South By Southwest is one of the largest music festivals in the world and is considered by the music industry and critics as the most important.

Hundreds of artists and bands flock to the event every year in Austin, Texas, hoping that a stellar performance at one of the many bars and venues could lead to a record deal, a tour with a major artist or some high profile radio airplay.

By day, the conference goers do business in the SXSW Trade Fair, attending informative, provocative panel discussions which feature hundreds of speakers from around the world. In 2007 confirmed speakers include David Byrne from The Talking Heads and Pete Townshend from The Who.

By night 1,400 artists perform in over 60 different venues, mainly based along Austin’s legendary 6th Street. Music comes out of what seems like every door. Everything from indie pop, metal, country, bluegrass, rap - all these and many more.

Each year numerous bands launch their careers at SXSW. Acts such as The Darkness and Norah Jones got their first breaks in Austin. In 2005 Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand impressed while last year The Feeling, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Kooks all went onto great things after their performances.

6 Music and Radio 2 are once again broadcasting live from the festival, bringing a host of great live music to the UK with guests and live sessions.

Some SXSW Facts

* The Darkness played SXSW twice, after saving up for the plane fare and sleeping on floors.

* More than 13,000 people attend the music conference.

* Over 21,000 Hotel rooms are booked during the week of the event.

* 14 acts from Norway are playing this year’s event including New Violators and Green Carnation.

* Venues at SXSW include parking lots, clothing stores and Mexican restaurants. 

* No visit to SXSW would be complete without a visit to one of the many BBQ establishments. The local speciality is smoked brisket.

* The university mascot in Austin is a long-horn cow. A student from a rival university was the architect behind the massive art deco / glass 'Frost Building' that dominates the city skyline. If you look at the building corner on it looks like a giant owl - the mascot of his university!

* Bill Hicks was born and raised in Austin TX