With a full slate of well-known acts scheduled to grace stages at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX, on Friday, it might be tough for lesser-known bands to be heard over the din.

One of the night's more compelling lineups is at the KUT showcase, which will feature roots-country siren Rosie Flores [ tickets ], Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets, and ex-Dinosaur Jr. leader J Mascis. The festivities get underway at Cactus Cafe (Union 24th @ Guadalupe) at 8 p.m.

BoDeans will be at the Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces St.) at 11 p.m., followed by Alex Chilton [ tickets ] of Big Star fame.

Veteran rockers The Mekons take the stage at Antone's (213 W. 5th St.) at 1 a.m. Relative newcomers Papa Roach [ tickets ] play at The Backroom (2015 E. Riverside Dr.) at 1 a.m.

Also at 1 a.m., reunited mope-rockers American Music Club hit the stage at Bigsbys (505 E. 6th St.), and punk mainstays NOFX perform at Emo's Main Room (603 Red River St.).

And grizzled country singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson makes a can't-miss, free performance at 6 p.m. at the free Town Lake Stage at Auditorium Shores, which is open to the public.

Other Friday night highlights include:

• New West Records' showcase at La Zona Rosa (612 W. 4th St.), with Delbert McClinton, Dwight Yoakam [ tickets ], Drive-By Truckers and others.
  
• Stinky Records' showcase, featuring Low Flying Owls, Singapore Sling and others, at Copper Tank (North Room) (504 Trinity St.)
  
• Kacy Crowley at 9 p.m. at Tambaleo (302 Bowie St.)
  
• Jessi Colter at 10 p.m. at Continental Club (1315 S. Congress Ave.)
  
• Gary Jules at 11 p.m. at the Texas Union Theatre (Texas Union 24 @ Guadalupe)
  
• Neal Pollack and Tammy Faye Starlite at midnight at Club de Ville (900 Red River St.)
  
• The Polyphonic Spree at 12:45 a.m. at Stubb's (801 Red River St.)
  
• Vue at 1 a.m. at Maggie Mae's (323 E. 6th St.)
  
• Japan Night, featuring six acts from Tokyo, runs all night at Caribbean Lights (612-614 E. 6th St.).

Friday's SXSW Links:
Click here to visit the SXSW homepage.
Click here for a printable list of Friday's SXSW performance schedule.
Click here for a printable venue map.