Your guide to RestFest 2012

Rest Fest is upon us, and if you don’t already know, it’s a music festival that takes place in historic St. Josephs Church in Albany. This year’s festival takes place on on Sept 7th, 8th and 9th, which is this weekend.

The full lineup may be daunting to those who aren’t familiar with all the bands, so here’s your full cheat sheet to this years show.

Sharon Van Etten — This years big headliner. She opened for Conor Oberst at the Egg recently, and was listed as a must-see act at Lollapalooza by Rolling Stone.

Willy Mason — Having two folk singers as parents may have something to do with Willy becoming one himself. He’s signed to Conor Oberst’s label and has toured with Death Cab and Radiohead.

Brian Dewan — Brian’s an artist who’s made cover artwork for David Byrne, They Might Be Giants and Neutral Milk Hotel. Dewan’s music is a solo effort with him playing the autoharp, electric zither, organ, and accordion. Brian’s sound is definitely a throwback, which many people will enjoy.

The Loom — Brooklyn based indie rock band. The Loom have played almost every major festival and have been touted as “the next big thing” by The New York Times. They incorporate a bunch of left-field instruments such as mandolin, French horn, banjo, ukelele among others.

Mount Eerie — Washington-based lo-fi band. Sounds like Bon Iver with much less shrieking and many more harmonies.

Hop Along — Female fronted indie rock which is much more airy than most. I really love three pieces and this is no different. Front-woman Frances Quinlan has been in Albany a few times, but not too many with her full band. Also nuts their album was recorded over a two-year period.

Common Prayer — Another Brooklyn-based indie band. Quite relaxed and melodic, easy and fun to listen to. The BBC has called their album “one of the year-so-far’s most recommended under-the-radar releases.”

The Parlor, formerly We Are Jeneric, is a local B3nson band comprised of Eric Krans and Jen O’Connor. I’ve seen them out a few times and they are amazingly tight live and their vocals are incredible.

Swamp Baby is another B3nson group deeply rooted in the Capital District music scene. Quite etherial and airy.

Barons in the Attic, another local B3nson group. These guys play out quite often and on the off chance you haven’t caught them, listen below.

Sgt Dunbar. Local. B3nson. Grand.

Giles Bennett and The Petrified Woods, Indie flavored country/Americana. Another B3nson group.

The Kamikaze Hearts — Albany based porch-rock. They will be reuniting for this Rest Fest. You may recognize member Matthew Loiacono of Matthew Carefully and Rosary Beard. No bandcamp link, but they’ve got a bunch of videos on YouTube.

Better Pills, which has almost no information whatsoever online, is a project by Brent Gorton, which sounds like the child of jazz and surf rock. To listen, you can download their album on their website.

Dryer, mid-90s Cap City college radio staple. Their regrouping landed them a Metroland cover story. Music on their MySpace.

The Ramblin Jug Stompers, Zydeco-ish, folk-ish, American string music. Music here.

GOLDTOOTH Rap rock, but in a good way. Music here.

Careers. Can’t find a single thing.