When the Los Angeles-based photographer Lauren Ward headed down to the Austin, Texas music festival SXSW to bunk with Roy Harper, Jonathan Wilson and his band next door to Robert Plant‘s house, no less, we asked her to catalogue her adventure in images—from the endless live music to the eclectic attendees to the general weirdness that makes the city a Texan anomaly.

Click “Read More” for additional images.

Jonathan Wilson and Erin Lee Smith

Dr. John

Father John Misty

Delta Spirit

Left: Tex Smith

Fiona Apple

Left: Katrina Cahana

Right: Dr. John

Brooklyn Hustle Club

Right: Tashaki Miyaki

The SXSW blur of daytime drinking, sunburned shoulders and a renewed love for agave plants has finally come to an end. The highlight of the week was last night’s Viva Radio party at Club Deville, with Brooklyn bands Iran and Violens, as well as Warlocks, Ponytail and others. The neon lights against a backdrop of Austin stone gave the whole event a Jetsons-meets-Flintstones vibe, with killer projections by video artist Molly Rogers during the Warlocks performance. It’s a shame she didn’t project for all the bands — it added a visual dexterity and ambiance that was missing during many SXSW shows.