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Turns out there's 160 bands from all over the UK playing out here at SXSW this year, with over 500 delegates. There's loads of folks from labels and managers here, meeting folk, watching theirs and other bands, making the most of this busy, hectic, incredible four days of music.
When I go to bed at night and when I wake in the morning, the streets are packed with folk getting from place to place, off to the next party, showcase, gig. The locals are out in force every year, as well as those here on business.

Today I started off watching playing an magazine party, which is a brilliant American magazine that always concentrates on fine new bands and artists. from Sweden played too, and make music once you find you won't want to forget. With big, honest, fresh and beautiful songs, singer Emil's falsetto was on top form. There's a lot of Swedish band out here, from Peter, Bjorn and John to Tallest Man on Earth and the ace .

Over at the British Embassy (actually Latitude 30, a venue where some of the UK showcases are happening), played interesting, joyous inide jams with singer Sarah owning an unusually out of place voice, that made it a pleasure to hear.

I stumble on a showcase in a marquee hosted by Soundcheck Magazine, and are actually soundchecking. Is this what happens at a Soundcheck party? Obviously not as they start their set with Jenny, a song that refuses to leave my head till 2am.

Over the road are playing their slinky beats, layered vocals ad special new songs. They have an album ready to come out, are on fire live at the moment, and have started their own label, ironically titled Wealth. With euphoric and housey influences, they're a band who could creep up and surprise people.

I went to see again. It was a smaller soundsytem than last night's church gig, but was just spectacular. Playing on the roof of a venue under the boiling hot sun, with trees growing out of the floor and reaching for the sky, this was perfect. You have to check this band out.

Missed because of a really long queue, with And You Will Know us by the Trail of the Dead on after them. And You Will Know us by the Trail of the Queue. Around the queuers there's buskers, Japanese punk bands, unicyclists, fancy dressed funk bands and ice all over the floor. This place gets madder and madder.

were captivating in a psychedelic groove-based wig out kind of way; manic grins aplenty at their Mohawk venue. They use cockles for shakers onstage, and obviously love in a Permanent Summer of Love. Good name for a band that.

Watching is a lot of fun. Looking like he should come from Sweden, he actually does have a magnificent Ukulele, and a band. Jolly pop? Bit tongue in cheek while taking it completely serious and singing from the heart? Probably good for your health? You betcha!

The night ends with playing in the church. A perfect venue for a stunning band, one moment extracting every last drop of juice from a fragile vocal harmony, the next exploding into a howlin' raw blues number, their single Charlie Darwin weaved its magic into the hearts of everyone present. Expect much flowerier words of praise thrown on this band in the future; they deserve everything said about them. Oh, and whoopering and hollering in a church is a lot of fun.

Goodnight.