With SXSW 2013, the world’s largest and perhaps most influential music industry conference, drawing ever closer, the complete list of artists who’ll be flying the flag for Australia at one of the biggest lineups in the world has been finalised.
Following the many lineup additions in the lead up to the event, from the 70+ that were originally invited to attend the Austin, Texas event from March 12th – 17th this year, a final list of 40 has accepted and confirmed their attendance. While a number of other artists and bands have had to respectfully decline due to scheduling conflicts, release commitments, or the burdening financial costs.
With this year’s event seeing over 2,000 performers playing at more than 90 different venues over a period of 10 days, 40 Australian bands represents a strong showing for our nation’s music, with the industry event providing and important make-or-break event for local and up-and-coming acts, with previous years seeing artists like Chet Faker, Kimbra, and Big Scary dazzle international audiences.
The annual Aussie BBQ, scheduled for March 16th from noon to 2am, will see a huge contingent of Australian acts playing on a variety of stages at Maggie Mays on 6th street. Facilitated by Sounds Australia and produced by Stagemothers, the decade-long tradition will bring homegrown talent to the masses, while providing the titular snags and drinks.
As for the 40 bands headed to SXSW 2013, topping the list is Melbourne’s hip hop superstar 360, who will also be playing his first ever American tour dates in the same month of March, and the Falling and Flying star is in very good company, with everyman emcee Seth Sentry also bringing his colourful, relatable brand of hip hop to SXSW.
Backing up their successful appearance at SXSW 2012, Melbourne sextet Alpine had a banner year, with the release of their debut A Is For Alpine netting them all sorts of attention, including nominations for J Award and the AGE EG Award for ‘Best Album’.
Another three acts who have been celebrating a breakout year thanks to the release of their respective self-titled albums in 2012 is swaggering rock act The Rubens, Fremantle poppets San Cisco, and Sydney producer/one-man-electronic-band Flume. Also jetting to Austin, Teax is Northcote’s future-soul innovators Hiatus Kaiyote – who are currently holding a crowdsourcing campaign to help fund the expenses of sending their 7 strong ensemble.
Adelaide’s burly (and very bearded) gentleman The Beards will no doubt floor American audiences (and heavily bearded Texans) with their humorous brand of rock. Sydney multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Boulet, the man and the band of the same name, are jetting to America off the back of his/their excellent sophomore release, We Keep The Beat Found The Sound See The Need Start The Heart.
Fellow Sydneysider and guitar maverick, and forthcoming Sugar Mountain act, Kirin J Callinan is set to take his eccentric stylings to SXSW, while the equally sonically aggressive Papa Vs Pretty will also be making the trip from New South Wales to the States.40 Australian bands represents a strong showing for our nation’s music, with the industry event providing and important make-or-break event for local and up-and-coming acts.
Set to be a highlight of the Big Day Out, ME are purveyors of theatrical rock and glam pop, wowing audiences in Europe and set to do the same for America, while Mildura’s finest, Jackson Firebird, will be bringing their no-nonsense, balls-out rock in their sizeable suitcase, following a successful run upstaging supporting Nickelback on their latest Australian tour.
The Trouble With Templeton have just completed a national tour in support of their cinematic single ’Six Months In A Cast’, and the cinematically enigmatic five-piece have already dipped their tour into American waters with some success. Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes are sure to find their own, having been touring extensively in the last twelve months, and their brilliant live show (think Motwon Cabaret) is bound to go down a treat at SXSW 2013.
Brisbane throws three more artists into the mix with the lovably left-field Ball Park Music, as well talented songbird Emma Louise, garage duo Dune Rats, and the disco rock of Mitzi. Then there’s Vance Joy, one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets, Chifley’s greatest slacker rock exports Bearhug, Melbourne’s emotive Blackchords, house DJ due Feenixpawl, cosmic cross-culture collective The Cambodian Space Project, and Vaudeville Smash.
Representing Sydney are folk stars Georgia Fair, rising rockers Strangers, Holy Balm, Glass Towers, Jack Carty, The Falls, Ginger & The Ghost, WIM, and Transcription of Organ Music – the solo moniker of one Damon Bird.
From Adelaide comes blues/roots crew The Audreys, Rites Wild aka multi-instrumentalist/producer/visual artist Stacey Wilson, and Atlas Genius. Finally, rounding out the list is the flash indie of Ballarat’s Gold Fields, pop sensation Havana Brown, and ex-pats the High Highs and EDM artist Yolanda B Cool playing a label party.
Australian bands taking part in the long-running conference has continued to grow in recent years, with Phil Tripp, the Australia, New Zealand and Hawaiian Representative for the festival saying that “we are expecting 750+ Australian delegates this year at the world’s leading music industry event and more than 300 bands from here to apply for crucial showcases.”
SXSW 2013 Australian Acts
360 (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Alpine (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Atlas Genius (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
The Audreys (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
The Beards (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
Bearhug (Chifley AUSTRALIA)
Blackchords (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
The Cambodian Space Project (Taroona AUSTRALIA)
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Dune Rats (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Emma Louise (Toowong AUSTRALIA)
The Falls (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Feenixpawl (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Flume (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Georgia Fair (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Ginger & The Ghost (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Glass Towers (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Gold Fields (Ballarat AUSTRALIA)
Holy Balm (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Hiatus Kaiyote (Northcote AUSTRALIA)
Jack Carty (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Jackson Firebird (Mildura AUSTRALIA)
Jonathan Boulet (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Kirin J Callinan (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
ME (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Mitzi (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Papa Vs. Pretty (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Rites Wild (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
The Rubens (Menangle AUSTRALIA)
San Cisco (Fremantle AUSTRALIA)
Seth Sentry (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Strangers (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Summer Flake (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
Transcription of Organ Music (Franklin AUSTRALIA)
The Trouble With Templeton (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Vance Joy (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Vaudeville Smash (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
WIM (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
