While Austin, Texas may be just another city on the map, I can’t help but think that maybe they’re putting something in the air or water that makes you believe you are in another world. At least this thought holds true for festivals like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. I like to think that most passionate music lovers, and even outsiders like myself, are aware of things such as the city’s musical reputation and nickname (“The Live Music Capital of the World”), and that it is also home to artists like Willie Nelson, the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Costello and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, all of whose careers took off here. The 6th Street District is undoubtedly the city’s most hopping spot, and there is said to be some two-hundred clubs, bars and music venues just around town. If you look at any concert calendar for any given day, chances are you will find at least one band playing in town that night that you will probably like. It’s almost like this musical paradise is spoiled rotten.
Austin will be especially hopping in a few weeks, when the world’s biggest music, art and film festival takes over the city. From March 12-21, the city will be taken over by over music lovers, music industry reps, artists, film makers, comedians and over two-thousand bands, coming from every continent in the entire world. Although I’m not attending the festival, I always find it fun to look over the lineup and schedule to see what I could’ve experienced. I have no problem checking out bands I’ve never heard of. In fact, that’s half the fun. All styles of music will be represented, with everything from the undiscovered acoustic singer/songwriter’s you may see in small coffeehouses, to some of the biggest names and legendary artists of all time. Some of the names on this year’s lineup include the legendary Smokey Robinson, indie bands like Spoon, Broken Social Scene and Band of Horses, electronica trip-hop outfit The Crystal Method, the Latin and funk sounds of Ozomatli, and singer/songwriter’s like John Hiatt and Jakob Dylan. There’s even a few collaborations lined up that are sure to be some of the best performances all week long. These include the son of Bob Marley, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’, with rapper Nas, Roky Erikson with Okkervil River and Jail Guitar Doors featuring Tom Morello, Billy Bragg, Wayne Kramer and Chris Shiflett.
Cincinnati Does SXSW
For us Cincinnatians, whether you’re going or not, there are a few reasons that you too can get excited about South by Southwest. The Cincinnati music scene will once again be represented well with bands like Bad Veins, The Seedy Seeds, Daniel Martin Moore with Lexington native Ben Sollee, Pomegranates and Julie Neumark, all performing at the festival this year. But if you are taking the trip out west this year, and want to show your love for the hometown bands, I’ll fill you in on when they’ll be playing. Bad Veins are scheduled for the night of Thursday, March 18, playing at Red 7, with bands like I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness and Grand Atlantic. The Seedy Seeds will also be playing Thursday, March 18, at BD Riley’s Irish Pub, with bands like So What, Drive Like Maria and Eldorado. Martin and Sollee, also playing Thursday, will be at the Central Presbyterian Church with Gonzales, Timber Timbre, Sally Seltmann and Dan Mangan. The Poms, also on Thursday, are at Maggie Mae’s with Rural Alberta Advantage and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. Julie Neumark will be the headliner on Wednesday, March 17, at the Victorian Room at the Driskill, with Girls, Guns and Glory, Brandon Jenkins and Josh Charles.
For the music schedule and a complete list of bands performing this year, visit here.
As far as the film showcases go for this year, you’ve got every type of film you can imagine. From short narratives to documentaries, you’re sure to find something you like whether you’re into art films, comedies, documentaries, drama or everything in between. Some of this year’s highlights include I’m Here by Spike Jonze, Four Lions by Chris Morris, American Grindhouse by Elijah Drenner and When You’re Strange, a film about The Doors by Tom DiCillo.
For a complete list of all of this year’s film showcases and show times, visit here.
So there you have it. A brief look into this year’s South by Southwest Festival. Kind of like Sundance wrapped inside a record store that has come to life.
If you’re still thinking about going to South by Southwest this year, you can find all your travel needs right here. And if you’ve already got your plans set for this year, have an awesome time and let me know how your experience was by emailing me at nate@brokenmic.com