SXSW spills into East Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - There are 110 musical stages within a ten minute radius of downtown Austin. But its getting tougher and tougher to get into those downtown clubs, because they're so crowded.

Now, South By Southwest has discovered East Austin.

From the shadows of the downtown skyline, every parking space taken, and the sidewalks jammed. As SXSW action downtown has grown, folks are finding a different option.

“Great food, great music, less hustle and bustle and freak show,” festival-goer Jim Vondruska said.

Folks don't mind crowds, but they don't like to be packed like sardines. They also realize there is a different vibe here.

I'm trying to find more venues, something real low-key,” Matthew Mendez said. “Not a lot of people and it’s just so much more relaxing over here.”

The low-key atmosphere is a big draw for several looking to get off the beaten path.

“There's not a billion million people here,” Heidi Lee said.

All this extra business puts smiles on the faces of the proprietors here.

“More venues means more people, it's pretty crazy these days,” said Shangri-La Club owner Tyler Vanaken.

With one more big night of SXSW left, fans will have plenty of options, including a third night of free concerts at Auditorium Shores.