Australian festivals expand SXSW involvement
Sounds Australia and Laneway Festival have both organised showcases of Australian acts at South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas next week, while Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival have teamed up to deliver a diverse music showcase.
With the Australian Government confirming four years of funding late last year, Sounds Australia has ramped up its activities in Austin in 2017.
In its 15th year, the Aussie BBQ expands to two days at Brush Square Park’s East Tent to showcase 27 acts.
The first on March 16 from midday to 8:00pm includes Starley, Hockey Dad, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Kasey Chambers, Alex Lahey, Cameron Avery, Gabriella Cohen, The Rumjacks, Vera Blue and Thigh Master.
The first half of the show features All Our Exes Live in Texas, Castlecomer, Totally Mild, Black Rheno, Splashh and Throttle.
The second Aussie BBQ taking place on March 17 is a platform for EDM acts. The acts spotlighted are Running Touch, Koi Child, Boo Seeka, Japanese Wallpaper, Kučka, PINES, Woodes, Oscar Key Sung, Sui Zhen, WILSN and Vera Bue kicking off the six-hour event at 1:30pm.
At the second show, Platypus Brewing Co. will be on hand to serve Australian brews and meat pies, while the two-day Sound Gallery on March 14 and March 18 returns to B.D Riley’s with 19 performances.
The Saturday show focuses on Americana, roots and folk based musicians including Tim Wheatley, Hamish Anderson, All Our Exes Live in Texas and Juanita Stein.
Others acts include Slow Dancer, Food Court, Go Fever, Joel Sarakula, The Elliotts, The Heart Collectors, Soul Movers, The Coconut Kids, Beth Brown and Josh Cashman.
Sounds Australia Executive Producer Millie Millgate said, “We once again welcome the ongoing support of the Australian Consulate General in Houston, and are very excited to be part of the G’Day USA program at SXSW to represent the Australian music industry and offer access and exposure to over 70,000 delegates.”
Aside from showcasing acts, Sounds Australia will support SXSW delegates with the invite-only networking event The Luncheon, as well as Connections, a market education and export networking event for international music businesses.
Laneway Festival’s sixth annual SXSW Party will be held on March 17 at The Mohawk on River Street.
On the Outdoor Stage are Spiral Stairs, Downtown Boys, Alex Cameron, Alexandra Savior and Chastity Belt. The Indoor Stage will feature Nick Hakim, Let’s Eat Grandma, The Big Moon, Hoops and Cameron Avery.
Attendees to the free show are required to bring a pair of shoes to donate to Sole 4 Souls, an initiative that provides footwear for those who are less fortunate.
Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival are joining forces to deliver a SXSW showcase at The Sidewinder on March 15 from noon to 6:00pm.
Presented by Secret Sounds, local and international acts including Hockey Dad andTkay Maidza, will be joining Norway’s Sigrid and Sløtface, US artists Lo Moon, Topaz Jones, Kaiydoand QTY, and the UK’s Youngr, Dream Wife and Mullally at The Sidewinder on March 15.
Immigration clause causes uproar
Late last week, SXSW organisers denied it made a threat to inform US Immigration authorities on any artists that played unauthorised shows at the event. “Unofficial” satellite performances are common practice among international artists who’ve made the trip.
It caused some panic among Australian performers and their management after New York band Told Slant pulled out in protest after they noticed the clause in their SXSW contract.
SXSW CEO and co-founder Roland Swenson promptly issued a statement saying it was a total misunderstanding.
Swenson said the intention of the rule in question was to be a safeguard to “provide SXSW with a means to respond to an act that does something truly egregious, such as disobeying our rules about pyrotechnics on stage, starting a brawl in a club, or causing serious safety issues.”
“Those acts coming to SXSW to perform without a work visa are limited by US immigration law to performing their showcase event only,” he added. “If an artist wishes to perform elsewhere, they will require a work visa.”
Organisers have pledged to reword the contract for next year’s event.
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