The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival is one of the largest, most influential, and most anticipated music events of the year. Artists, agents, promoters, and talent buyers mix and mingle with hundreds of media representatives, managers, legal experts, and other professionals to hear amazing music of every genre and conduct crucial business. Careers are launched, deals are struck, advice is shared, fans are created, and media around the world fill TV screens, airwaves, magazine pages, and websites with daily reviews and reports.

Last year, the SXSW Music Conference and Festival drew 11,750 music industry professionals for compelling panels, industry discussions, demo listening sessions, trade show exhibits, and - as always - five nights of music by more than 1,500 acts hailing from 33 different countries, performing in over 70 venues in downtown Austin, Texas. 2008, the 22nd consecutive year of the Festival and Conference, will showcase more music from the best new talent and established artists alike, provide more opportunities to network, have more unique panels and artist interviews – in short, will offer even compelling reasons to make Austin a must-be-there destination in March.

Over 120 companies exhibit in the Music Trade Show to connect and promote with today's entertainment industry decision makers and talent. Thousands of SXSW Platinum and Music registrants plus hundreds of SXSW showcasing artists explore the Trade Show visiting with attorneys, educators, graphic designers, labels, managers, marketing agents, music equipment manufacturers, print media reprsentatives, performing rights organizations, PR agents, publishers and radio stations.

OnlineRock's March update features artist who will be playing at SXSW. Below are just a few. Please note that schedules may change.

Featured Artists:
- Aloha: Profile
- Daniel Lanois: Interview

CD Reviews:
- Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
- The Blakes: Self-Titled
- Nyles Lannon: Pressure
- Say Hi: The Wishes and the Glitch
- The Boy Bathing: A Fire to Make Preparations
- Yo La Tengo: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

Free Downloads:
- Nicole Atkins: Party's Over
- Pleasant Grove: Elaborate Son
- Headlights: Cherry Tulips
- Mark Kozelek: Up To My Neck In You
- The Black Angels: The First Vietnamese War
- The Lonely H: The Meal
- The Raveonettes: Aly, Walk With Me

OnlineRock Blog:
- Planning Ahead SXSW 2008
- Updates from SXSW 2008

Helpful SXSW Websites:
- Official 2008 SXSW Website
- Austin, TX Showlist
- Donewaiting.com
- SXSW Baby!