IF you're a fan of Newcastle's original music scene, West Best Bloc Fest is like a Christmas feast.
It's all delicious, but the sheer size and diversity can be overwhelming. Eight venues, 12 stages and 100 acts from almost every genre imaginable. Nobody can consume it all.
The third edition of Bloc Fest on Sunday is the strongest line-up yet. Here's some of the acts we recommend checking out.
GOOCH PALMS
There's arguably no band as "Newy" as the Gooch Palms. The garage-pop two-piece of Leroy Macqueen and Kat Friend only recently reformed after a four-year hiatus - barring their Cambridge Farewell one-off last year - and they're expected to draw a big crowd to the King Street Bandroom.
Bloc Fest might be at the western end of the CBD, but hearing Hunter Street Mall's chorus of "nothing going on at the mall," is always a goosebumps moment.
ADAM NEWLING
Adam Newling might be an adopted Novocastrian, having grown up in Cronulla, but his gritty and unrefined brand of folk-rock provides pure working-class vibes.
Newling recently completed an intimate run of shows where he unveiled a batch of new material, and in August he released a cover of US star Zach Bryan's I Remember Everything with Tia Gostelow.
If you love old-school songwriting and rowdy singalongs, Newling's your man.
LUPO.THEBOY
Lush, euphoric and emotional at heart, there's plenty of people in the EDM community gushing with praise for Matteo Verde, aka Lupo.TheBoy.
Recent tours supporting Client Liaison and fellow Novocastrians, Raave Tapes, have positioned Lupo.TheBoy as one of the most exciting producers in the local scene.
The sample-heavy soundscapes draw obvious comparisons with The Avalanches, but there's also a freshness to tracks like Perfect Place and Echo.
MISHAYLA
Lake Macquarie's Mishayla Turner is only 21, but the maturity of her songwriting is impressive.
Last year she released her debut EP Bleed, full of emotive bedroom-pop with folk flourishes that lends itself to comparisons with Soccer Mommy and early Gretta Ray. Then in July Mishayla dropped the single Best Thing (I Never Had), further proof her songwriting is developing rapidly.
If you're searching for a chilled mid-afternoon set, Mishayla is a safe bet.
SLOW CINEMA
Dark and brooding rock'n'roll completely sums up five-piece Slow Cinema. In March they released their debut EP and it's a wild ride of shiny indie riffs, fuzzed-out bass and frontman Tyler Gibbs' retro croon.
One thing's for certain, you'll be hard-pressed to find a tighter or better dressed band at Bloc Fest.
