Fans await a performance at Toronto's NXNE festival in 2010. (Adrien Veczan/CP)

CBC Arts producer and music fest veteran Laura Thompson offers her tips for navigating the myriad acts descending on Toronto for the 2011 North by Northeast Festival this week and drawing up a concert-going game plan.

You know it's coming, but it always seems like there's still time -- to research the bands, to talk to friends that know who's hot and who's not, to boot up that spreadsheet and get your colour-coded schedule hammered out.

Then BAM. It's here. North by Northeast is suddenly at your doorstep and you haven't even tidied the coffee table.

This is not the year to rely on the NXNE website: It's sluggish and there is no comprehensive schedule anywhere to be found. Instead, turn to an issue of NOW Magazine, the free local Toronto weekly. I like good, old-fashioned print, so I can circle the worthwhile stuff and have it all laid out in front of me. But, NOW's online guide is pretty great, too.

'Anticipate line-ups. Amidst the musical euphoria, this is the ugly side of NXNE. Find your zen place.'

-- Laura Thompson

There are 650 bands and 50 venues this year. It's not exactly a simple task to figure out where to go and what to see, but you have to start somewhere and you have to start now.

First, isolate your must-sees. Let's use Wednesday night as an example. One might say that rhythm-masters The Meligrove Band, Library Voices from Regina and big-buzz act Pick a Piper are ones "not-to-miss." Let's take a closer look:

The Meligrove Band - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Library Voices - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 12am
Pick a Piper - The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. W) @ 1am

NXNE can get expansive, so always take venue location and travel time into account. This is key. Notice that Meligrove and Library are both at the Rivoli. So, make your 8 and 9pm picks based on venues in that area.

Options: Toronto punk-pop group We Were Heads at Velvet Underground (510 Queen St. W) @ 8pm or the dreamy tones of Loom, also at the Rivoli. If you're not familiar with these bands, have a quick listen online. I'm partial to Loom. So, Rivoli it is (again).

It makes sense to check out blonde folkster Megan Bonnell who occupies the 9pm slot there. She's got a wonderful Regina Spektor-esque appeal and seems the Rivoli had us at hello, at least until 11pm. So far, we've got:

Loom - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 8pm
Megan Bonnell - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 9pm
The Meligrove Band - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Library Voices - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 12am
Pick a Piper - The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. W) @ 1am

Options to fill our 11pm hole (still in the 'hood) are experimental noise-makers Spookey Reuben at Bovine Sex Club, Montreal's Red Mass at The Horseshoe Tavern or Mississauga's jazzy The Paint Movement at our haunt du jour, the Rivoli.

I'm sold by the awesome energy of Red Mass. So, we're headed to The Horseshoe for 11pm.

Always anticipate lineups to get into anything. Amidst the musical euphoria, this is the ugly side of NXNE. Find your zen place. Sacrifices must be made.

Plan to leave Megan Bonnell 15 minutes before her set is over and aim to get in at The 'Shoe 15 minutes after Red Mass has begun. This dedicates 30 minutes to waiting in line. Think of it this way: would you rather relax in Paris for 5 days or try to hit up Milan, Budapest and Frankfurt, too? Decisions, decisions.

Bassist Eoin Hickey-Cameron of Saskatchewan band Library Voices, a must-see on our list. (National Arts Centre/CP)

Remember, Red Mass was not on the must-see list and Library Voices was. No matter what, you want to be at the Rivoli by midnight. Let's assume we get there and Library Voices knocks our socks off.

The biggest risk of the evening will be getting to The Garrison in time for Pick a Piper. It's significantly northwest on the map.

Brace yourself for disappointment if it takes longer than expected to get there or if there's a line-up when you arrive. Accept that Library Voices may have been your last act of the night. This is life. This is NXNE.

Still, be optimistic and always have a transportation plan. Walking takes forever. Parking is a pain. Cabs are expensive. I vote bike: bring lights and be careful.

Unfortunately, we have to be satisfied with only 20 minutes or so of Library Voices to even have a shot at catching some of Pick a Piper. In a perfect world, traffic is fabulous, we make the last 40 minutes of a mind-blowing set and Wednesday is a rousing success. Great work!

To recap our hypothetical Wednesday:

Loom - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 8pm
Megan Bonnell - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 9pm
The Meligrove Band - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Red Mass - The Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen St. W) @ 11pm
Library Voices - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 12am
Pick a Piper - The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. W) @ 1am

Repeat this strategy to work out schedules for Thursday through Sunday. It'll be worth it! Here's a sample plan for inspiration:

Thursday:

The Dodos - Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St.) @ 9pm
Bobby Bazini - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Imaginary Cities - Rivoli (332 Queen St. W) @ 11pm
Juliana Hatfield + Evan Dando - Lee's Palace (529 Bloor St. W) @ 12am
Danielle Duval - The Boat (158 Augusta Ave) @ 12am
Bravestation - The Boat (158 Augusta Ave) @ 1pm

Friday:

Land of Talk - Yonge Dundas Square @ 8:30-9:10pm
Stars - Yonge Dundas Square @ 9:30-11pm
The Minotaurs - Gladstone (1214 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Dum Dum Girls - Lee's Palace (529 Bloor St. W) @ 11pm
Cults - Lee's Palace (529 Bloor St. W) @ 12am
Sheezer - Sneaky Dee's (431 College St.) @ 2am

Saturday:

Jennifer Castle - The Great Hall (1087 Queen St. W) @ 10pm
Braids - The Great Hall (1087 Queen St. W) @ 11pm
Chad VanGaalen - The Great Hall (1087 Queen St. W) @ 12am
Grimes - The Great Hall (1087 Queen St. W) @ 1am

Now, get out there and have a great time. You are ready!