Ones to watch: South By Southwest 2009
- Feb 04, 2009
The music at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas begins on the 13th March and will continue up until the 22nd with bands playing non stop showcases.
SXSW is a perfect stage for acts from the UK and the US to get noticed by major people in the music industry in the States and break the hard market. Past acts include Lily Allen, MGMT, Amy Winhouse, The Cool Kids, The Black Lips, Gallows and Mystery Jets.
This year is no exception, with up and coming and established artists and bands playing side by side across the city at all hours over the ten days. On the list this year you will find such bands as Explosions In The Sky, Ace Enders, The Spinto Band, Primal Scream and Fight Like Apes in the MASSIVE line up of acts playing various shops, hair dressers, bars, restaurants over the festivals many days.
The UK is represented in high numbers again this year at the festival with UK based acts such as White Lies, Esser, Ispo Facto, Future Of The Left and Rolo Tomassi all playing shows.
At the festival this year, the annual speakers spot goes to Quincy Jones. In years past, influential artists such as Pete Townsend of The Who and David Byrne from Talking Heads have spoken at the festival about their knowledge of the industry and careers.
Here are my 'ones to watch' at this years SXSW
Beach House
Balitmore's Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally make up the dream pop indie duo Beach House. Their two albums, Beach House (2006) and last years Devotion (2008) were praised by critics in both the UK and back home in the States. Already having got themselves a place on the high respected Bella Union record label, Beach House are a band everyone should hear.
MySpace
Mika Miko
Mika Miko are part of the scene in LA which is creating a buzz in the music industry. Along with other LA outfits such as No Age and HEALTH (who are also playing this year's SXSW. The frantic punk sound of the all girl group create a exciting energy at their live shows and are not to be missed.
MySpace
Dananananaykroyd
Glasgow based dual drumming rock band Dananananaykroyd bring their powerful take on rock n roll to Austin. Already making critics water at the mouths with their lives shows, Dananananaykroyd promise to bring some fun to SXSW. Their debut album Hey Everyone! is released here in the UK in April on Best Before Records.
MySpace
Johnny Foreigner
Label mates of Dananananaykroyd, Brimingham's Johnny Foreigner create a sound that would be fit for any house party. Having released their critically acclaimed debut album 'Waited Up Til It Was Light' on Best Before last year the band has gone strength to strength here in the UK.
MySpace
Micachu
Mica Levi, also known as Micachu, has been gracing the stages of London and creating a buzz that has gotten her support slots with bands such as Mystery Jets and Late Of The Pier. Recently she and her band The Shapes have signed to Rough Trade here in the UK and will release their debut titled Jewellery in March.
MySpace
