SXSW 2012 is quickly approaching and we couldn’t be more excited. Yesterday, we showed you a handful of some up-and-coming artists that will be appearing during the festival, but there are some major names that will be rocking it out in Austin next week as well! With John Mayer, Fiona Apple, Skrillex, The Shins andmore getting you in the music spirit, this will be without a doubt a prettyfantastic week.

Hollywire has gathered a list of the renowned musicians we're especially excited to see at the fest. Check it out!

 JOHN MAYER

Okay, this one is pretty obvious. Since John Mayer teased his newsingle Shadow Days a couple of weeks ago, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’llgive audience members a sneak peek of even more of his latest album! You can catch him whenhe plays at Stubb’s on Saturday, March 17th at 11:45 pm.

 JAY-Z

It’s just been announced that the legend that is Jay-Z will bereturning to Austin after his unforgettable and surprising appearancelast year with pal Kanye West. Fans that aren’t lucky enough to catch Jay liveat SXSW can watch the YouTube live stream while he performs at Austin CityLimits on Monday, March 12th at 8pm!

Related Article: Bands to Watch at SXSW 2012!

FIONA APPLE

Fiona Apple has been MIA from the music scene for many years now -- but ever since we heard she was finally working on a new album, our inner sensitive teen selves could barely stand the anticipation! We can’t wait to hearsome new tunes off the upcoming album from the Criminal singer; we just know hershowcase will get fans pumped for her spring 2012 tour! She’ll be performing onMarch 15th at Central Presbyterian Church at 8 pm!

SKRILLEX

Skrillex has become a straight-up phenomenon within the pastcouple of years. Straight off his Grammy win, there’s a really good chance he’llalso walk away from the festival with an mtvU Woodie Award since he is theleading nominee! You can check out Skrillex when he performs at The Main on Thursday,March 15th!  

THE SHINS

The Shins stole our collective Hollywire heart in that magical moment in Garden State when Natalie Portman gave Zach Braff her headphones in the doctor's waiting room. Ever since then, we've been verifiably hooked. And while they haven't had a new album in five years, they are finally releasing another on March 16th, performing on Saturday Night Live thisSaturday AND following up their SXSW performance with an appearance at Coachellain April! The Shins are very much back in action and we couldn’t be more stokedabout it! The group will be performing at Shores Stage on Thursday, March 15that 8 pm!

 fun.

fun. has been gaining some serious momentum and their bigtime show at SXSW (at the famous venue Stubbs) recognizes their entry into The Big Time.With their single We Are Young blowing up the radio and topping the iTunescharts, everybody just can’t seem to get enough of this fun band (heh).They’ll be performing not once, but twice during the festival at 1100 Warehouseon Wednesday, March 14th at 10 pm and at Stubb’s on Friday, March 16that 11 pm!

BEST COAST

Our love for the dreamy pop stylings of Best Coast started two years ago when they made theirdebut on the music scene and it’s been true love ever since. Plus, they earned bonus points with their Drew Barrymore-directed video for Our Deal thatfeatured Hollywire favs Chloe Moretz, Tyler Posey, Donald Glover, Shailene Woodley and Miranda Cosgrove. With their secondalbum The Only Place dropping May 14th,  it’s guaranteed to be the album of thesummer. You can catch the band when they play at the Hype Hotel on Saturday,March 17th at 11pm!

ANDREW BIRD

Andrew Bird has been a major player in the music scene ever since his 1996 debutalbum Music of Hair hit. With his seventh solo album Break It Yourself justreleased this week, his showcase at SXSW is the perfect place for his fans tocatch the indie rock legend live in action. Bird will be appearing live at Stubbs on Wednesday, March14th at 12:30 am!

Related Article: 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Head Back to SXSW Festival!

MAC MILLER

Mac Miller has been on our radar for quite some time now and the manalready has a pretty devoted college following. Nominated for Woodie of theYear at this year’s mtvU Woodie Awards in Austin, we’re stoked to watchMac become one of the next big acts of 2012. He’ll be performing at Club deVille on Friday, March 16th at 12 am!

MAGNETIC FIELDS

The Magnetic Fields don't tour very often -- in fact their last tour was twoyears ago -- but with their new album Love at the Bottom of the Sea releasedearlier this week, SXSW is the perfect place for the beloved indie pop band to really kickoff their upcoming worldtour. You can catch Magnetic Fields at the Moody Theater on Friday, March 16that 8:45 pm!

WE ARE THE IN CROWD

We Are The In Crowd's first full length album Best Intentions, released lastOctober, was met with nothing but rave reviews! Their appearance at South By isonly just the beginning of their hectic tour life, with them heading tothe UK in April with Every Avenue and touring the country this summer on WarpedTour. You can watch their performance live at the Palm Door on Friday, March 16that 9 pm!

 Which band are YOU most amped to see?