There was plenty of childlike grinning going on in this crazy music town between March 16 and 20, when about 10,000 industry people -- from artists and label reps to fanzine writers -- gushed through Austin's live-music district like a flash flood. A good chunk of the folks at the 19th South by Southwest -- 1,350 to be exact -- were singers, rappers, guitarists, turntablists, Uzbekistan percussionists and whatever else you can think of that sings or plays music.

The range of music at this year's South by Southwest offered further proof of its commitment to diversity, although the vast majority of attendees remains predominantly white and male.

Some of the best moments were surprises: a sudden performance from the Blind Boys of Alabama as shoppers combed trhough bins at Waterloo Records shop; a spontaneous show by Senegalese hip-hop trio Daara J during the world music panel discussion on Saturday; an afternoon club by the Clutters, an energetic Nashville garage-rock band whose drummers plays with the hep-cat cool of a young Ringo Starr (if he'd been a girl with dyed-black hair); Queens of the Stone Age at an unofficial SXSW party; soul-man John Legend at an outdoor showcase.

We'd settled into a hot discussion among the Saturday afternoon world-music panelists when this Senegalese hip-hop trio walked into the conference room rapping a cappella in French and Wolof. Stunning.