The show must go on, with or without Perry Farrell.

Ten acts performed on three stages over the course of eight sultry hours at the inaugural EQX Fest. The independently owned and operated alternative rock station based out of Manchester, Vt., deserves a gold star for assembling such an eclectic and stimulating lineup.

Tickets for the concert were less than $40 and lawn seats were a bargain at $20, especially considering the amount and caliber of the entertainment presented. The all ages show attracted mainly fans between the age of 15 and 25.

A nice feature of the festival for both the bands and the audience was the schedule’s construction. Its conflict-free design afforded every artist the opportunity to be heard.

Four local bands each played a 20 minute set from a gazebo on the lawn called the Time Warner Cable EQX-Posure Stage, while up-and-coming artists performed for up to 50 minutes nearby on a larger portable stage. The amphitheater served as the Main Stage for the most well-known groups.

For those curious about Satellite Party, former Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros leader Farrell’s new band, the group dropped off the bill because of a “personnel change.” According to the band’s MySpace page, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and drummer Kevin Figueiredo left the band, and have subsequently been replaced by Nick Perri and Jordan Plosky.

What follows is who played and how well, listed chronologically.

Sunset Aside – This reviewer regrettably missed the band that opened the show at 3 p.m. due to parking his car and picking up his ticket for the show.

The Urgency – Reminiscent of The Mars Volta and Taking Back Sunday, this Brooklyn quartet’s progressive indie rock was a pleasant surprise. Powerful vocals and driving guitars created an impressive sound that was aggressive yet still accessible and snappy.

Maggie Mayday – Many of the Albany trio’s honest alternative pop/rock songs would have fit nicely on the soundtrack to a solid, likable independent movie.

Shiny Toy Guns – Hands down, the biggest disappointment of the day. Unfortunately, the majority of the band’s work sounds far more like their first single, “Le Disko,” a stale Peaches knock-off than it does their current hit “You Are the One.” The group didn’t gel on stage and their generic synth pop, which is loaded with thumping bass lines and silly effects, should be relegated to bad clubs. Worst of all, the band covered Depeche Mode’s “Stripped,” and rendered the gloomy gem concerning a lover’s painful yearning for sincerity into something just plain painful.

The Loyalty – Hometown heroes, the Saratoga Springs quartet’s toe tapping rock sounds like a mix between Muse and Franz Ferdinand. Even though their singer’s voice isn’t anything special, their lyrics need some work and their songs tend to be overlong, The Loyalty has a lot of potential and their youthful energy and enthusiasm make up for much of what they lack.

TV on the Radio – The Brooklyn-based group’s experimental indie rock served as a relaxing mid-concert respite before suddenly shifting into an invigorating jolt of sound. As vocalist Tunde Adebimpe danced, twisted and flailed, the rest of the band acted as a dependable foundation. Adebimpe’s passionate singing extended from soulful whispers to screaming proclamations and evoked equal shades of Peter Gabriel and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe.

Lughead – The reunited Albany rockers sounded tired and out of practice. In their heyday, the group was probably pretty decent, but there comes a point in every band’s career when it’s time to hang up the spurs.

The Nightwatchman –Best known for his guitar wizardry with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Tom Morello has set out solo as an acoustic singer/songwriter with succinct anthems of revolution. Channeling Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash, Morello’s angry folk songs express his strong opinions regarding politics and the direction of the country. This is the most honest he’s ever been as a musician and his fairly short set was very well received.

Matisyahu – The Hasidic reggae rapper generated much applause and dancing, but is undoubtedly the most overrated novelty to hit it big since Snow. His unbearable set was an hour of torture.

311 – Aside from an extremely drawn out drum solo and allowing Matisyahu a terrible cameo on their version of The Cure’s “Love Song,” the funky rap/rock outlet’s energetic set was a lot of fun. Staples of popular radio and CD collections everywhere for more than a decade, 311 can pretty much pull any tune from their songbook and elicit memories of summer, partying and good times.

All in all, it would have been difficult not to have a good time at EQX Fest. Hopefully, this year’s event is just the first of many.

Festival highlights: “Stop!” and “Fingertips” by The Urgency, “Not Me, Not Now” and “Spit It Out” by Maggie Mayday, TV on the Radio’s entire set particularly “Wolf Like Me,” “The Road I Must Travel” and noteworthy covers of Rage’s “Guerrilla Radio” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” by The Nightwatchman and “All Mixed Up,” “You Wouldn’t Believe,” “Down,” “Sick Tight” and “Creatures” by 311.