SXSW (South by South West) is one the biggest festivals that takes place every March. The show offers a regular feast for the ears, featuring the hottest new bands around, alongside the “interactive” and “film” festivals. Thanks to Pitchfork Media, here’s a list of the performing artists for 2006:

“The Adored, Annie, Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, The BellRays, Be Your Own Pet, Blockhead, The Boy Least Likely To, The Brokedown, Calexico, Neko Case, Cat Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clor, Jason Collett, The Cribs, Cuff the Duke, Jamie Cullum, Dashboard Confessional, Death In Vegas, Death Vessel, Dengue Fever, Destroyer, Die! Die! Die!, Dirty Pretty Things, Jorge Drexler, Dr. Spock, The Duke Spirit, The Earlies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Editors, The Eighteenth Day Of May, Elbow, Empire Dogs, Erase Errata, Faker, Flogging Molly, Forward Russia, Giant Sand, Gogol Bordello, Jose Gonzalez, The Go! Team, Headphones, The Hellacopters, Clarence Frogman Henry, The Juan Maclean, Kaki King, Kalas, k-os, Sharron Kraus & Christian Kiefer, Lady Sovereign, The Like, Los De Abajo, Luminous Orange, Barbara Lynn, The Magic Numbers, Magnolia Electric Company, Serena Maneesh, Mates of State, The Morning After Girls, The Most Serene Republic, Mystery Jets, My Summer as a Salvation Soldier, Neon Blonde, Nickel Creek, No things, Of Montreal, Beth Orton, Peaches, The Plimsouls, Robert Pollard, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Saves the Day, The Secret Machines, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Tarantula A.D., Susan Tedeschi, Towers of London, KT Tunstall, Two Gallants, Tom Verlaine, Vetiver, The Whigs, Witch, Wolfmother”

At the moment I can’t afford to get there yet (unless someone wants to discuss possible sponsorship by dropping me a quick email) but I’m hoping I can pick up some recordings. Arctic Monkeys and Belle and Sebastien look to be the show stealers there, but i’m expecting some worthy performances from The Earlies and hopefully the Editors will do the British proud.

The Interactive looks to be up to it’s usual standard aswell, Heather Armstrong and Jason Kottke putting in a keynote. I really wish I could go!