North by 35 Music Conferette is a baby by institutional standards. Even so, the fledgling music festival has gotten enough response in its second year that both festival planners and city officials have issued an unexpected request.

“Don’t drive!” said Julie Glover, Denton’s economic development program administrator.“Don’t bring your car. If you could materialize into Denton, that would be great.”

Glover jokes, but festival organizers are expecting thousands to surge into 11 downtown venues on Thursday and Friday nights.

A solid projection on attendance to the free Flaming Lips concert hasn’t been announced, but blogs and the grapevine have mentioned 10,000 to 30,000.

Festival organizers moved the Saturday night concert — featuring Denton’s international media darling Midlake along with the Flaming Lips — to the North Texas Fairgrounds several weeks ago to accommodate expected numbers.

Festival planning and development director Michael Seman said organizers are serious in their pleas for locals to reconsider driving to the Saturday night event.

“Here’s the thing: They only have space for 1,000 cars at the fairgrounds,” Seman said. “So we are strongly encouraging everyone who is within walking distance of the concert to walk, ride a bike, carpool, or get a bunch of their friends together and tell stories along the way to the fairgrounds. The weather’s going to be great. If at all possible, don’t drive.”

Festival organizers have teamed up with Querencia Community Bike Shop to provide bicycle valets for cyclists. Bikes will be taken to a spot on the fairgrounds. Volunteers will watch over the cycles and bring them back to riders when they want to leave.

Seman and Glover said they had out-of-town guests in mind.

“The main thing is that we want people who are visiting Denton to have a good time,” Glover said.

Seman agreed.

“We think it’s the polite thing to do for Denton to give people driving in from out of town the parking spots,” he said.

Glover said parking will be pinched more than usual this weekend. No public parking will be available at the Denton Civic Center, nor will the lot at the Center for the Visual Arts be available for the whole weekend. Both venues had events booked before the parking question for the festival went to local officials.

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

The following parking lots open after 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and all weekend for North by 35 Music Conferette.

• Lots behind Wells Fargo’s downtown Denton location at the corner of East Hickory and Austin streets

• City lot at East McKinney and Elm streets

• City lots on the corner of East Hickory Street and Railroad Avenue and flanking City Hall East at 600 E. Hickory St.

• New city lot at the corner of East Hickory and Exposition streets

• On-street parking in downtown Denton will be open. However, if a private lot has a tow-away zone sign, avoid the lot. \\

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

“DFW, the Arts and the Future: A Roundtable Discussion.” 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Banter, 219 W. Oak St. As the Dallas-Fort Worth region faces the challenges that accompany growth, leaders in the arts know that promoting culture and protecting their communities is essential. While using space creatively and forging new connections between artists and audiences, these leaders are stepping into municipal circles and creating awareness of social problems. We gather such advocates and their institutional liaisons from Dallas and Denton to discuss the important role our artists play in encouraging new ways of living and thinking. Moderator: Lyndsay Knecht Milne, NBCDFW.com. Participants: Michael Seman, research associate at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Institute of Urban Studies; Sarah Jane Semrad, president of Art Conspiracy and co-founder of La Reunion; Kevin Roden, curator/host of Drink and Think, also of the Historic Landmark Commission of Denton; Robert Milnes, dean of University of North Texas’ College of Visual Arts and Design; and Vicki Meek, manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center.

“Where We Hear Local Music.” 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Banter. 219 W. Oak St. Ever wonder where to go to find great local music that’s not your downstairs neighbor’s band? There’s some great media coverage of the local music scene in the DFW region, but where do local music reporters go to find the music they cover? What new technologies are music reporters using and what technologies should your band use? Local media members discuss exactly where they get the music they talk about. Moderator: Nico Martini, host of American Highway on CBS Radio’s The Indie-Verse. Participants: Andy Chandler, music reporter for TXA 21; Sarah Crisman, music editor for Pegasus News; Pete Freedman, music editor for Dallas Observer; Eric Landrum, program director of CBS Radio’s The Indie-Verse; Mark Schectman, host of The Local Show on 102.1 FM.

“Music Makers Mixer.” 4 to 6 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St. These mixers are held several times a year around the Dallas-Fort Worth region as opportunities for people in the music business to get to know one another. Artists, producers, engineers, songwriters, attorneys, accountants, managers, booking agents and members of The Recording Academy Texas Chapter (the Grammy folks) all attend and mingle. Hosted by The Recording Academy Texas Chapter Board of Governors. More info and to register: http://nx35-grammys.eventbrite.com .

MUSIC

Each venue’s performances for the evening are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Headliners are listed first, opening acts last.

Circa 77, 225 W. Oak St.

Andrew Tinker, Jessie Frye, Small Time Ruffians, Har Herrar

The Boiler Room, 101 W. Hickory St.

Snarky Puppy, Zorch, Kaboom, Zlam Dunk, Orange Peel Sunshine

Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St.

Carrie Rodriguez, RTB2, OK Sweetheart, Jacob Metcalf

The Hydrant Cafe, 208 W. Oak St.

Daniel Folmer, A.M. Ramblers, Jenn Gooch, Roy Robertson

J&J’s Pizza, 118 W. Oak St.

Cocky Americans, The Daily Beat, Parata, The Virgin Wolves

Jupiter House, 106 N. Locust St.

Fox and the Bird, The Beaten Sea, Sabra Laval, Delmore Pilcrow

Andy’s Bar, 122 N. Locust St., No. 8.

History At Our Disposal, New Science Projects, Nervous Curtains, The Timeline Post, Drink to Victory

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, 411 E. Sycamore St.

Evangelicals, Sunnybrook, Manned Missiles, Native Lights

Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 N. Elm St.

Julianna Barwick, Doug Burr, The Polycorns, Seryn, Glen Farris

Texas 8 Ball, 218 W. Oak St.

The Bizarro Kids, Savage and the Big Beat, Burywood, Lazy Native

Hailey’s, 122 W. Mulberry St.

This Will Destroy You, The Crash That Took Me, Saboteur, My Empty Phantom