Y'all Come On Down - SXSW Bloggers & Fans Get Togethers

Greetins' Children! Can I get a YEEEE HAW???? OK, here's the skinny! I'll post whatever SXSW info I can on here to help us all connect with one another during the fest & concert. Feel free to email/comment/IM/carrier pigeon me with any additions, suggestions, ideas, questions or such! We'll keep this post as a "WORK IN PROGRESS" and update as info comes in! I'll add more maps & stuff tonight! Stay tuned -- it's gonna be a BUSY week!

NOTE: I'll post updates at the bottom, so scroll down to get the lastest & greatest!

BLOGGER/FAN GET TOGETHER:

Looks like our "official" SXSW ITA Blogger/Pete/Rach/Who Fan get together will be at the Rajiworld+1 Party at Big Red Sun on Saturday, March 17th! We plan to meet up between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. No Badges/Wristbands or RSVPs needed -- it's open to everyone!

Big Red Sun Link: http://upcoming.org/event/155699/ (yes, it's also a COOL plant nursery)! It's an outdoor venue and they'll have nice comfy mats to sit on but feel free to bring your own blankie or folding chair. Food & refreshments are definitely available, but you may bring your own bottled water (i.e., they won't "confiscate" your liquids at the gate like some other events here do)! There's a $10 suggested donation at the door! I'm working on parking for this -- currently have a lot available about 3 blocks away but I'm trying to arrange something closer. Stay tuned.

Of course, the highlight will be Ian McLagan & The Bump Band! A MUST SEE for all "spiritual boys & girls"!! I'd suggest making as many of the Bumps' gigs as your schedule will permit. More info on Mac & The Bumps below, but here's the party info:

Saturday, March 17 - Big Red Sun (Bumps 7:30pm) - No wristbands/badges required. Rajiworld +1 party (3-9 pm) 1102 E Cesar Chavez Street Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us! Featuring performances by Adam Carroll, A.J. Croce, Billy Harvey, Hacienda Brothers, Jeff Hughes & Chaparral, The Mother Truckers, Nakia, Miss. Pamela Des Barres, Skyrocket featuring Kathy Valentine, and our very own Ian McLagan & the Bump Band. Come on down! Stick around for a special meet & greet session with Mac following the Bump set! For party news and updates visit Rajiworld.com. $10 donation to benefit GENaustin. !

SXSW FESTIVAL EVENTS:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14TH....

- Pete's Keynote Address: Wednesday, March 14 @ 6:30 pm. - *BADGES ONLY* http://2007.sxsw.com/music/conference/panels_schedule/?action=show&id=MP060150
Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom - corner of 4th St. & Nueces. Line up early. FREE PARKING reserved for you at Valet Garage @ 5th & Brazos. Contact ME FOR A PASS!

- Austin Music Awards: Wednesday, March 14 @ 8:00 pm. Convention Center - Ballroom A - * OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* advance tix available for $15 at, $20 at the door. Bump Band performs at 9:20pm. This year’s show will feature performances by Bobby Whitlock and CoCo Carmel with Stephen Bruton; Barbara Kooyman and the Unstrung Heroes of Texamericana with Carrie Rodriguez and Michelle Shocked; Ian McLagan and the Bump Band and more. There will also be an appearance by Six Strings Down: the Clifford Antone Tribute with Jimmie Vaughan, Derek O’Brien, Gary Clark Jr. and more. SXSW badges and wristbands include entry into the show at the Austin Music Hall. Same parking info as above. THIS is a great place to meet up, gang -- a veritable Who's Who of Texas music will be there!

http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/sxswreports/entries/2007/02/22/austin_music_aw_1.html

THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH:

- The 5th Annual Roky Erickson Psychedelic Ice Cream Social - * OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* - Thursday, March 15th, 2007 2:00 PM (DOORS) to 8:00 PM, Threadgills World Headquarters - 301 W Riverside Dr, Austin, 78704 - (512) 472-9304. www.threadgills.com - The Roky Erickson Trust presents: ROKY ERICKSON and The Explosives, Spoon, Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Buck, Michelle Shocked, Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, Tommy X Hancock, Black Lips, Powell St. John, J. T. Van Zandt & Sumner Erickson of The Texcentrics - Tickets available at http://www.frontgatetickets.com/ and at Threadgills WHQ. $20.00 General Admission and children 12 and under Free with an adult. This year's event celebrates electroshock survivors.

OK, Who-o-Philes..... DON'T MISS THIS. Roky's story & music is guaranteed to raise the little hairs on the backs of ANY Townshend aficionado's neck! The "godfather" of psychedelic rock and the man who taught Janis how to wail went kind of "deaf, dumb & blind" for many years -- but he broke the mirror and has come back with some REALLY neat stuff for us (like a "prequel/sequel" to Tommy written in 1967!?). Come and witness a REAL resurrection (and eat some REALLY good meatloaf at Threadgills)!

- Rachel Fuller w/Special Guests - *BADGES/WRISTBANDS ONLY* - (and Gen. Pub. if ANY room is left over. Yeah, right). Thursday, March 15th, 6:00 pm. La Zona Rosa - 612 W. 4th Street Austin, TX 78701. And I don't care IF they required badges, wristbands, blood samples, DNA, etc. I'll be sittin with you guys in the parking lot! ARRIVE EARLY for this one! Parking available at the Valet Garage listed above, but CONTACT ME FOR A PASS!

- Ian McLagan & The Bump Band - Thursday, March 15 - Lucky Lounge (8pm) - ** FREE! No wristbands/badges required.** 209-A West 5th Street Four guys walk into a bar... Join us for 'Happy Hour' with the Bump Band.

