Artists, music-industry types, media and fans are converging on Austin, TX, this week for the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday (3/16-20).

SXSW, which launched in 1987, has grown into what's widely considered to be the most important annual music-industry event; a place where new bands can gain exposure, established musicians can showcase new material and fading stars can try to resuscitate their careers.

Close to 1,400 acts are booked to perform over the course of the festival, most playing 40 minute sets on one of the more than 50 stages in the central city. Among the bigger names on the schedule are Robert Plant [ tickets ] (who is the keynote speaker for this year's SXSW Music Conference), Elvis Costello [ tickets ], Brian Wilson [ tickets ], Billy Idol [ tickets ] and Erykah Badu [ tickets ].

As has become SXSW's tradition, the event kicks off Wednesday with the annual Austin Music Awards, which pay tribute to this music-rich city's local scene. Many of the region's notable acts--including Alejandro Escovedo (who will be performing with John Cale), Pinetop Perkins, Daniel Johnston, and Buddy Holly's The Crickets with Nanci Griffith--are scheduled to play sets during the event.

Though SXSW's Wednesday night schedule is often light, this year is an exception, with well-known acts like Costello, Idol, The Donnas, Rodney Crowell, Sleater-Kinney and Robyn Hitchcock all scheduled to play in town during the festival's opening night.

Plant's keynote speech is set for Thursday at the Austin Convention Center, where the SXSW Music Conference is headquartered. The conference features a mix of daytime panels, workshops and mentor sessions, along with a trade show.

This year, liveDaily's writers and photographers will be on the ground in Austin Thursday through Saturday (3/17-19), chronicling the event. Look for regular updates through the weekend.