TCB

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Day Trippers

With 4,000 wristbands selling out between 10am-6pm last Thursday, SXSW's reputation as the ultimate hipster bacchanal is secure (latest, unconfirmed rumors: Flaming Lips, Gang of Four), but some people actually work during the festival. These dedicated souls can usually be found at the Austin Convention Center, the site for everything from continuing legal education for entertainment attorneys and mentor sessions to at least one Central Asian ensemble wandering the halls in native garb. This year brings an unprecedented number of big-name daytime interviews – Neil Young, Morrissey, Beastie Boys, Pretenders, Sam Moore, k.d. lang, Destiny's Child puppet master Mathew Knowles – but panels coordinator Andy Flynn says he wants to give registrants the most value for their badge, not compete with the ever-expanding host of day parties: "We're trying to keep our stable as strong as possible, and this is one of the bedrock components of the event." Flynn, who regularly monitors Billboard and SXSW's own Daily Chord for ideas, went over a few of 2006's marquee panels. "Blogs Gone Wild" not included.

ROCK THE HOUSE GRAMMY TOWN HALL with U.S. Reps. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Connie Mack (R-Fla.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.): "I like to highlight the issue-oriented stuff; I'm wonky that way. They'll be talking about media ownership, FCC issues, copyrights, and file-sharing legislation."

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE THE WORLD with Future of Music Coalition founder Jenny Toomey, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Public Enemy producer Hank Shocklee: "The objective is to show the range of activism – it's not just advocating for elections."

NEW ORLEANS MUSIC AFTER KATRINA with Harry Shearer, Allen Toussaint, Cyril Neville, New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter Pete Spera: "I'm looking forward to it just to hear the first-person stories."

HOUSTON HIP-HOP with HoustonSoReal's Matt Sonzala, Bun B, DJ Chill: "Is it a fad that's over, or will it continue to have a strong presence?"