All shows are free. Check the venues' websites or Facebook pages for full schedules.