*NOTE: Special late set for SXSW week only from 8-10pm. Thursday, March 15 - Whiskey Bar (1am)Official SXSW/Rajiworld showcase 303 W. 5th Street


FRIDAY, MARCH 16TH:

-Rachel Fuller @ SXSW Live - Friday, March 16th, 10:00 pm - Lone Start Lounge area at Austin Convention Center. *COMPLEMENTARY TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL FESTIVAL ATTENDEES AND GENERAL PUBLIC - SPACE PERMITTING* - (which means line up early). These 40-minute performances are being filmed for broadcast on DirectTV - so check your local listings!!

- South By Bookstore signing with Ian McLagan - Friday, March 16 - SXSW Trade Show Events Austin Convention Center, Trade Show & Exhibition 500 East Cesar Chavez South By Bookstore signing with Ian McLagan (2pm) Mac will be meetin', greetin' and signin' copies of his highly acclaimed CD, Spiritual Boy, An Appreciation of Ronnie Lane and his rock 'n' roll biography, All The Rage. Don't miss out! Hosted by Barnes & Noble. (No info on whether this is Gen. Public or not....)

- MUZAK North by Tent Party w/Rachel Fuller - Brush Square Park, 5th St. @ Neches - Free margaritas & taco bar - bring a blankie and sit on the grass! Also featuring The Alternate Routes, The Hot IQs, Scott McCurry, Andy Zipf, and Sarah Marince. This is an RSVP event -- go to www.muzak.com/sxsw and email a "RSVP". They'll email you back a canned message saying you've been added to the list. Whether that's good enough to get you in without out a badge is anyone's guess, but I'm printing out a copy to take with just in case! We'll see! (BTW, stop by the park and gander at the Susanah Dickinson house - Dickinson was one of the few survivors of the Battle of the Alamo and the person who delivered the news of the Texan army’s defeat to General Sam Houston).

TUESDAY, MARCH 20TH:

- The Who @ AT&T Center - San Antonio, By-God, Texas! - Still workin on our pre- & post-concert get togethers on this one! Stay tuned!


OTHER GOOD STUFF:

Here's a link to Ian McLagan's site -- compliments of Lynne. I'm working on getting the teenager to pop a linky in here to purchase Mac's great CD "Spritual Boy" -- a Tribute to the late Ronnie Lane. Stay tuned as we get more Mac & Bump Band info!

http://www.ianmclagan.com/news


WEATHER & WARDROBE:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Austin&state=TX&site=ewx

Austin weather is unpredictable, but best plan to bring light jackets sweaters for cool mornings & plan on hot afternoons. For those waiting in lines -- a small umbrella will give you respite from the sun (or unexpected cloudburst). Be sure to bring something to keep hydrated - one of those bottles on a lanyard will do ya. A plastic poncho in a packet (Wally World) is a good idea - rain is always possible and they make great groundcloths to sit on in a pinch. While you're stocking up, try to find some mosquito repellant towellettes. (cans of spray are a pain to carry around). Sunglasses are a must! I have loads of folding canvas chairs to share for those who are going to be queueing up for stuff! You can pick them up at the Valet Garage at 5th & Brazos! Be sure to contact me in advance for your parking passes and maps, directions & times!

Tonight I'll post some more helpful info for Austin-bound travelers and a few "must see's" for while you're here! In the meantime, be sure to let me know what I need to add here eventwise or otherwise!

Onward through the Fog!!

UPDATES: 3/8/07!!!

Trying to get info on the Tom Wright book release party, but seems this is a private event, not necessarily associated with the festival. I'll keep sniffin around for info! Stay tuned.

Amazingly, Tom donated his collection to the UT American History Museum -- you can actually view the materials at the campus.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00033/cah-00033.html

Ann Margaret will be accepting the Texas Film Hall of Fame Award on Friday, March 9th at Austin Studios! Beans anyone? http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A453501

UPDATES: MARCH 13, 2007!

Yup -- it's raining! The forecast new calls for it to clear out by Wednesday afternoon, leaving a nice cool weekend in store. Lows in the 50's and highs in the 60's to 70's. Light jackets are a must and some those plastic groundcloths (a/k/a cheap rain ponchos) will come in handy. The rain is a GOOD thing! It's washing away all the pollen that has had Austinites sneezing for weeks! No fear -- the weather will cooperate! (hope hope hope)!

PARKING: I will be at the Valet Garage located on 5th St. between Congress & Brazos, tomorrow from about 11:00 am til 4-ish! (If you are heading NORTH on Congress - toward the Capitol - turn RIGHT on 5th Street and you'll see the Valet Garage immediately on the left. I'll have supplies on hand (umbrellas, folding chairs, etc.) so no need to bring those with you. If you need to park after 4-ish -- contact me via email or IM me so I can leave you a pass! This garage is convenient to the Convention Center, Hilton, 6th Street & the Lucky Lounge/Whisly Bar. Get with me on Wednesday, or email me if you need parking passes for Thursday and Friday nights! We also have a few lockers at the Valet lounge if you need to lock up any belongings (souvenirs, goodie bags, shopping loot) so you don't have to carry stuff all day.

PARKING FOR THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL: On Thursday will be non-existent! Park at the Valet garage and take one of the free "dillo" trolleys across the bridge to Threadgills!

DIRECT TV will be airing Rachel's performance AND Pete's keynote address on Channel 101 LIVE. Set your TiVO's NOW!!

BLOGGER PARTY ON SATURDAY: Taking a cue from my NASCAR buddiess -- we're hoisting a "flag" to mark our spot! When you arrive at Big Red Sun -- just look for the "Attic Intravision" logo and the Mod Target! These are your peeps!

That's all for now! May each of you have a safe and speedy trip into Austin and I look forward to meeting up with everyone manana!