Let’s face it, the Austin City Limits Music Festival is expensive. Some people just don’t have $185 lying around to drop on a three-day pass. Other people’s main qualm with ACL is that they’d rather see a group play a venue with actual fans instead of a hodgepodge of people, ranging from hipsters and frat bros to your dad, all of whom only care about music once a year. Fortunately, the multitude of ACL after shows gives the less financially fortunate a chance to catch some of their favorite bands in a venue setting for a sixth of the price of a three-day pass (at its most expensive). Here is a run-down of some of the shows that prove you don’t need to endure the massive crowds and Dillo Dirt to enjoy your weekend.

Sonic Youth and Warpaint (Oct. 9, La Zona Rosa):

Where would the independent music scene be without Sonic Youth? The band was one of the first to utilize weird guitar tunings and noise to make music that was challenging and dense, yet accessible to most listeners. Sonic Youth’s influence on music today is undeniable, as many bands owe a great amount of depth to the New York City pioneers of cool. They are joined by the immensely talented Warpaint, an all-female psych band that play lush, multifaceted and mesmerizing arrangements with vocal harmonies that will melt you. Their set at this year’s Austin Psych Fest was almost too good to put into words. If they continue their upward trajectory, they have the potential to one day be mentioned in the same circles as the band they’re opening for.

Girls & The Soft Pack (Oct.9, Antone’s):

Out of the numerous bands that have come out of the exploding surf rock scene the past couple of years, San Francisco’s Girls are among the best. Band leader Chris Owens has one of the most earnest delivery styles that you are likely to see; his tales of heartache and longing are delivered straight from the heart. With their reverberating guitars and jangly percussion, Girls’ music easily conjures up images of California beaches and the sun setting on the west coast. San Diego’s the Soft Pack share these sentiments, but while the members of Girls were off surfing, these guys were busy causing a ruckus in their garage. Recalling the days when strumming away and straightforward arrangements were all the rage, the band formerly known as The Muslims are the perfect fit for the bill.

Dawes & Lissie (Oct. 9, Emo’s Jr.):

With the embracing of anything remotely folk over the last few years, it is interesting to see that there are artists and bands that are still relatively unknown in the genre. However, such is the case for both Northern California band Dawes and Illinois singer-songwriter Lissie. Dawes share the same vocal harmonies, acoustic instrumentation and down tempo tendencies as their peers, something that should make them a hit with fans of Fleet Foxes and their flannel-clad brethren. Meanwhile, Lissie’s old-timey voice and her talent on the guitar have garnered comparisons to early Sheryl Crow and Neko Case. Perhaps it is only a matter of time before they revel in the same success as their peers.