The SXSW Conference and Festival, or South by Southwest, recently announced additions to its massive line up of showcasing artists for 2019.
For several decades now, this Texas based event has been celebrating music, film and interactive media and has turned into a hot spot for connecting with other international artist, labels, and audiences. Being one of the biggest international music and film networking festivals the expectations are high, nevertheless SXSW never fails to live up to them by inviting interesting talents from all over the globe. For next year’s run countless musicians, filmmakers and speakers will travel to Texas. So far the festival team has announced more than 240 artists, and promises to put on a great show. While we are counting down the days until next March, let us take a quick look at the new additions to the line up, as well as the Australian talents on the schedule.
From the 8th until the 17th Austin, Texas, will be hosting namely acts like the noisy indie rock outfit Deerhunter who have a long history of touring and promise to make every last person in the audience dance with their “ambient punk” as they have described their style. Also hauling from the United States is the dream pop darling FADE with shimmering synthesiser beats and an angelic voice. Coming form the continent of Africa the Nigerian DJ Mr.Eazi will create danceable afrobeats on the turntable, and still SXSW has some more tricks up their sleeve, like the UK experimental jazz and funk outfit The Comet Is Coming. Also shifting within genre is the Latin psychedelic band called Combo Chimbita from Brooklyn. The list goes on and on, so check out the SXSW website for some more information about your favourite international acts.
As for Australian outfits, the fierce females of Body Type will bless Texas with their raging feminist rock accompanied by the electronic Hip Hop collective Haiku Hands who recently concluded their first headlining Europe tour. The self proclaimed Byron Bay slackers the Skegss will surf across the ocean with some laid back punk rock tunes in their luggage and join the like minded rebels Amyl and The Sniffers in the States. The Melbourne four-piece will launch an avalanche of 70s influenced alternative rock over Texas, while the Vacations provide the perfect indie pop soundtracks to a day in the glistering sun of the South. Of course these are not the only talents from the homeland that SXSW will be featuring in March. Head to their website to check out the full line up including more than twenty of our favourite Aussie bands.
While the musicians are off mingling and forming business connections, the line up of highly interesting speakers will keep the festival goers entertained. The latest Keynote and Speaker additions were just announced last week. Taking to the stage will be former N*SYNC member and film producer Lance Bass, SoundCloud CEO Kerry Trainor and Chris Lee head of A&R at K-pop behemoth SM Entertainment. The activist and lead singer of Against Me! Laura Jane Grace will also speak to the audience.
Sounds good? Then don’t waste any more time and save some money by purchasing your Music Badge before the 18th January, when tickets next go up in price. Make sure to bring your buddies along to get a Group Registration Discount. More information about tickets, housing options and the line up can be found on the SXSW website.
Pictured: Haiku Hands
