More than 20 Irish bands and musicians flocked to Austin, Texas this week to participate in the annual South by Southwest music festival.

The showcase event is the biggest date on the calendar for the international music industry, with a huge volume of up-and-coming bands hoping to catch the ear of record label scouts, journalists and potential fans across the five-day event. A number of established artists, such as Echo and the Bunnymen, are also taking part.

Amongst the Irish contingent are Fight Like Apes, who recently released a US-only EP, as well as Lisa Hannigan (who appeared on Stephen Colbert’s TV show last week), We Should Be Dead, The Mighty Stef, The Lost Brothers, One Day International, The Urges, The Guggenheim Grotto and Wallis Bird.

There is also a number of bands and artists from Northern Ireland participating, including Derry trio Fighting With Wire and Belfast’s The Beat Poets, Andy White, Skibunny and In Case of Fire.

The festival runs until this Sunday, and you can read regular updates from our man in Texas, Jim Carroll, at www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ ontherecord.