TORONTO - The North By Northeast Music and Film Festival and Conference gets going officially tomorrow with hundreds of bands in several different venues from the wee hours of the afternoon until the wee hours of the morning.

And while there are several shows associated or tied into this year's NXNE (My Morning Jacket, The Stills, Lightspeed Champion and Strike Anywhere among others), it's at the clubs over three days where all the highlights (and lowlights) usually take place.

Here's a sample of some of the bands well worth checking out during the hectic but heavenly musical feast:

Teenage Head

Thursday, 9 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square

Hamilton punk icons return for a free outdoor show in support of a new album featuring former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone keeping the beat. A great way to open this year's North By Northeast.

Sloan

Thursday, 9 p.m., The Mod Club

After the 30-song Never Hear The End Of It opus released in 2006, the Halifax-cum-Toronto popsters are back with a much tidier, 13-track affair called Parallel Play. Now in year 17, they're still playing quite well together.

Spirits Of The Dead

Thursday, 10 p.m., El Mocambo (Upstairs)

Taking an Edgar Allen Poe poem as one's name might be strange, but this Norweigen retro-sounding band has a lot in common with Swedish group The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, minus the tunics.

The Wailin Jennys

Thursday, 11 p.m., Lee's Palace

The sweet Winnipeg roots-folk trio are wrapping up touring behind 2006's Firecracker, but are already thinking ahead to the next record. And they recently covered Tiny Tim's Tiptoe Through The Tulips.

The New Odds

Thursday, 12 a.m., El Mocambo (Downstairs)

After disbanding nearly a decade ago, three-quarters of Vancouver pop rock band Odds are together again with a new album entitled Cheerleader and a new single My Happy Place.

Money Mark

Thursday, 12 a.m., Horseshoe

While known for his work with Beastie Boys, Money Mark has also collaborated with an eclectic talent mix ranging from Yoko Ono to Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The artist's last album was 2007's Brand New By Tomorrow.

Ladyhawk

Friday, 6 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square

Although playing again late Saturday evening/Sunday morning, Vancouver's Ladyhawk will kick Friday off loudly with songs such as S.T.H.D. and I Don't Always Know What You're Saying.

Junior Pantherz

Friday, 9 p.m., Rivoli

The prairies are often a hotbed of indie rock, but this Saskatoon group continues to carry on with a new album entitled Rejoice, Remain. Junior Pantherz also recently contributed to a Thrush Hermit tribute album.

Afterhours

Friday, 10 p.m., Hard Rock Cafe

This Italian group has been around for a while but has made inroads thanks to appearances at South By Southwest in 2007 and a U.S. tour. A new album features an appearance by The Gutter Twins' Greg Dulli.

Hugh Cornwell

Friday, 10 p.m., Dakota Tavern

The legendary lead singer of British punk band The Stranglers returns for an acoustic performance at NXNE. The following day Cornwell sees his documentary Blueprint makes its North American debut at NXNE.

Basia Lyjak

Friday, 11 p.m., Hard Rock Cafe

Making her first appearance after a few months recording a full-length album, Basia Lyjak will be unveiling some new material including the song Stay. She's been compared to Janis Joplin among others.

Evan Dando

Friday, 12 a.m., Horseshoe

The Lemonheads' leader Evan Dando has a second wind after the reissue of the band's It's A Shame About Ray last year. Dando also released a Squealing Fans covers compilation where fans covered Lemonheads song.

Swervedriver

Friday, 1 a.m., Lee's Palace

No new album to tour behind but who cares? This critically acclaimed '90s British group reunited for a North American tour this year (their first in a decade) and speculation is new material is a possibility.

Warren Flandez

Saturday, 8 p.m., Rivoli

Born in Yellowknife but calling Vancouver home, Warren Flandez's new album Mayfield Park is getting lots of kudos. Expect old-school soul and R 'n B a la Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Sam Cooke.

Bran Van 3000

Saturday, 9 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square

It's been 11 years since they struck gold with Drinking In L.A. but this Montreal collective returned last year with the album Rose. The album was reportedly recorded at Depeche Mode's studio in L.A.

Dance Yourself To Death

Saturday, 9 p.m., Holy Joe's

This T.O. quartet are known for catchy hooks and a growing fan base. Compared at times to '80s band XTC, Dance Yourself To Death will have a full-length record out this summer.

We Are Balboa

Saturday, 10 p.m., Holy Joe's

Having opened for groups like Mudhoney and The Charlatans UK, Spain's We Are Balboa hopes to score a knockout a la Rocky with a strong set at NXNE. They also play NXNE Friday afternoon and Sunday.

The Two Koreas

Saturday, 11 p.m., El Mocambo (Downstairs)

The next best thing to being in a rock band is often being a rock critic. Fortunately most of The Two Koreas have both angles covered in this case. The Toronto indie-garage rock outfit returns with a new Sessions EP.

Redd Kross

Saturday, 1 a.m., Lee's Palace

The Los Angeles power pop band went on hiatus following touring behind 1997's Show World album but have been back in a big way since 2006 and are planning to release a new record in the near future.