South By Southwest in Austin, TX, is in full swing right now: 2,000+ bands from 50+ countries at 60+ venues, including over 140+ artists from Canada. The festival can range from pure bliss to pure hell in minutes, so here are my...
Seven tips for surviving South By Southwest:
1. Whole Foods. Yeah, it's pricey, but it's important that you stock up on foods and beverages that won't immediately give you diarrhea, like most of the free BBQ 'n' booze will. And hey, Hannah Georgas played the SxSW Whole Foods this week!
2. Rent a bike. It's the fastest and easiest way to get around through the warm Texas night to the next gig.
3. Getting in to shows. Avoid rush hour, which is 45 minutes after the hour, when most sets end. Show up to the show you want to see 10 minutes into the set and many times you can stroll right in even for the biggest bands.
4. Proper footwear. I have to wear Mama's Family orthotics for the rest of my life thanks to limping around SxSW (pre-bike years) in worn-out Chuck Taylors.
5. Daytime parties. You can see almost every band playing SxSW for free during daylight hours, and usually eat and drink free while you're at it. Watch Twitter!
6. South Congress. Get out of the mayhem of 6th Street and check out Austin's best club (the Continental), and some of the better restaurants and shopping. Time your return across the bridge for sunset so you can see the bats!
7. See a band you've never heard of. Music is all about the joy of discovery. Don't just see the Canadian bands you know and love. Give the totally unknown, unbuzzed act a chance.
ARE YOU, LIKE ME, EXPERIENCING SXSW FOMO* RIGHT NOW?
Let me me know by commenting on our blog or emailing me at grant.lawrence@cbc.ca, or tweet me up @grantlawrence. You can listen to the Canadian bands performing at SxSW on today's Grant Lawrence Live.
Click the play button to listen live to CBC Radio 3.
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*fear of missing out.