The gauntlet has been thrown down. South by South West is upon us once again. Over a year, the impact of this massive music festival in Austin, Texas can diminish since your last visit, but oh lordy, make no mistake, Austin is the music town. Amongst 2000 bands, 12,000 official attendees and the many more who lined the streets of Austin yesterday for Paddy’s Day, it was the kickoff for 96 hours of non-stop gig madness. Here’s a taster of highlights for day one:
The Morning Benders
The swooning San Franciscan classical indie-popsters thrilled a capacity crowd at Emo’s (really a big low-ceiling shed) at BrooklynVegan’s day party. Think Grizzly Bear jamming with Vampire Weekend. ‘Excuses’ was phenomenal and an extended a cappella middle lifted the song above all else in their set.
Frightened Rabbit
After falling in love with their new album The Winter Of Mixed Drinks album, I was really keen to see the Scots live. Unfortunately, due to gear problems at the Paste Magazine show, the big-sounding dynamics of the new album was forfeited for a quieter, more-acoustic show. It didn’t thump as much as it should have but the emotion was still there, with ‘Living in Colour’ and ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’.
Every month, MAP (Music Alliance Pact) asks 36 music bloggers across the world to share a track from their home country that they think you should hear. Ireland is represented this month by 
ARGENTINA: 
AUSTRALIA: 
Just a glimpse at some of the madness taking place in Austin, Texas at 
This weekly chart consists of 10 of my favourite tunes right now including remixes by Caribou of Oh No Ono, Four Tet of Pantha Du Prince, Astronomer of Glasser and Mount Kimbie of Foals. It jsut worked out that way this week. Also, nods to the new brilliant Gorillaz album, Cults, Tanlines, The National, Solar Bears and Pilotpriest.
Chris and Laura Coffey (aka doctor and psychologist, brother and sister) have released a free 5-track EP on Bandcamp. The tracks are 
Dublin’s 
A new song from Alan Paloma’s band 
