Folk Artists You Don't Want to Miss at SXSW 2008

South by Southwest (SXSW) is one of the biggest weeks for the music industry in this country, as hundreds of bands and artists converge on Austin, Texas, for five days of absolute insanity. I won't be there this year but, if I were going, the following are the artists I would make sure not to miss....and, if you're there this year, you shouldn't miss them, either:

Thursday

Billy Bragg: Cedar Street Courtyard (Anti Records showcase)—1 AM
Brett Dennen: Pangaea (409 Colorado St)—10:15 and Stubb's (801 Red River St)—7 PM
Caroline Herring: St David's Church(304 E 7th St)—midnight
James McMurtry: Antone's (213 W. 5th St)—midnight
Martha Wainwright: Maggie Mae's (323 E 6th St)—11 PM
The Wilders: The Ale House (310 E 6th St (Alley Entrance))—Thurs 10 PM

Friday

The Builders and the Butchers: Club de Ville (900 Red River St)—9 PM
Fleet Foxes: Bourbon Rocks (508 E 6th St)—midnight
Kate Walsh: Victorian Room at The Driskill (604 Brazos St)—10:45 PM
Langhorne Slim: Club de Ville (900 Red River St)—11 PM
Sera Cahoone: Bourbon Rocks (508 E 6th St)—9 PM
Mutlu: Victorian Room at The Driskill (604 Brazos St)—8:30 PM

Saturday

The Belleville Outfit: Jovita's (1617 S 1st St)&mdsah;10 PM
James McMurtry: Continental Club (Mojo's Mayhem)—2:20 PM
Justin Townes Earle: Red Eyed Fly (715 Red River St)—10 PM
Red Stick Ramblers: Jovita's (1617 S 1st St)—11:30 PM
South Austin Jugband: Jovita's (1617 S 1st St)—12:45 AM