Find Local Music Scenes

Want to listen to local music but don't really know how to find all of it?

Steps

Find out where the local venues are in your area. If you don't know of any, ask around. Someone is bound to know where some shows are.
See if they have a website. If they do, look to see what they have planned. If the venue does not have a website, there are many sites that have a full list of local venues in each city as well what genre they cater to.
Volunteer at a local venue or try working there. Especially the smaller venues usually appreciate help.
See if your town has any bulletin boards. Look for flyers from bands or venues that have shows posted.
Check the calendar listings in the local entertainment magazines.
Go to shows at the venues and try to make friends. That way, you can meet all sorts of new people and be exposed to their knowledge and interests of music.
Bring new people to the scene that don't know about it. maybe you'll be saving them from having to struggle with finding it.
Check Myspace (in the music section) for new bands. Look for bands near you on there and see if they are playing anywhere. Or check out MyMusicPC's Myspace page.
See if there isn't a business that is a collection and archive and store of all sorts of music from your area. Businesses like this usually help local bands get into the scene and know pretty much everything. They also help book shows and are awesome.
Instrument retail stores usually tend to be a 'musician hangout' and they have flyers/posters giving light to events in the area.

Support your local bands by going to their shows and buying merchandise--especially their music. Advertise them to other people.
Go to international shows early- if they have a local support, you might like them
Find a friend who's into local music. Follow them around
Get local music papers and pick out random gigs
when all else fails, pick a random gig
Talk to everyone!
Usually towns have websites that list venues. Try Googling it.
Once you've found some bands you like sign up on their mailing list to keep track of them. You can also sign up for a free service called GigMinder if the band is on Myspace.
Before going to a show, see if you like the music that's being played. Search for a band website, or if that fails you look on Myspace for them.