Every year we do whatever we can to bring the craziness of SXSW to you at home, and this year is no different. Starting today, Editor James Shotwell is hitting the streets of Austin, TX to bring you the very best South By Southwest 2013 has to offer. We will be posting numerous updates and media from the festival throughout the week on the site, but you gain constant access to all the madness by following James on Twitter.

We already told you a bit about how to survive at SXSW, so today I am going to share with you five artists you need to watch this week if at all possible. If you’re reading this from somewhere other than Austin, you may be able to see some of these performers online through live streaming events, but if not you can always learn about the artists and groups by hopping on YouTube and doing a bit of research.

If you read our list and feel we missed someone you think we should cover this week, comment below and let us know! There are over 1500 artists performing in the coming week and I would never claim to know every great name worth seeing. These artists, however, are guaranteed to entertain (not to mention become huge in the months ahead) just about everyone who is truly passionate about up and coming talent.

Coming off a successful run on Van’s Warped Tour last year, Texas native Larry g(EE) spent the last half of 2012 working on new material and refining his modern twist on soul music. Larry returns to SXSW this year with new material, not to mention more energy than ever before, and he’s sure to make anyone in attendance desire to dance. His music is pure rock meets funk and soul, with just enough pop sprinkled on top to grab you with a single line. Check out his recent Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance below:

Returning to SXSW after a series of critically praised performances in 2012, The Body Rampant have their eyes set on big things. Their as-of-yet untitled full length album (produced by Brian McTernan) is scheduled for release this Spring through Antique Records and those lucky enough to catch one of their sets in Austin will be among the first to hear the new material. Their sound lies somewhere between The Receiving End Of Sirens and The Used, with an extra dash of passion for experimentation thrown on top. Check out their video for “Sativa” below:

Hailing from Nashville, The Wild Feathers have a sound that instantly strikes you as timeless. It’s engaging rock walking a fine line between country and folk with no fears of stretching a potential single to six-minute length just because the groove works so well you never want it to end. Their debut album will arrive on Warner Bros later this year, but those at SXSW will be able to hear a number of the record’s cuts, including the previously reference single, “The Ceiling.” If this band isn’t everywhere in six month, I may have to seriously reconsider working in music.

Rock and roll tends to take center stage at SXSW, but in recent years hip hop has become one of the festival’s biggest draws. Dozens, if not hundreds of MCs flood the streets of Austin looking for opportunities to pitch industry people on their demo, and if you have the time I highly recommend giving them a chance to show you their skills. One MC you absolutely must see, however, is California’s G-Eazy. You’ve probably seen him on UTG a number of times in recent months, and from the hype surrounding him after his most recent nationwide tour it seems that is not something that will chance anytime soon. Eazy creates his own beats, including 100% original instrumentation, and writes rhymes about life in the 21st century that teens and twenty-somethings flock to like a viral video. His star is inescapable, so take some time this week to discover what all the fuss is about.

Chris Carrabba is no stranger to the music industry. His work with Dashboard Confessional and Further Seems Forever over the last decade has garnered praise around the world, but this week Carrabba heads to Austin with a new act only a small number of people have been able to hear, Twin Falls. We posted a clip of a song rumored to be from the group (see below), but otherwise have received virtually no information about the project. Given Carrabba’s past work, we’re cautiously anticipating this group to be as good, if not better, than the others.

Written by: James Shotwell

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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