Pop music spotlight: Popsickle Fest

Saturday: Another Twin Cities band that has made an annual tradition out of wrapping up a year of steady touring at First Ave, Motion City Soundtrack (pictured) spent most of 2010 on the road behind its first major-label release and fourth record overall, "My Dinosaur Life." For this year's homecoming show, the high-energy rock quintet is bringing along some of its friends from the road and turning it into a half-day, nine-band affair. Among the inaugural Popsickle participants are Seattle's Minus the Bear, also seen at Taste of Minnesota this summer, plus Cincinnati's hard-rock throwbacks Foxy Shazam and ex-Hush Sound singer Greta Morgan's new band, Gold Motel. Local recruits include Gospel Gossip, Now Now and One for the Team. (3:30 p.m. Sat. $22.50. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. All ages. 612-338-8388. www.first-avenue.com.) CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER