The truly special thing about SXSW when compared to other large-scale music festivals in the United States such as Bonaroo in Tennessee or Coachella in California is that SXSW is not really aspiring to be the next Woodstock. The concerts are deliberately small and held in venues across the city. Venues that might not normally host concerts are transformed into hip spots to see some of the world’s finest musical talent perform.

Numerous musicians who have played under the WRBC banner have performed at the festival including FM Belfast, Yeasayer, Chairlift, Toro y Moi, Washed Out, Small Black, Black Taxi and Arborea – just to name a few.

A friend of mine, who is not so in tune with the independent music scene, was wondering what this whole SXSW phenomena was, and while I have never been, and my thesis and financial situation precluded me from attending this year’s edition, SXSW is, from an indie perspective the best music festival in America, perhaps only rivaled by the CMJ Music Marathon held annually in New York.

Both of these events are not purely performances either. The host forums for media professionals to connect and conferences for college and independent radio stations. They are well organized and are not afraid to present a line-up without a truly well known headline act. You wont see Jay-Z at these festivals.

I also appreciate the fact that somebody planning these events has hosted them in urban environments. Don’t get me wrong, I like camping, but there are surely issues with having several thousand drug-riddled youths flopping about in tent cities like at the more commercially hyped festivals over the summer.

Hopefully, I can one day make the trek to SXSW and actually provide some first hand data, but until then, my reviews will have to be vicarious.

-Doug Ray

Doug Ray is the co-host of Saltimbocca and Escargot, Sundays 8-10 PM on WRBC.