MusicfestNW 2012 kicked off with a handful of shows in Portland last night. However, the bulk of shows spread across the Rose City really gears up today. Check out our review/photos of Against Me! from last night, and our MusicFestNW 2012 preview playlist. Here are our five recommended acts to catch this year.

Flying Lotus: In 2010, Flying Lotus aka Steve Ellison released his last full-length record Cosmogramma. The record made many “best-of” 2010 lists (including our own) and demonstrated the creativity, depth and uniqueness that Flying Lotus harnessed. In October, FlyLo will release his new LP Until The Quiet Comes. Based off the first track released off that new album, “See Thru To U“, plus his recent collaborative work, like the Earl Sweatshirt track “Between Friends“, we’re in for some quality music. Additionally, while FlyLo’s cerebral, intergalactic, exploratory music might cater more to headphones, his Coachella set showed he’s adjusted the live material towards more danceable sets. Check out his new Until the Quiet Comes short film, released earlier today. Flying Lotus plays Wonder Ballroom at 11:30PM Thursday.

Radiation City: Ah, Radiation City. Named “Best New Portland Band” by the MusicfestNW organizers themselves (Willamette Week), Rad City should cozily pack their 9PM Friday set at Portland’s finest venue, the Crystal Ballroom. Their very particular, nuanced grooves are part 50’s pop harmony goodness, part Brazilian bossa nova, part delicate jazz and part Portlandia charm. They’ve also been working on new material, with limited show dates and no new released tracks off their upcoming LP. However, they’re 2012 Cool Nightmare EP should do plenty enough to showcase what Radiation City is working with. I’m eager to see what’s been brewing in the Rad City cauldron since this last EP.

Menomena: If Radiation City is Portland’s “Best New Band”, one might argue that Menomena has been/still is Portland’s “Best Band”. The local boys have been in business for the better part of the last decade through four albums. And despite the loss of founding member Brent Knopf (Ramona Falls), they’re returning with a new album on September 18. Thus far, the tracks off new LP Moms have been excellent. My personal favorite is “Capsule“. Catch them debuting new material off Moms at Pioneer Square at 6:30 on Friday.

The Helio Sequence: If it seems like bands with new music is a theme on this list, that’s because it’s true. Like the three bands above, local favorite the Helio Sequence have a new album out on Sub Pop next week. Negotiations marks the Beaverton duo’s fifth full-length album, and apparently their soon-to-be tourmate Brent Knopf said it’s their best effort since their debut in 1999. The catchy, feel-good, electronic-meets-slick-guitar tunes of Helio Sequence should fantastically fill the Crystal Ballroom for their Friday 11PM set.

Dinosaur Jr: Dinosaur Jr and J Mascis are the type of indie *legends* that almost warrant any ancient “dinosaur” joke-metaphors (almost). And, following the theme here, they’ve also got a new record out this fall. The new Dino Jr. album, I Bet On Sky, drops on September 18 via Jagjaguwar. Check out single “Watch The Corners” plus its video. You can get a double dino dose (#alliteration for $300) via J Mascis’ 9PM Saturday solo set at Roseland Theater and full on Dinosaur Jr immediately after at 11PM.