The Broken West play the sort of power pop you'll want as background for a trip to the beach, especially if you're into the Kinks and enjoy wearing vintage Adidas short shorts. The L.A.-based band released their first album earlier this year, and the sound is bright and dense, filled up with guitar and piano draped with harmonized vocals that seem to be looking toward George Harrison's work.

The Broken West
Los Angeles, CA
Latest Release: I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, 2007
Sunday the 16th, 12:50 p.m., Austin Ventures Stage


Big Sam's Funky Nation is unsurprisingly ruled over by one Big Sam, former trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The band is a big-band funk act comprised of musicians with jazz backgrounds who infuse their music with the the improvisational impulse that drives jazz while paying homage to the funk acts that came before them, basing much of their sound on a prominent horn section.

Big Sam's Funky Nation
New Orleans, LA
Latest Release: Take Me Back, 2006
Friday the 14th, 4:30 p.m., WaMu Stage

Rose Hill Drive are a power trio. They like to rock out loud with lots of wailing guitar and lots of hair -- which, really, if you're going to rock out, is the way to go. However, their songs seem to cite the Beatles and Alabama just as much as they nod towards Led Zeppelin and Cream.

Rose Hill Drive
Boulder, CA
Latest Release: Self-Titled, 2006
Sunday the 16th, 5:15 p.m., Austin Ventures Stage