Why are you looking forward to SXSW?
Austin has the best shopping in the WORLD! And apparently there's also loads of bands on!

For the benefit of people who aren’t really aware of SXSW – why is the festival so special in your opinion?
It’s an A&R bun fight but people are really focussed on everything new and exciting rather than the established names.

Which bands are you particularly looking forward to seeing and why?
Plastic Little, Friendly Fires and Black Lips should all be quite hot tickets. And The Walkman because they make me go all sideways. But hopefully they'll be some we've never heard of before - little surprises - and that’s the most exciting bit.

Why should we listen to your shows from Texas?
We're going to be roving reporters for Steve Lamacq so you have to listen to our bits to find out what happens at the parties when all the good stuff happens. Then listen to our shows after we get back where we'll have ALL the highlights - Midnight Saturday night. 

You’ll need stamina to get the most from the festival – how do you plan to keep your energy levels up?
Vitamin B and Red Bull cocktails!

What’s your favourite thing off the BBQ?
Quorn cutlet and corn.

What are you going to bring us listeners back as presents?
The Stooges' underpants.

What’s the one tip you’d give to someone who’s never been to the festival?
If you’re staying out late, make arrangements to get back to where you want to end up because Taxis are seemingly rounded up before the festival and beamed to another location.

What’s been your favourite moment from SXSW in previous years?
DJing after The Gossip at one of the after parties in a big glass pulpit when Beth painted her whole face with permanent marker pen.

The festival is about discovering new bands – what is your personal favourite band from the ones you’ve discovered there?
It was the first time we saw Spank Rock live.

Which band do you wish you’d discovered?
I read James Blunt got discovered there - I wish we'd signed him, then sold him and moved to Malibu - we could live with the guilt.

See the Queens phone pictures from SXSW
Queens Of Noize pages on 6 Music