Artists and music lovers across the world come together for several days each year in Austin, TX for the famed South by Southwest Festival.
We plan to keep all the festival’s events and performances detailed and up to date so you can partake in the mad chaos that is SXSW. Or, yearn from afar, depending on if you’re going or not.
At this year’s SXSW fest, get your metal fix over at Hoek’s Death Metal Pizza, who, for a straight week, will host performances from solely metal and hardcore bands. Brought to you by the Texas Metal Collective, headliners will include The Periwinkle Massacre, Indisgust, Critical Assembly, Prey For Sleep, Bult and Former Thieves. The lineup is quite extensive, with Hoek’s averaging about eleven performances per day from March 12-18. Oh, and did we mention that this mini metal fest is completely free?
If metal isn’t your thing, fret not, because there are slews of free SXSW parties that are being announced at higher volumes each day. IODA’s 8th annual Opening Day Bash has been announced, and will be held at Austin’s Red Eyed Fly, housing two separate stages and thirteen music showcases, including The Wedding Present, Thee Oh Sees, Oddisee and Y La Bamba.
Get ready to RSVP like crazy, because besides IODA’s party, it’s recently been announced that Shirts for A Cure will put on a free showcase featuring Hot Water Music and Darkest Hour, in association with Slip Booking, Traxion Control, Munitio Earphones, Out of Time Clothing and MerchNOW. Also add Aquarium Drunkard’s day party to your must-attend list, featuring performances by Alabama Shakes, Bass Drum of Death and Youth Lagoon.
Kicking off The Austin to Boston Tour at SXSW will be Communion, who recently announced their spring voyage to the states following the success of their fall U.S. tour featuring Matthew and the Atlas, The David Mayfield Parade and Lauren Shera. This time around, Communion’s March tour will feature Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Ratecliff and Bear’s Den. Communion’s tour commencement at SXSW will be sure to garner them and all their featured acts well-deserved attention. Following SXSW, Communion will play a small string of shows before closing out their tour March 31st at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Many musicians are strategically adding a SXSW stop to their tour schedules, as electronic producer SBTRKT out of London has announced a spring tour in support of his debut self-titled album, released last year on Young Turks. SBTRKT will be stopping by SXSW before his Nashville show on March 21, and will then close out his tour in a grand way at Coachella on April 21st. Stay tuned to SBTRKT, because come February 21, a 12” vinyl of his hit tune “Wildfire” will be available. It will include an album version, instrumental version and an OVO Remix featuring Drake. Another 12” will be released later in the year featuring a cool new remix.
Former White Stripes front man Jack White has been buried in his work with Third Man Records, yet has had time to construct his debut solo album Blunderbuss, set to be released April 24 on Third Man Records / Columbia. The first single off Blunderbuss, “Love Interruption” was released this week, sending fans into a frenzy of anticipation for the album’s release.
“Love Interruption” will also be released on vinyl February 7 via Third Man Records, along with a non-LP B-side “Machine Gun Silhouette.” We can only speculate, but White’s solo album announcement just might rationalize a visit from him to SXSW, as he made a few guest appearances at last year’s fest in support of Third Man Record’s rolling record truck.
Unplugging In Brief:
Hoeks Metal Fest SXSW 2012 Parties Announced – Hoek’s Death Metal Pizza in Austin will host a weeklong metal fest during SXSW.
IODA SXSW Opening Day Bash 2012 Party Announced Featuring The Wedding Present and Thee Oh Sees – With two separate stages and 13 performances, this is a hot SXSW party to hit up.
Shirts for A Cure Announces Free SXSW 2012 Day Party Featuring Hot Water Music and Darkest Hour – Come out to Shirts For A Cure’s SXSW day party and donate to a great cause, while seeing great bands!
Aquarium Drunkard SXSW 2012 Day Party Announced Featuring Alabama Shakes, Bass Drum of Death and More – Aquarium Drunkard’s SXSW day party features some “buzz bands” that may be key festival acts.
Communion Presents 2012 The Austin to Boston Tour Kicks off at SXSW 2012 – Communion has announced another U.S. tour commencing at SXSW after the success of their fall U.S. tour.
SBTRKT Announce Spring 2012 Tour Dates and SXSW Performances – Another artist planning to stop at SXSW is SBTRKT.
Jack White Announces Debut Solo Album Blunderbuss for April 2012 Release – Jack White’s solo album is set to be released in April; can we anticipate a possible SXSW appearance from White?
