Route 66, alien beer, Duke Special and the threat of a night in the county jail... film-maker MICHAEL BEATTIE reports on an adventurous road trip through Texas and New Mexico...

WITH 2,000 musicians performing in 90 venues over five days, Austin’s ‘South by Southwest’ music festival each March confirms the reputation of Texas for doing things in a big way, and supports Austin’s claim to be ‘live music capital of the world’.

It’s an ideal time for a visit to the Texan state capital. There’s an incredible buzz and with so much music everywhere it’s like Beale Street, Bourbon Street and Music Row all rolled into one! If celeb-spotting is your thing there’s no better place.

Van Morrison thrilled audiences here in 2008, this year I was walking down the street behind Bob Dylan. Yoko Ono was in town, Duran Duran were performing and Bob Geldof was giving a keynote speech. Charlotte Church called into our St. Patrick’s Day party. Such is the easy-going atmosphere, you can end up sitting side-by-side with your idol over a beer! But if movies are more your thing, SXSW, or ‘South-by’ for short, is also one of the top U.S. film festivals, screening features and documentaries. And tied in as well is an ‘interactive’ conference focussing on emerging technologies and all the latest online possibilities.

March is also one of the best times of year to catch some great weather in this part of Texas. We had several days with temperatures in the eighties. July and August highs can be in the mid-90’s (34-36 degrees) which might be a little too hot for some.

I was in town with around 40 Northern Ireland delegates to South-by, from a variety of music and interactive businesses. But I’d also planned a six-day road trip once South-by had ended.

Austin is an impressive city, almost four distinct cities in one. The music city, the shopping city, the business city and the university city. With a population of 800,000 it’s fourth in line after Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, and an easy city to negotiate on foot, or using the popular cycle taxis.

I could also add conference city. The Convention Centre hosting South-by stretches over six city blocks and almost a million square feet! With up to 250,000 people flooding into town from all over America, and the world, South-by generates well over $100 million.

Austin’s also one of the most attractive American cities I’ve visited, thanks to the Colorado River meandering along the city’s southside, and restrictions on high-rise buildings to preserve the view of the historic capital building. Parks, walkways and riverside recreation add to the city’s relaxed ambience. Austinites live for the outdoors and the city’s known nationally for running, hiking and biking.

To read the rest of Michael Beattie's two-page feature on his trip around Texas and see all the pictures, pick up a copy of Northern Ireland Travel News...

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