Today, Wednesday, March 17, is the date that Austin’s South by Southwest transitions from a focus on film to highlighting some of the best new indie bands, attracting thousands of artists and spectators from around the world to downtown Austin for four days and nights of every imaginable type of music.
Now in its sixteeth year, SXSW is a pivotal annual event where musicians and bands, press and bloggers, spectators and fans, record industry executives, music scouts and agents, gather in conventions, centers, music halls, bars and clubs, churches and museums, backyards and roof tops to play, listen to and chronical more music than is ever possible to hear.
At anytime of the day or night, there are dozens of musicians and bands performing at venues throughout the downtown area of Austin and beyond. SWSX organizers report there are more than 1,700 artists and bands scheduled just for the official showcases. However, there are also hundreds of unofficial SXSW events.
Relatively unknown artists perform in pizza joints, hotels and cafes; better known bands perform at the top venues, such as Stubb’s, Emo’s and The Galaxy Room.
Wednesday will be a big day for places like The Galaxy Room (508 E 6th St.), which features two stages (inside and outstage) will host shows from Roman Candle, Free Energy, Freelance Whales, Suckers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Roky Erickson with Okkervil River and Frightened Rabbit.
“Generator First Floor” – Freelance Whales
“Lost Coastlines” – Okkervil River
“Heads Roll Off” – Frightened Rabbit
Red 7 (611 E 7th St.) a few blocks away will host the SXSW Terrorbird/Force Field Day Party with shows (inside and outside) from The Fresh and Onlys, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Toro Y Moi, Inlets, Beach Fossils, Real Estate, Neon Indian, Choir of Young Believers and The Rural Alberta Advantage.
“Terminally Chill” – Neon Indian
“Action Reaction” – Choir of Young Believers
The Fader Fort (1001 E. 5th St.) is featuring shows from We Were Promised Jetpacks, Free Energy, Freelance Whales, Visqueen and others.
“Conductor” – We Were Promised Jetpacks
Not far away at Emo’s (603 Red River St.), showcases include The Morning Benders, Titus Andronicus, Japandroids and The Black Angels.
“Excuses” – The Morning Benders
“A More Perfect Union” – Titus Andronicus
Just up the street at The Mohawk, there’s an all-day showcase that includes White Demin, Besnard Lakes, Washed Out, Small Black, Royal Bands and Phantogram, to name a few.
That’s just a sampling of the day shows for Day One of SXSW 2010. Stay tuned for more about night showcases that include The Walkmen, Broken Bells, Here We Go Magic, The Middle East, Califone, Fanfarlo, Princeton, Surfer Blood and more.