Music-wise, the 253Heart Festival sort of strikes a balance between the Squeak and Squawk's indie streak and Grit City Fest's barroom rock leanings. There will be dozens of performances over the course of the weekend, spanning several venues and even splitting it up between acoustic and electric stages.

There's almost too much stuff going on with the 253Heart Festival to even start talking about the bands that will be performing. You're looking at local favorites like Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, The Variety Hour, The Legend of Bigfoot and Big Wheel Stunt Show, and that's just four bands of nine performing on one of the stages on one of the days of the festival. This is a festival that certainly seems intent on overwhelming with rock 'n' roll.

Read more about the story behind the festival's title and benefitting charities here.

253Heart Music and Arts Festival

FRIDAY, OCT. 1

The Peabody Waldorf Boutique and Gallery Tacoma - Downtown. 253Heart Music Festival Opening Night Afterparty. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. 21+. 9 pm.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. 253Heart Music Festival Acoustic Stage, with Christopher Day, Gina Belliveau, Jenson Charnell, Annie Lockwood, Hannah Mendenhall, Jeremy Silas, Joe Rosati, Heidi Vladyka, Michael Oniell, Rane Stone. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. 21+. 2-8 pm.

The Peabody Waldorf Boutique and Gallery Tacoma - Downtown. 253Heart Music Festival All-Ages Show, with SOTA Songwriters, Matt Eklund, The Neon Wilderness, Us On Roofs, High Noon Horizon, Kill Devil Rum Club, Lund Bros, '60s Soul Dance Party. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. All Ages. 2 pm.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. 253Heart Music Festival Swiss Stage, with A Leaf, Midnight Salvage Co., Voxxy Vallejo, Blanco Bronco, SweetKiss Momma. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. 21+. 2-7:30 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. 253Heart Music Festival Harmon Stage 2, with Raymond Hayden, Brotherhood Of The Black Squirrel, The Variety Hour, Destiny City Uprising, Ryan Purcell & The Last Round, Boneflower, Deborah Page, The Legend Of Bigfoot, Big Wheel Stunt Show. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. 21+. 2:30 pm.

SUNDAY, OCT. 3

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. 253Heart Music Festival Wrap-Up Party, with Big Fickin' Truck, Brother Scott, Painkillers, Kim Archer, Missionary Position, Jerry Miller, China Davis. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association and Pierce County AIDS Foundation. 21+. 4 pm.