Navigate NXNW Intro ABOUT LAST NIGHT Schedule by Club Reviews of the Acts: Thursday Friday Saturday A-to-Z List of Acts Club Descriptions Conference Info Critics' Picks The Winners! Preview: Seattle's Sweet Mother record label zaps electronic music with an organic touch. Preview: Dave Bazan keeps Pedro the Lion running after his bandmates split. Preview: L.A. DJ the Angel spins her way out of the conception that women can't bring the beats.

Check back in with us Friday and Saturday morning for ABOUT LAST NIGHT, a daily review/ preview of NXNW! They say 90 percent of small businesses fail in their first three years; the same could be said of music festivals. Well, North by Northwest has hit the big No. 4, and it's stronger than ever, baby. Try to find a bigger and more diverse musical event in the Northwest--we dare ya! But enough grandstanding. We, the humble music writers of WW, have compiled a comprehensive (and official) guide to help you sort through the 350-plus bands, singer-songwriters and spoken-word artists who will turn Portland into the sonic center of the universe for three days and nights. How much would you pay for such a helpful device? Well, it's free, but don't answer yet. Because there's a lot more to know about NXNW '98. First, and maybe even foremost, moving the event from October to August has allowed for the addition of an outdoor stage, located conveniently in "Portland's living room," Pioneer Courthouse Square, and featuring Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers the Original P on Friday night. The daytime conference has expanded to add Thursday afternoon events such as panels and performances on the Spin/Bacardi Daystage inside HQ (the Hilton Hotel). OK, now it's time to delve into the several hundred band bios that follow, but first, a few ground rules. Descriptions of all performers are in order of day, time and club. There's also a schedule by club, an alphabetical list of bands, a map of the clubs, club descriptions and a summary of the daytime conference and related events. A limited supply of pocket guides will be available at venues and at Music Millennium locations during the event. And the Music Millennium free shuttle buses are back, wheeling attendees from club to club as all of Portland basks in the buzz of hundreds of bands playing rock, hip-hop, electronica, punk, funk, jazz, alt-country, ambient, reggae, folk, surf... ticket information NXNW wristbands allow wearers to enter all NXNW shows free of charge. The last day to buy wristbands for $20 is Sunday, Aug. 16. The price increases to $25 on Monday, Aug. 17. Wristbands are available at Music Millennium stores, Ozone Records (1036 W Burnside St.), the Willamette Week offices (822 SW 10th Ave.) or from Fastixx with a service charge (call 224-8499 in the Portland area or [800] 992-8499 outside of Portland). To attend individual shows, you can pay cover charges--ranging from $5 to $12--at the door of the club. Most cover charges are $7 to $8. Be aware that badge- and wristband-holders have preference when clubs are nearing capacity, and only a limited number of individual tickets are sold nightly at each club.

Editor Richard Martin Design Director/Production Manager Katherine Topaz Art Directors Molly Henty Mariane Zenker Editorial Production Patrick Bailey Copy Chief Jonathan Morrow Copy Editor Karen E. Steen Staff Music Writer John Graham Editorial Assistant Christina Melander Contributors Brooke DeNisco, Jeff Fuccillo, Karl Horeis, Alyssa Isenstein, Jackie Kasten, David Kihara, Josephine E.M. Martell, Kristy Ojala SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST STAFF Managing Director Roland Swenson Senior Directors Nick Barbaro, Louis Black NXNW Event Director Hugh Forrest NXNW Creative Director Brent Grulke Festival Coordinator Charlie Llewellin NXNW Marketing Director Phyllis Bernard NXNW Production Coordinator Leslie Uppinghouse