If you’re getting the blues about missing out on SXSW Music 2013, which kicks off today, there is some consolation to be found.
The world’s largest and arguably most influential music industry conference will see over 2,000 performers take over Austin, Texas, across 90 venues over six days. For those not lucky enough to attend, there’s a colossal SXSW mixtape to enjoy – containing a staggering 1,210 tracks from featured artists, totalling a whopping 7.39GB. For free.
It’s not the first time that the industry event has provided free music, SXSW organisers made sample tracks available via zip folders on their website from 2005 to 2008, but transitioned into posting each track individually. To make the process easier for fans to download the songs, Greg Hewitt created the website SXSW Torrents, an unofficial collection of the annual industry event’s music selections.
According to CNET Australia, SXSW have never spoken out against the website, despite its unofficial status.
This year, the music comes royalty (and subsequently guilt)-free courtesy of Ben Stolt, who has been sharing tracks from artists performing at the festival annually since 2009. The songs are still available on the official SXSW website, but thanks to Stolt you can download them in two neatly packaged torrents here for a completely legal and legitimate purpose. There’s a colossal SXSW mixtape to enjoy – containing a staggering 1,210 tracks from featured artists, totalling a whopping 7.39GB. For free.
Featuring music from close to 1,000 of the performing artists, those from the Australian contingent get a decent look in as well. There are 40 local acts that are appearing at this year’s conference, with March 16th being the big day as the annual Aussie BBQ takes place at iconic venue Maggie Mae’s.
Amongst those on the mixtape are SXSW 2012 favourites, Alpine, Sydney electronic producer Flume, Heineken commercial stars Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, and Melbourne’s future soul collective, Hiatus Kaiyote.
More Aussies who are letting the public sample their wares are The Beards, Ginger & The Ghost, The Trouble With Templeton, Gold Fields, Blackchords, The Audreys, The Falls, Holy Balm, Jack Carty, Jackson Firebird, Rites Wild, Strangers, and Vaudeville Smash who all feature on the SXSW 2013 mixtape.
It seems that Australian musicians are making waves in the overseas festival scene not just in the USA, but the UK too. Taking place from the 16th to 18th May this year, Brighton’s The Great Escape festival have announced a swag of Australian acts on their bill, including Hungry Kids of Hungary, Snakadaktal and Jagwar Ma. Often referred to as the UK’s answer to SXSW, The Great Escape showcases 350 new bands at 30 venues.
If you need to catch up on the last few years of music, all of the SXSW mixtapes since 2005 are still available to download here.
