text: what is the best music festival, and the lineup?   well if you mean current festival that still takes place, has to be sxsw (south by southwest) that takes place every march in austin. it got its start back 1987. there are at least a thousand bands playing all week long but mostly thursday-sunday and the line up has had everyone from los lonely boys to morrissey to current artists and bands. some stats:  music • showcasing acts: 1493 • music venues participating: 64 • music conference participants: 10,821 (with band registrations 12,002) • approximate number of music media in attendance: 2,176 • approximate number of music trade show attendees: 13,500 • number of music trade show exhibitors: 192  the week prior to sxsw hosts a film festival that is not nearly as well known, but it also brings a lot of famous folks out to austin.