成人快手

We're half way through the first day in Austin. It's more than a wee bit crazy here - literally tens of thousands of "industry" workers going to see (it transpires) 1800 bands. 1800!!!!

Telling the industry people and the bands apart isn't a problem - the former are exchanging cards and chatting loudly while the latter all seem to be wearing ridiculously tight trousers and looking very confused. This isn't a normal festival in any way, after all.

With my trousers at a compromising level of looseness, I went to the Belfast/Nashville Sister City event at Latitude, in the centre of town. Foy Vance was playing. He doesn't seem to realize it, but when it comes to getting a crowd of people to just shut the **** up for ten minutes, he has it easier than most. All he has to do is open his mouth. Seriously though, I don't normally say this as it always sounds a bit cheesey, but "what a voice". Seriously. Even in the toilet, I noticed everyone was pee-ing really quietly, listening intently.

By the end of his set it was dead busy and everyone was talking about what they'd just seen.

We chatted to him afterwards for the TV show and i was pretty disappointed to find out he wasn't going to see N*E*R*D on Saturday. I knew he was a big hip hop fan, but it transpired his enthusiasm doesn't entertain anything released post 1992. In the spirit of our discussion, I taught him a gang sign and we posed for a photo as everyone looked on... mortified (see above).

We also hooked up with Andrew Ferris, from Derry label Small Town America and his band, Jet Plane Landing. His main priority was finding decent management for Fighting With Wire, who he recently released an album for. I don't doubt for a second he'll track down the best man for the job, even if he has to search every bar in Austin.

The guys from Belfast's Driving By Night were also knocking about, looking a bit sheepish, having just played the gig of their lives with Foy in New York. "Buzzing" doesn't even begin to describe how they felt about it and I'm really looking forward to seeing them retain such form at another Northern Irish showcase on Friday.

Oh, and the boys from Downpatrick, The Answer, were setting up for acoustic set and telling us about a massive unofficial party they're playing at outside of the city this weekend in a mansion complete with tennis courts and numerous jacuzzis. Determined to make our scheduled interview at said party a bit daft, I suggested we do a jacuzzi-chat in our speedos. They don't seem up for the nudity, the prudes, but they suggested we fill the jacuzzi with some local beauties and spark up cigars. A resonable compromise, I thought.

With our work done for the day, we're just leaving off cameras and stuff back at the hotel and getting ready to head back in and party a bit. Simian Mobile Disco and The Ting Tings are on the cards for me although not until after we try (and inevitably fail) to get in and see Van Morrison and/or R.E.M.

No chance!

TODAY'S FANTASTICALLY NAMED BAND...
"Awesome Cool Dudes" (kudos to J Tiernan for the spot)

TODAY'S BEST FREEBIE...
3 Cornetto style ice creams.

Rigsy