The annual South by Southwest Music Festival begins tonight, and Rock Daily will be reporting live from the mosh pit (and the barbecue pit) until the last note is played on Sunday. Stay tuned to our SXSW page for live reviews, video interviews, photo galleries and footage of some of the hottest gigs (and while you’re at it, catch up on what went down at last year’s festival while you’re there). In the meantime, take a look at the twelve bands Rock Daily is most excited about — six heavy hitters and six up-and-comers.

Baby Bands• She & Him: Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward will keep their momentum going on the eve of the release of their debut album Volume 1.

Source: Rolling Stone