Under overcast skies, the music portion of Austin's annual SXSW festival kicked off yesterday. While Wednesday is seen as more of a precursor to the higher profile headliners and bigger parties that the weekend brings, throngs of people turned up at the various venues and tents for the fest's launch. With free booze flowing thanks to all the sponsors who have descended on the event in recent years, we ducked into a handful of shows including an especially energetic set from Alabama rapper Yelawolf before capping off the evening with the live taping of MTVu's Woodie Awards.

6th Street in Austin [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

JEFF the Brotherhood [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Starfucker [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Starfucker [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Twin Shadow [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Twin Shadow [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Twin Shadow [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Twin Shadow [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Tune-Yards at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Outside the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Former MTV host John Norris [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Yelawolf performing at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Yelawolf performing at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Yelawolf performing at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Yelawolf performing at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Yelawolf performing at the Fader Fort [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Donald Glover hosting MTVu's Woodie Awards [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Donald Glover at MTVu's Woodie Awards [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Matt & Kim at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Odd Future performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Odd Future performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Odd Future performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Odd Future performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Sleigh Bells on stage at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Two Door Cinema Club performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Two Door Cinema Club on stage at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Wiz Khalifa performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Wiz Khalifa performing at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]

Backstage at the Woodies [Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell. Click image to expand]