UPDATED for 2016 - 5 Ways to Find the Best SXSW Parties and RSVP

South by Southwest (SXSW) Music, Film and Interactive Festival is only 4 weeks away. The festival takes place March 11-20 in Austin. Each year there a hundreds of sponsored, free parties with live music, complimentary food, drink and swag for party-goers.

With the growth of SXSW Interactive, there are top tier music events to attend during interactive as well as the music week. All you need to do is RSVP and arrive early enough to enter the venue before it reaches capacity. Keep in mind, badge holders will have priority at official showcases. The amount of listings, can be daunting, so we compiled a short list of resources to... Continue reading

Photos: SXSW 2014 - Kurt Vile, Dum Dum Girls, Big Freedia at Sailor Jerry House

Dum Dum Girls showing off their Oliver Peck tatttoos

Our favorite flavored spirit, Sailor Jerry Rum hosted the Sailor Jerry House at the Gypsy Lounge from Tuesday to Saturday during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. The week kicked off with a surprise acoustic performance by Kurt Vile. The Dum Dum Girls also performed (and got tattoos) from legendary artist, Oliver Peck who starred on reality show, Ink Masters. Fans were offered free Sailor Jerry tattoos chosen at random by a spin at the wheel by... Continue reading at Examiner.com

5 for SXSW 2014: NITF, White Denim, Snoop Dogg, Future Islands, Fader Fort preview

Officially the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) began yesterday, but March 10 (often called overlap day) featured day parties stocked with bands and booze. Monday was also the first Jimmy Kimmel Live taping at the Long Center with Austin's own White Denim. Yesterday we hung at the Spotify House for Jungle and Future Islands then beat it over to the Fader Fort preview with Charli XCX and Chromeo. Tuesday evening ended at the Sailor Jerry House where surprise guest... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Exclusive Interview: My Jerusalem's Jeff Klein speaks out on SXSW

Austin indie-rockers My Jerusalem have had a hell of a year. After releasing their second album, "Preachers" recorded at producer Jim Eno's Public Hi-Fi studio, they embarked on tours with Psychedelic Furs, Electric Six, played Austin City Limits Music Festival and toured Europe. Founder and lead singer, Jeff Klein was also featured in Forbes Magazine last week after local radio personality and music critic Andy Langer quoted the musician in a Facebook rant on the crass commecialization of South by Southwest (SXSW). The post and subsequent article re-ignited an ongoing debate regarding SXSW. Has the festival become too commercial and lost the original purpose of the festival (to get bands noticed and signed)? Who better to ask than the well-read Klein? Read why Klein might take sponsorship dollars from... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: SXSW 2014 kicked off with Octopus Project, Jason Schwartzman (Photos)

The behemoth that is South by Southwest (SXSW) kicked off yesterday in Austin. Both the Interactive and Film portions of the festival officially began on Friday as attendees arrived from all over the world to participate in what has become the largest independent festival of its kind. Early in the evening we caught an excellent Overheard PBS taping with host Evan Smith (Texas Tribune) and film actor, Jason Schwartzman. The evening featured several big name performers. Director, Jon Favreau hosted a party with surprise guest, Gary Clark Jr. at the Mohawk after the screening of his road trip foodie film, "Chef." Big Boi headlined the Verizon opening night party at Cedar Street. Local Natives performed at ACL Live as the featured act for the Umbel / Vox event. G Love and Special Sauce (see slideshow) entertained fans at Stubb's BBQ. Examiner opted to support local artists at Do512's Epic Interactive Party featuring Robert DeLongwith one of Austin's best acts... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Top 5 Free SXSW 2014 music parties with RSVP links

