40 Australian Bands In Austin, Texas For South By Southwest

With 40 bands in attendance, Australia will have the 3rd largest national presence at this year's SXSW, closely following the UK and Canada. 

More than 1,900 bands from 54 countries will be showcasing their music through one hour performances in over 90 official venues at the world's largest music industry event in Austin, Texas. Bands will play in front of 15,000 music industry professions, in additional to an estimated 50,000 fans who will witness both the official showcases and numerous private parties held by labels and music organisations.

Out of 10,500 artists who applied to perform this year, 2,400 were invited, with only 1,900 able to perform. Just over 250 Australian artists applied and of these, 58 were invited; however due to finances, busy schedules and the like, 29 bands are able to officially represent, with another 11 bands playing unofficial shows.

In addition to the talent, there are more than 250 delegates from Australia including major and indie label executives, managers, agents, promoters, festival producers, lawyers and music association representatives.

These figures demonstrate a remarkable growth in the state of Australia music over the past seven years, from when only five bands and 20 registrants from Australia attended in 2002. The major investments made by national and state government arts bodies, music industry associations such as APRA and QMusic are partly responsible for the improved showing of local talent.

The 29 official invited Australian bands are:

An Horse - http://www.anhorse.com/
Andy Clockwise - http://www.andyclockwise.net/
Beaches - http://www.mistletone.net/category/artists/beaches
Shannon Bourne - http://www.myspace.com/shannonbourne
Cassette Kids - http://www.cassettekids.com.au
The Chevelles - http://www.thechevelles.com
Children Collide - http://www.childrencollide.com
City Riots - http://www.cityriots.com
Crayon Fields - http://www.myspace.com/thecrayonfields
Dappled Cities - http://www.dappledcities.com
Paul Dempsey - http://www.pauldempseymusic.com
Nathan Gaunt - http://www.nathangaunt.com.au
Goons of Doom - http://www.myspace.com/thegoonsofdoom
Grand Atlantic - http://www.grandatlantic.org
Darren Hanlon - http://www.darrenhanlon.com
Karnivool - http://www.karnivool.com.au
Kate Miller-Heidke - http://www.katemillerheidke.com
Love of Diagrams - http://www.loveofdiagrams.com
Marty Willson-Piper - http://www.martywillsonpiper.net
The Middle East - http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast
Oh Mercy - http://www.myspace.com/ohmercyband
Pets With Pets - http://www.myspace.com/petswithpets
Pivot - http://www.myspace.com/pivotpivot
Sally Seltmann - http://www.sallyseltmann.com
Sherlock's Daughter - http://sherlocksdaughter.blogspot.com
Summer Cats - http://www.myspace.com/summercats
Temper Trap - http://www.thetempertrap.net/
Via Tania - http://www.viatania.com
Violent Soho - http://www.myspace.com/violentsoho
Washington - http://www.myspace.com/meganwashington

The 11 unofficial bands are:

Captains
Car Stereo Wars
Fergus Brown
Henry (Wagons)
Hopkinson
Jackladder
Natalie D-Napoleon
Pete Ross
Songs
The On-Fires
Travis Caudle

For more information, contact Phil Tripp in Austin on tripp@sxsw.com or by phone on 0011 1 512 669 3321. A continuing blog on the event with artist interviews, photos and other content is at http://www.sxsw.com.au
 

Published: 17 Mar 2010 by Q Music Newsdesk