Official SXSW 2013 thread

[jabbit]

Was SXSW even more bloated and claustrophobic this year? I stopped going and starting going to 35 Denton instead. I like it more because I can discover great music for way cheaper and its generally more pleasant roomy experience. More humble and low key how South By used to be.

[centralaustinite]

I think that 2011 was the highpoint (lowpoint) of bloat and claustrophobic crowds. I live central and S. Congress and S. First were impossible to drive that year due to crowds. But CoA, APD, and SXSW really got together after that and worked out solutions.

The streets are not clogged the way they were in 2011. I actually had to be at 4th and Trinity twice during SXSW for non-SXSW reasons and it was totally doable and not insane at all. Some on-line mag had a features on a reporter doing the music fest without a badge and spending no more than $40 a day, they averaged $20 for food and transport (so many freebies now especially food) a day and saw an average of 9 acts a day.

I started considering moving out of central Austin in 2011 due to SxSW -- it was unlivable -- but I cannot believe the change in 2012 and 2013. Very easy to co-exist with SXSW this year!

[kiacook]

SXSW is fantastic, especially if you never buy a wrist band or badge. Many of the name acts play non-official free showcases and if you're looking for unknown acts that's even more true.