As each year, the South By Southwest Music Festival continues to grow exponentially and well beyond just Sixth Street and Red River, it’s become harder and harder to navigate the thing. As such, we’ve put together a very basic alphabetized list highlighting some of the places, foods and, of course, artists you’ll want to be sure to check out. This list could be at least three times the size, but if you stick to these minimum requirements you’ll be sure to enjoy the festival.

Our writers will be blogging live from SXSW all week, so be sure to return here often to read regular reports from Austin.

A is for Art: As in poster art. Each year the largest convention of rock poster artists, Flatstock, convenes at SXSW, giving attendees the opportunity to browse some of the best work to be found in one place. This year Smokey Robinson will be on hand to sign limited edition prints of himself done by Shepard Fairey, who will also be signing.

B is for Beerland:  For reasons unbeknownst to us, a few years ago Beerland dropped out from being an official SXSW venue. But that hasn’t stopped them (perhaps, it’s actually helped them) put on some of the best showcases, usually leaning to the noisier side of things, to be heard all week. This year they are hosting both In the Red (Friday) and Goner (Saturday).

C is for Chuy’s:  Just behind the music and free beer, what we also love about Austin is the food, and specifically the Tex-Mex that you can’t find up north. Chuy’s is one of the best examples of such. None of their locations are that close to Sixth Street so you’ll need to drive or take a cab, but dishes like their Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom Chicken are worth it.

D is for Dam Funk:  This L.A. producer-deejay wunderkind devises the closest approximation to Roger Troutman’s street funk—and among a sea of indie bands and sampler-happy experimenters, that will be a beautiful sound to behold. Be prepared to nod your head more often than not during his sets.

E is for Emo’s:  At the intersection of Sixth Street and Red River, Emo’s is at the heart of SXSW, and not just geographically. Between the two stages of Emo’s proper and a third across the street in the tented Emo’s Annex, you could stay at this corner all week and not feel like you missed a thing.

F is Fader Fort:  Since it’s inception, which if I’m not mistaken coincided with my first year at SXSW in 2004, Levi’s and The Fader Magazine have been throwing a week-long, all-day shindig that’s completely free, including the drinks. It’s perhaps the most anticipated event of the week and being on the RSVP list is a must.

G is for Golden Triangle:  Of all the cave-pop you’ll be subject to over the course of the week, Golden Triangle will likely become the most impressionable. The Brooklyn sextet comes by way of the Atlanta Spector-worshipping scene that includes Deerhunter and the Black Lips, combining the two and washing it in a girl-group shimmer.

H is for Hoek’s Pizza:  Also known as heavy-metal pizza, Hoek’s has long been a food staple of any SXSW experience. Now in new roomier digs (well, anything would be roomier than the molehole they used to inhabit), they’re actually hosting bands this year, which had better be playing some killer metal or this joint’s rep is going to be shot.

I is for Independent Film Channel: Recharging in mind and body is essential throughout the long sun-drenched days of the festival. The Independent Film Channel is offering up an oasis of free bands, free breakfast and free coffee at the Crossroads House, which is slightly off the beaten path, but not too far that you can’t make it a regular stop.

J is for The Jackalope: The Jackalope is one of the dingier spots on the SXSW strip, but that’s why we love it. That and the beer is usually cheaper, you can get a burger or a hot dog, and you’ll never know what knumbskulls will wind up on their stage. (We still have fond memories of watching the Black Lips fighting one another inbetween songs there.)

K is for Karibu Ethiopian: At SXSW, any space in which you can fit a PA can conceivably host a show. This year Karibu Ethiopian is hosting the Shake Some Action party, running from noon to 10:00pm Thursday to Saturday, and including Coasting, the Mantles, Cloud Nothings, Woven Bones and Fresh and Onlys. Besides nothing goes with music and beer like injera bread and accompaniments.

L is for Lone Star: Along with Shiner, Lone Star is the beer most closely associated with Austin and Texas in general. And at SXSW, there’s always plenty of it.

M is for Maluca: Last year the Soca-calypso-ghettotech of Diplo protege, Maluca was a big highlight for me . Looks as if she’ll be appearing at every dance party that pops up, including the gigantic Mad Decent Carnieville event, which boasts a line-up so imposing it’s poised to dwarf the always popular Fader Fort.