Flaming Lips at Auditorium Shores SXSW 2013  Photo: Tye Truitt for SXSW

There are thousands of events scheduled during South by Southwest (SXSW) 2014. Admittedly that is an unmanageable number so we waded through the mountain of parties to find our top five music parties for you to attend. Announcements on artists just added to SXSW in the last 48-hours are included in this party round-up. We love headliner acts, Kurt Vile, Gary Numan, Washed Out, Soundgarden, Phantogram and Blondie as much as the next guy, but we urge out-of-town attendees to see some of our favorite Texas bands like... Continue reading at Examiner.com

5 SXSW Music 2013 Must Watch Acts

 John Paul Pitts of Sufer Blood getting up close to fans at SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) 2013 Music Festival has been over for almost a week which has given time to let the avalanche of live music performances sink in a bit. As often happens during the festival, new, exciting bands emerged from the cacophony of sounds heard throughout Austin during the event. This short list of artists you must watch is... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: SXSW Heartbreaker Banquet with Jim James, Michael Kiwanuka

Yesterday at Willie Nelson's Luck, Texas ranch, dozens of touring artists gathered for the second, semi-exclusive, Heartbreaker Banquet featuring Jim James (My Morning Jacket, Monsters of Folk), Michael Kiwanuka, Elle King, Spirit Family Reunion, Phosphorescent, Shovels and Rope and Austin's own... continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music preview: Top 5 SXSW 2013 Free Day Parties

f you are attending South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival then you have likely been overwhelmed by the sheer number of day parties held during music week. Frankly, we feel just like you. In the list created for you, find a recommendation for each week day that do not require a badge or cost anything. Selected events are heavy on Austin bands because we love Austin music and we want you to know about all the great artists like... Continue reading at Examiner.com

5 ways to find the best SXSW parties and RSVP

South by Southwest (SXSW) Music, Film and Interactive Festival is only 4 weeks away. The festival takes place March 8-17 in Austin. Each year there a hundreds of sponsored, free parties with live music, complimentary food, drink and swag for party-goers. With the growth of SXSW Interactive, there are music events you will want to attend early in the week as well as the music week. All you need to do is.... Continue reading at Examiner.com

SXSW music preview: Top 5 day parties

We know how daunting the listing of South by Southwest (SXSW) parties can be so we waded through a gargantuan pile of invites and selected our top five day parties for you. Below is only a sampling of the hundreds of events planned next week when the music officially kicks off on Tuesday. We chose one day party to highlight through Saturday. Yes, SXSW events scheduled on Sunday, but if your calendar is as full as ours is, you are going to want to rest at the end of what promises to be a jam-packed week of great independent bands performing in Austin.

Continue reading on Examiner.com SXSW music preview: Top 5 day parties - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/sxsw-music-preview-top-5-day-parties#ixzz1oGzyAWNn

Roky Erickson tour documentary featuring a SXSW show in works

Austin psych-rock pioneer, Roky Erickson will be the subject of a tour documentary, Two-Headed Dog that follows the eccentric and oft-troubled musician and his son, Jegar on a tour beginning March 1st in Los Angeles and culminating in a South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival performance at Threadgill's downtown after stops in New Zealand and Australia. The film's preproduction costs are being funded entirely by

Continue reading on Examiner.com Roky Erickson tour documentary featuring a SXSW show in works - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/roky-erickson-tour-documentary-featuring-a-sxsw-show-works#ixzz1mI9flHdh

SxSW music preview: Austin bands are gearing up for the festival next month

Austin, Texas has always been a special place for music. From the city's humble beginnings, art, music and culture have been woven into the fabric of resident's lives. Next month Austin renews the tradition of throwing open the gates of the Live Music Capital to the rest of the world to see. It is called, SxSW Interactive, Film and Music Festival. Whew. We get tired just saying the name, let alone trudging across downtown for 10 days chasing after the elusive new sound it seems all are seeking. 

Continue reading on Examiner.com SxSW music preview: Austin bands are gearing up for the festival next month - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/sxsw-music-preview-austin-bands-are-gearing-up-for-the-festival-next-month#ixzz1m5NoqCaJ