South by Southwest Music and Media Conference (SXSW)
Every March, Austin hosts South by Southwest Music and Media Conference (SXSW), a huge event that includes a film festival and a music festival. 2005 will be this Austin festival's 19th year and will feature performers such as Franz Ferdinand, The Hives and Liz Phair. The South by Southwest festival has a reputation for establishing rising stars; Norah Jones, The White Stripes and The Strokes all reportedly got their first big break at this Texas event. More than 1,100 international musical acts perform in approximately 60 downtown Austin venues, while around 180 films are screened at the South by Southwest film festival.

--Austin festival review by Avital Binshtock