Music News at SXSW
Hello. So, my name's Matt Everitt and I'm part of the 6 Music News team at this year's South By Southwest Festival. I'll be seeking out all the finest nuggets of pure Music News and filtering out the tat and hype, like a journalistic version of those hairy-faced old Wild West prospectors panning for gold. Okay, so it’s not the best analogy, but it does the job.
I'll be running about Austin like an idiot for the next week interviewing bands, reporting from gigs and trying to maintain some level of sanity while negotiating a music event that features some 2000 bands playing in 80 odd venues in just four days.
Part of me is looking forward to the all-encompassing lunacy of it all and the chance to check out so many new acts, the other part of me feels like one of the climbers at the start of Touching The Void looking up at Siula Grande.
Without the fear of frostbite and losing my toes.
That said, I haven't actually left for Texas yet, and this whole trip is dependant on our plane not being swept out of the sky by the impending storms (the words 'impending' and 'storms' are not enjoyable to type the day before a ten hour flight) or maybe delayed flights will mean that you'll be reading a four day blog written from the departure lounge at Gatwick.
That’s said, the sheer number of bands travelling over from London to Austin tomorrow means the airport Weatherspoons pub will probably resemble The Grouch Club anyway.
But I digress. You'll be able to find out everything you need to know about the festival in the hourly Music News bulletins on 6 Music, plus I'll chatting to Shaun Keaveny on Thursday and Friday morning during his Breakfast Show.
You can also read the SXSW blog for more updates, listen to Steve Lamacq's SXSW show on Friday night, and we'll be hosting a special edition of The Music Week show, from Austin on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.
Basically, it's all going right off.
Incidentally, last week I spoke to someone who referred to the event as 'Ess Kiss Ess W' - in some weird attempt to actually pronounce the acronym, and I've just got off the phone to another bloke who just called it 'South By'.
Which is the kind of trendy pseudo-abbreviation that makes me want to unpack my suitcase and stay at home.
Not that I will.
Laters,
Matt
Matt,
Complain about this postEnjoy the trip. Austin is a brilliant town that welcomes everyone. Daytime weather later this week will be sunny and 25C+ degrees, perfect to recover from the late, late nights. Try the local Shiner beer, not your typical American brew.
Hi Matt
Check out Secret Shine while you're at SXSW. Sounding really great now that they've reformed and their new album is fab. Playing Thursday, March 13 9:00 p.m.
Habana Calle 6 (709 E 6th St) and a few acoustic sets too.
Thanks
Complain about this postWendy