More than 100 bands converge on Denton today as North By 35 — NX35 for short — begins.

Courtesy photo/the Drams

The Drams will perform in the North By 35 festival Sunday night at The Boiler Room. Shown are band members Brent Best, front, lead guitarist Jess Barr, drummer Tony Harper, keyboardist Chad Stockslager and bassist Keith Killorean.

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The first-year festival, which runs through Sunday, realizes a dream of creative director Chris Flemmons, also the singer and guitarist of the Baptist Generals.

Flemmons started putting the festival together as the Denton music scene earned attention in major publications. It was the subject of articles in The New York Times and Paste, a music and culture magazine, both in 2008. Not long before that, the city was noted in the English journal The Guardian. In 2005, Denton landed in Schools that Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide for the University of North Texas’ College of Music and the bars and clubs that thrive on the area’s talent.

 NX35 features Denton acts that got the ears of culture writers in the States and across the pond: Robert Gomez, Doug Burr, Fishboy, and Matthew and the Arrogant Sea.

“There’s an emphasis on Denton,” Flemmons said in an earlier interview. “I don’t think I’m stretching things to say that, in the regional music scene, that Denton bears heavily on it. Denton would probably be at the forefront of that.”

The festival is partly a reference to South By Southwest, known as SXSW. Flemmons said the festival is aimed at European and Canadian music industry professionals who migrate to Austin for the massive music and film festival Friday through March 22.

Denton bands have played the parties that ring SXSW, and a few have played club dates on the festival calendar.

“When we had an afternoon party in Austin, for six hours we did all Denton bands,” Flemmons said. “We were really trying to attract industry people. Here, we really have more slots to fill and we absolutely want to pay attention to people who are doing stuff in Dallas and Fort Worth.”

The festival in Denton might seem pricey, with a $65 all-access wristband. But the cheapest price in Austin, with limited access, is more than $300.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com .

NX35 MUSIC CONFERETTE

The NX35 Music Conferette is a first-year, walkable music conference programming nine venues, with multiple panels, and Q&As in the heart of Denton. The conference takes place around the downtown Square March 12-15. For the developing list of confirmed performers, ticket prices and other information, visit www.nx35.com .

Where: Andy’s Basement Bar, 122 N. Locust St.; banter, 129 W. Oak St.; The Broiler Room, 101 W. Hickory St.; Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 N. Industrial St.; Hailey’s, 122 W. Mulberry St.; The Hydrant Cafe, 208 W. Oak St.; J&J’s Pizza, 118 W. Oak St.; Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, 411 E. Sycamore St.; UNT Stage at the Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St.

Details: $65 all-access wristband; $50 four-night, all-venue wristband; $20 single-night, all-venue. Wristbands are available at Recycled Books, Records & CDs, 200 N. Locust St., and Good Records, 1808 Lower Greenville Ave. in Dallas. Wristbands will also be sold at the Denton Civic Center during the festival.

THURSDAY DAYTIME

Indie Rock and Redevelopment: How to Connect the Dots, 2 p.m. at Denton Civic Center Meeting Room 2

UNT Stage at Denton Civic Center:

4 p.m. — Dan Pennell Ensemble

5 p.m. — Zach Forsyth Group

6 p.m. — Julia Sokolowska Group

MUSIC AFTER DARK

Andy’s Bar: the Spectacle, the Grey Company, Dead Twins, We Are Villains

banter: the Orbans, the Hope Trust, Kody Jackson

The Boiler Room: Skibunny, Gun Gun, the Cocky Americans, Darcy

Dan’s Silverleaf: James McMurtry, the Heelers, Claire Small

Haileys: Boyfriends Inc., Vortexas, Neighborhood All-Stars

The Hydrant Cafe: the Baptist Generals, Spooky Folk, Mike Miller

J&J’s Pizza: the Slow Burners, Daniel Folmer, American Werewolf Academy, Sabra Laval

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios: Bridges and Blinking Lights, the Diamond Center, Madeline

FRIDAY DAYTIME

Bringing the Weird, 2 p.m. Denton Civic Center Meeting Room 2

The Internet Thinks Your Scene Sucks, 4 p.m. Denton Civic Center Meeting Room 2

UNT Stage at the Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St.

4 p.m. — Catepillars

5 p.m. — Tim Chernikoff Group

6 p.m. — Jessie Fyre

7 p.m. — Big Round Spectacles

MUSIC AFTER DARK

Andy’s Bar: Katsuk, Opaque,

Hello Lover, the Mad Scientists, Leatherwood

banter: Telegraph Canyon,

Dust Congress, Clint Niosi,

the Naptime Shake

The Boiler Room: Brave Combo,

Little Jack Melody, Like Trains & Taxis, La Guerrilla

Dan’s Silverleaf: Centro-matic, Robert Gomez, Doug Burr, RTB2

Haileys: the Timeline Post,

True Widow, Tomorrowpeople,

Grassfight

The Hydrant Cafe: the Heartstring Stranglers, Mathias Isassi, Will Frenkel

J&J’s Pizza: Dirtfoot, Warren Jackson Hearne, Starhead

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio: Possessed by Paul James,

the Theater Fire, New Science Projects, Delmore Pilcrow

SATURDAY DAYTIME

A Conversation About Jazz with Harvey Pekar, 3 to 5 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theater

Redefining the Music Industry Through Social Media, 2 p.m. at the Denton Civic Center

Booking agent and promoter mixer, 4 p.m. at the Loophole

UNT Stage at Denton Civic Center:

2 p.m. — Scott Mulvahill Group

3 p.m. — Matthew Hill Ensemble

4 p.m. — To be announced

5 p.m. — The J. Walkers

6 p.m. — Mariachi Quetzal

MUSIC AFTER DARK

Andy’s Bar: the Riverboat Gamblers, Swedish Teens, Last of the Interceptors, the Uptown Bums

banter: the Angelus, Nervous Curtains, Low Anthem, Parata

The Boiler Room: Record Hop,

the Boom Boom Box, the Fieros,

Kaboom, Young Animals

Dan’s Silverleaf: the Silver Arrows, Tame … Tame, and Quiet, Zest of Yore, Ella Minnow

Haileys: Sarah Jaffe, Bosque Brown, Matthew and the Arrogant Sea, Chameleon Chamber Group

The Hydrant Cafe: Will E. Lee, Mauve OED, Mr. Joe Trio

J&J’s Pizza: Pinebox Serenade, the Hudsons, the AM Ramblers, Dan Montgomery

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios: Stumptone, History at Our Disposal, Febrifuge, the Odd Primes

SUNDAY DAYTIME

Music Trivia with Scott Porter of Record Hop, 2 to 4 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf

UNT Stage at Denton Civic Center: Rock and Roll Youth Orchestra, FM Acoustic

MUSIC AFTER DARK

Andy’s Bar: Bart Davenport,

the Botticellis, Sugar and Gold

banter: Shiny Around the Edges,

Electric Toy Danger, Fishboy

The Boiler Room: Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, the Drams,

the Killhawks

Dan’s Silverleaf: 4 to 6 p.m. — jazz performances, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Laura Gibson,

Sleep Whale, Moth Fight

Haileys: Monotonix, The Show is the Rainbow, Beep Beep, Sybris

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio: Play Radio Play, the All Get Out