Now in its sixth (sixth!) year, the Heliotrope festival offers Twin Cities fans a window into the talented pool of bands that lurks somewhere outside of the typical rock-box. City Pages lends some depth to the festival, noting “No Warped Tour, this—no Lollapalooza. Heliotrope is a three day showcase of our cities’ experimental musicians, noise artists, and sonically intrepid acts of all sizes and shapes. Were you to spend a straight 36 hours there from tonight until its final fade out on Saturday, it’s assured that you won’t hear the same note twice.”

Things kicked off at the Ritz Theatre last night with nine acts including Paul Metzger, Young Quitters and International Novelty Gamelan. Tonight’s lineup is all the more powerful with the likes of Michael Yonkers, Knife World and Gay Witch Abortion taking the stage. A single day pass for the event is $8, while you can save a buck if you nut-up for the two remaining days of the event.

Tonight’s lineup & tentative set times:

Gay Witch Abortion – 11:30
Knife World – 10:45
Knife World “Sunbeam” (mp3)
Knife World “Ride with View and Major” (mp3)
Thunderbolt Pagoda – 10:00
Lungs – 9:15
Build My Gallows High – 8:30
Michael Yonkers (solo) – 7:45
Michael Yonkers “Sold America” (mp3)
Michael Yonkers “Microminiature Love” (mp3)
Michael Yonkers with the Blind Shake “Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons” (mp3)
Wrong – 7:00
Milo Fine – Davu Seru – 6:00

Saturday’s lineup & tentative set times:

White Map – at the end
Skoal Kodiak – 11:00
Vampire Hands – 10:15
Vampire Hands “Opium Typhoon” (mp3)
Vampire Hands “Statuette” (mp3)
Tender Meat – 9:45
Mach FoX – 9:00
Mach Fox “AXion FriXion” (mp3)
Mach FoX “Build it Down” (mp3)
Mach FoX “Run 4 the Prize” (mp3)
Mach FoX “The Subversives” (mp3)
Kontrol Panel – 8:15
Moonstone – 7:30
Flavor Crystals – 6:45
Aerosol Pike – 6:00

Also: Gay Witch Abortion “Maverick” Review