During SXSW there's no shortage of live music in the live music capitol of the world.
"I think it's incredible," said Blake Rooker from Colorado band West Water Outlaws. "I see why no one could give me a straight answer when I asked what it was like before I got here."
He and his bandmates are thrilled to be playing in Austin during SXSW for the first time.
"This has been one of our main goals ever since we formed about three years ago," said Will Buck.
This is the time of year when almost every bar, restaurant, parking lot and backyard turns into a music venue.
"Everyone's just trying to get their name out, people are setting up on street corners with whatever they have, trying to get their name out there," Buck said.
On Sixth Street, bands were busy unloading equipment Wednesday afternoon while promoters tried to drum up excitement for different shows. The events that attract the largest crowds are often the hardest to get into, like the Fader Fort presented by Converse.
"The Fader Fort is a gigantic concert, a festival within a festival. At SXSW there are a million bands to see all the time, but we've set up our own oasis, it's a free party that happens every day," said Fader Editor-in-Chief Matthew Schnipper.
Forty bands will perform at the Fader Fort and hundreds more from all over the world will play around Austin before the week is over.
As thousands of music fans try to get around by vehicle, bike and on foot, you can expect traffic to be a mess the next few days in the downtown and east Austin areas. With sky-high parking costs, the MetroRail is packed with festival goers making their way downtown, all to experience one of the biggest and most anticipated music events in the world.
The SXSW Music conference runs through Sunday, March 17.
