By Justine ReisingerPLAY Writer

Tired of sticking around campus on weekends? Miss the lazy days of summer music festivals? Look no further than the third annual Tomorrow Never Knows Festival, which began last night at Schubas (3159 N. Southport). Performers include Dr. Dog, The Ponys and Mucca Pazza.

Running through Sunday, the festival boasts different lineups for each of the five days, including DJs spinning upstairs. The concerts will deliver “straight-up indie pop with a couple weird ones in there,” says Tim Stephans, promotions director of Schubas.

Schubas has played host to the festival since its inception three years ago, when it lasted only three nights. The festival has gained a night each year since, with more bands and better posters, according to Stephans. DJs are the festival’s latest addition.

“It’s just another environment to hang out if you feel like a change of pace,” Stephans says. “When you go to festivals it’s all about choice and not too many people watch every single act.”

Why schedule a festival in January? According to Stephans, Tomorrow Never Knows is a break from the winter hum-drums.

“The whole point of this is that you’ve been home for the holidays (and) had New Years and everyone lays low for a week or so. Then everyone is ready to party again,” Stephans says. “We’re taking advantage of Chicago cabin fever. People are itching to go out and see music again.”

Saturday’s show features headliner Mucca Pazza, a Chicago-based band comprising 28 members, which describes itself on its Web site as an “astounding circus punk marching band.”

Band director Mark Messing, who plays sousaphone, melodica and alto sax, describes the band’s shows as quite an experience: “When you go to a Mucca Pazza show, it’s kind of like standing in the middle of a traffic jam or a bit like playing in traffic. The fun thing about the band is because we don’t just sit on stage looking at the audience. We move around the room so people feel like they’re part of the band, feel like they’re in it.”

The band, which performs in thrift store uniforms and includes three cheerleaders, has performed at various local venues, ranging from Millennium Park to canoes on the Chicago River.

Messing instructs Saturday’s audience “not (to) worry about spatial boundaries” and to definitely “enjoy feeling like they’re in the middle of a washing machine.”

Medill sophomore Justine Reisinger is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].