By Sarah Rosenfeld

This weekend kicks off the annual pilgrimage of many Chicago bands down to sunny and warm Austin, TX for the huge SXSW music festival and conference. The official start to festival season 2014, SXSW gathers bands, music lovers, and industry insiders, and Chicago is well represented in the Lone Star State this year with a ton of official and unofficial showcases lined up next week in Austin. But if you can't make it down to ATX next week, don't miss this weekend's kick off activities right here in Chicago.

via The Hideout (SXSW Send Off 2013)

The Hideout - SXSW Send Off Party (SATURDAY, 3/8, 1pm to VERY LATE AT NIGHT, $10 at the door)
Featuring Wrekmeister Harmonies, Ryley Walker, Marrow, Basic Cable, Absolutely Not, Jon Langford & Skull Orchard, Bonzie, Bailiff, Outer Minds, Kins, Radar Eyes. All these local bands will be doing showcases down in Austin next week, but you get to check 'em out first in their home town!  

Subterranean - Sxsw Send Off! (SATURDAY, 3/8, 8pm, $10 in advance/$12 at the door)
You don't need a badge to get into this night party! SubT's got The Ivory's, The Future Laureates and Motel Beds before they too head off on their journey south.

Windy City Rock will be reporting live from SXSW in Austin next week so we'll catch up with some of these bands around Austin. Are you going too? Here's a short list of some Chicago related showcases to get you started:

Chicago Made SXSW Music Showcase (TUESDAY, 3/11, 8pm to 2am, OFFICIAL SHOWCASE, RSVP here); Red 7, 611 E. 7th Street, Featuring Chance The Rapper, The Hood Internet, The Autumn Defense, ARCHIE POWELL & THE EXPORTS, Bonzie, My Gold Mask, showyousuck, and ProbCause

Bloodshot Record's Official SXSW Showcase (WEDNESDAY, 3/12, OFFICIAL SHOWCASE, BADGE/WRISTBAND REQUIRED) The Continential Club, 1315 South Congress Ave; and 19th Annual Bloodshot Record's Yard Dog Party (FRIDAY, 3/14, noon until 7pm, open to the public - no badge or wristband required -RSVP here) Yard Dog Art Gallery, 1510 S Congress Ave, with The Deslondes, Rosie Flores, Bobby Bare Jr, Robbie Fulks, Luke Winslow-King, Ha Ha Tonka, Lydia Loveless, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, The Waco Brothers

Chicago Everything Showcase (THURSDAY, 3/13, noon - 8pm, FREE SHOW!) Peckerhead's 402 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 including performances by DJ MZ Stylez, DJ V-Dub, DJ MH2DA, BO DEAL, SICKO MOBB, CALEB JAMES, Young Chop, Johnny May Cash, Jay Stonez, Blanco Caine feat. Mikkey Halsted Giftz, Bushwick Bill, LUCCI VEE, Koo Koo, Phor, Rick Ruiz, Bad Mouf Santra, Misha G, 360 The Don, JB the Joker, Castro, Tizzleman, J Bake, Cash Davis, T-20, Sevirr, DoT, and King Deasel

Midwest SXSW Showcase hosted by Metro (FRIDAY, 3/14, 11am to 6pm, FREE SHOW!) Holy Mountain,  617 E. 7th St. with lineup including Pink Frost, Ryley Walker and Oscillator Bug