I know it's not easy to follow the local music scene.
Local bands usually don't have TV commercials. They're not played on the radio that often. Their shows start late. Often you have to seek out bands, venues and shows. Or somebody has to drag you along.In short: Local music is not always what you'd call "consumer friendly."The organizers of the Fresno Urban Sound Experience know this, too.In fact, their festival -- in its second year this weekend (see Page 11 for more) -- has aimed to combat just that.With a one-stop shopping approach and a getting-started-early schedule, it's probably the best opportunity for someone to dabble in Fresno's music scene.Let's put it this way: If you've always wanted to dive into the deep pool that is Fresno's music scene but never got past sticking your foot in, this weekend is a good chance to take the plunge.Last year, the festival started modestly with a 20 bands and four downtown venues. This year, both have doubled -- 40 bands and eight venues.The best part for the local-music dabbler is that you can access everything for one flat price, $15. It's a buffet. You can hop around and see different bands in different venues. Or you can sit in one venue and watch act after act. The local music adventure is up to you.The festival is not meant to be a "best of" showcase. There are many great local bands who aren't playing this year. And there are many of Fresno's top acts that are -- 40 Watt Hype and Patrick Contreras, to name a couple.The good thing is that if you've seen those guys before, there's a whole lot more to explore. You can see such newer-to-the-scene bands as Yesterday's Chonies, Down Word and Strange Vine.And how's this for cool? One of the venues this year is the spiral parking garage at Van Ness Avenue and Inyo Street. (It's also where you park and buy tickets.)Live music on the top floor? Awesome. Where else can you see that?If this comes off as cheerleader-ish, it's because I know there's great talent in this city. While there are people in this city who support local music, there can always be more.This weekend there's no excuse: The weather is going to be perfect. Fresno State football is on a bye week. Parking is free.There's no better opportunity to experience Fresno's local music talent.