N is for Not Not Fun Showcase: California psych-rock juggernaut label Not Not Fun has made a habit of holing up in the Hideout for their communally transcendental showcases. It’s certainly a hike away from the Sixth Street action, but that’s sort of the point. Watching heavy, buzzing tribal sets from Sun Araw, Pocahaunted and Eternal Tapestry, the night will eventually melt into itself, giving the sense you’re in a very exclusive club.

O is for Odawas: SXSW often provides an opportunity to check out bands that rarely make the tour circuit a priority. San Francisco duo Odawas play a special, understated strand of dream-pop that finds roots in OMD, Vangelis and Ultravox, but is much less regal and more mystery. That’s why it’s essential you do not sleep on them.

P is for Pill: The hip-hop headlines at SXSW usually consist of high-profile drop-ins from the elite class (appearances from GZA, Method Man and Bone Thugz N’ Harmony this year won’t change that fact). But the best kush comes from Atlanta these days thanks to dirty absurdist emcees like Gucci Mane and Pill.

Q is for ‘cue: As in BBQ, which in Texas is all about brisket. You’re going to need a car or cab to get to the best BBQ in Austin—the legendary Saltlick, Rudy’s, and Green Mesquite—otherwise your best bet is Iron Works on Red River.

R is for Roky: As in Erickson, the legendary former leader of psych pioneers the 13th Floor Elevators and a hometown hero. Since 2004, he has been playing host to an Ice Cream Social at Threadgill’s, while each successive year he has been playing with increasing frequency elsewhere. This year, with his first new studio album in more than a decade due out next month, he will be hard to miss.

S is for Stubb’s: “S” could stand for a lot of things associated with and including SXSW (Shiner Bock, Sixtth Street, etc.), but Stubb’s gets the nod for a couple reasons. First, is that it combines live music and barbecue under one roof. The barbecue is decent, but not exceptional, and their big arena outback is usually host to only bigger names, but as the first place I ever ventured into in Austin, it still signifies the SXSW experience.

T is for Tacos: Tacos are as ubiquitous in Austin as hamburgers are in the rest of the country. The difference is that even when ordering the roadside variety, a couple bucks will get you a tortilla full of wonderful flavors far superior to the Mc-equivalent. If you can, though, get to Tacodeli.

U is for Uffie: Seems like Uffie has been around for the better part of the last decade, but she has yet to make the kind of splash you’d think she’d make in the pool of edgy, worldly female ingenues (Santigold, Yelle, M.I.A.). This would likely be her year if it weren’t for a blatant interruption by pop-trash starlet Ke$ha, who has basically stolen Uffie’s motif. Expect Uffie to be fighting for her identity all week.

V is for The Very Best: What’s most intriguing about getting to see the Very Best, is how the whole thing will play out. Whether it’s a live Afropop love-fest or a laptop engineer bumping the club under the Austin sunshine, the Very Best’s grooves are infectious.

W is for Waterloo Records: Waterloo Records has been in business for 28 years (an incredible feat by record store standards) and a part of SXSW for almost as long, presenting daytime shows each year. This year includes a Q&A and signing with Cheap Trick and performances each day from 12 to 6.

X is for KVRX: The student-run radio station at the University of Texas in Austin, KVRX is hosting three shows over SXSW, which happens to be during UT’s spring break. Thursday’s show is at Abuelita’s and includes Teenage Cool Kids and Aa; Friday’s day party includes the Fungi Girls, the above mentioned Golden Triangle and Javelin; and Saturday’s “Beerdfest” at Domy Brooks includes Sonny and the Sunsets and Thomas Function.

Y is for Yahowa 13: While Yahowa 13 is longer led by their leader, guru and namesake, recent reissues of the Hollywood cult’s leftfield psych recordings have led the “group” out of retirement. Now it’s guitarist Djin Aquarian who leads the sermon, and by all accounts it sounds like they’re still riding those eternal chords from way back when.

Z is for Zola Jesus: Another of the biggest surprises of last year’s SXSW was the passionate performances of Zola Jesus. In the past 12 months she’s kept all the darkness and black tar atmosphere in the fold, but has also slowly but surely revealed her penchant for melody and pop structure. The Sacred Bones showcase, which also includes Moon Duo, the Dutchess & the Duke and the Bitters, will be the optimal environment to see her transform into a star.

(compiled by Stephen Slaybaugh and Kevin J. Elliott)