News From SXSW: Schedules, Torrents, KEXP, Mew and More

SXSW 2007's music portion kicks off three weeks from today. We hope you are keeping hydrated, getting extra sleep, and listening to every MP3 you can find in order to plan your schedules. In an effort to help you, the festival goer, here are some great recent developments in the SX world:

- Saturday brought the reveal of the SXSW showcase schedule and band bio pages. After a delayed start with the band list, the schedule landed at about the same time as last year. While many of the showcases are a bit incomplete in terms of times, you can get a good sense of what bands are playing which nights to help plan your initial day and night schedules. Many of the band bio pages have links to a free MP3 by the artist as in years past.

- The updated lineup also brought two great surprises from colder parts of Europe. Both Mew (pictured) and Peter, Bjorn, and John were added to the lineup, as were Perry Farrell's new corporate-rock project Satellite Party. This gave some added flair to a lineup that didn't provide as many initial surprises as in years past. We applaud the additions.

- In everyone's favorite pre-SX moment, the first SX band MP3 torrent is now available for legal download. At 3 gigs, you're going to need to devote some serious listening time to get through this one.

- As in past years, Seattle's indie station KEXP will be doing live broadcasts from the Austin City Limits studios for three afternoons of the festival. Highlights will include sets from Ghostland Observatory, Fujiya and Miyagi (pictured), and Apples In Stereo. The broadcasts are open to the public.

- Still no word on wristbands, but we'd keep a close eye on your SMS, as they are traditionally released in the next few days or so.

- If you didn't see our talk with News 8's Andy Langer last week, Austinist's day party will take place on Wednesday at the Mohawk, with our Australian favorites Architecture In Helsinki headlining. Stay tuned for a full announcement shortly.

- What a kerfuffle! SXSW schedulers have frustrated all the indie kids by pitting label showcases from Sub Pop, Merge, and 4AD/Beggars at the same time. Many people wearing sunglasses indoors are crying into their Sparks while chain smoking. We suppose this is why someone invented day parties.

- Part of the fun of the SX band list is trying to pick the funniest band name. Usually it's tough to decide on a winner, but not this year. Seattle's Steaming Wolf Penis are probably impossible to beat. Unfortunately, they are buried in Sunday night's lineup, meaning we'll never find out what they actually sound like.

Mew image taken by Mew. Peter, Bjorn, and John image via their MySpace page. Photographer uncredited.