Want to get away from midterms? Homecoming football not really your scene? At various venues across New York, you can check out the some of the best up-and-coming talent in music at the College Music Journal Music Marathon—a festival that has launched the likes of MGMT and Arcade Fire.

For a sampling of what you’ll find at CMJ this weekend, check out this podcast from A&E multimedia editor Derek Arthur and learn which CMJ band began right here at a Columbia dorm.

For more background on the festival, read this article by Spectator staff writer Jenny Payne, and for more artists and venues, check on CMJ’s website and Twitter at @CMJ.