Austrade media release

Friday, 9 March 2007

UP-and-coming Sydney act Josh Pyke joins the Hoodoo Gurus and another 10 local bands next week for this year’s ‘Aussie assault’ on the US music industry at the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas.

In addition to Australia’s presence on the SXSW conference floor, the US roadshow comprises a package of events including:

• gigs in LA and New York, opening and closing events in Austin
• an in-store “Aussie Tastes and Tunes” retail promotion
• an online showcase event in the virtual world of Second Life.

The roadshow then continues on to London later in the month (event calendar below).

Austrade’s LA-based Australian Music Office manager Tony George said Austrade’s strategic support for the local music industry now uses the SXSW event as the centrepiece of a broader showcase package which takes in the other major decision-making markets of LA, New York and London.

“SXSW is regarded as the main US networking event for aspiring (and established) artists to broaden their exposure – and perhaps nail that elusive contract that will take them to the top,” Mr George said.

SXSW spawns success for
Missy Higgins, JBT and Wolfmother

He said Aussie acts who’ve broken into the US at SXSW have included Wolfmother, Missy Higgins and The John Butler Trio.

“Bands have been signed to major and indie labels at the conference, done licensing and distribution deals, found managers, agents, and attorneys, and booked tours.”

“It’s really hard to imagine the magnitude of SXSW without actually seeing it.

“Almost 10,000 bands from all over the world audition for the privilege of attending but only about one in six are chosen.
 
“Almost 30 bands from Australia will be competing with 1500 other acts for the mindspace of more than 10,000 conference delegates, who represent ‘the industry’ not only in the US, but also around the world.”

Oz bands at SXSW grows
10-fold in five years

There were just four Australian bands attending SXSW five years ago, Mr George said.

“With Austrade’s support, simalong with the recently-established Australian Music Office, the number of acts attending has grown almost 10-fold.

“This year, the range of music covers everything from rock, a bit of punk and some singer-songwriter to alternative country and some ‘unclassifiable’.”

On the SXSW conference floor in downtown Austin, Australia is now represented by a dedicated 36 square metre pavilion with a meeting and listening room, interview spaces and phone/internet connections.

“This Australian presence includes full-time staff members who can organise meetings, take messages, and hand out information on behalf of bands, leaving them free to perform their gigs around town and network face-to-face,” Mr George said.

He said in addition to the showcase LA, New York and London gigs, the ‘Hoe Down Under’ opening night reception and Friday ‘Aussie BBQ’ are now regular and much anticipated events on the packed SXSW schedule, growing in popularity every year.

“And every year since first attending in 2003, Austrade has developed both new and innovative ways to promote bands and give them exposure.

“This year, we are mixing the freshest Aussie music talent with the finest in Aussie gourmet foods, through the ‘Aussie Tastes and Tunes’ in-store promotion, happening at the head-office/flagship store of huge organics retail chain Whole Foods Market in Austin.

“We are also reaching out through a largely untapped medium that we believe to be cutting edge, via the online, virtual reality world of Second Life.”

LIVE EVENT DATES (US TIME)

As in previous years, several of these events are presented by Australian music pioneers, the Australian Music Collective (www.australianmusiccollective.com.au).

Los Angeles, CA

• Sunday, March 11: The Australian Music Collective/Indie 103.1 and Filter presents the “Tour +61 07” LA Showcase at The Troubadour, West Hollywood, featuring Beasts of Bourbon, Dallas Crane, Children Collide, The Panda Band and MINK

Austin, Texas

• Wednesday, March 14: “Hoe-Down Under” opening night reception for the Australian contingent at SXSW07 (with simultaneous Second Life gig)

• Thursday, March 15 to Saturday, March 17: ”Aussie Tastes and Tunes” retail promotion at the head-office store of huge organics retail chain Whole Foods Market, featuring Australian food and music at lunchtimes
• Friday, March 16: The Australian Music Collective presents the 5th annual “SXSW Aussie BBQ”, featuring seven hours of Australian live music, food, beer and wine in Brush Square Park, downtown Austin

New York City, New York

• Tuesday, March 20: The Australian Music Collective presents “Tour +61 07 NYC Showcase” at Fontana’s, Manhattan, featuring Children Collide, Dappled Cities Fly, The Panda Band, Spod, and Mink
• Wednesday, March 21: The Australian Music Collective presents “Tour +61 07 NYC Showcase” at Crash Mansion, Manhattan, featuring Beasts of Bourbon, Dallas Crane, Woman, Mink, and Deja Voodoo (NZ)
• Thursday, March 22: The Australian Music Collective Cocktail Party at Otto’s Shrunken Head, Manhattan, featuring Spod, Kav from Eskimo Joe (solo), Sunwrae and Andrew Winton
• Friday, March 23: The Australian Music Collective presents “Tour +61 07 NYC Showcase” at Union Pool, Brooklyn, featuring Beasts of Bourbon, Dallas Crane and Die Die Die (NZ)

London, UK

• Wednesday, March 27:  The Australian Music Collective presents “Tour +61 07 Showcase” at Camden Barfly, London, UK, featuring Dallas Crane, Deja Voodoo (NZ), Spod, and Cut Off Your Hands 

PARTICIPATING BANDS

From New South Wales:

• Airbourne
• Brave Radar
• Dappled Cities Fly
• Expatriate
• George Byrne
• Hoodoo Gurus
• Josh Pyke
• Spod
• Starky
• Wolf & Cub
• You Am I

From Queensland:

• The Saints
• The Zebras

From Victoria:

• Architecture in Helsinki 
• Children Collide 
• Dallas Crane 
• Ian Wadley 
• Macromantics 
• Sunwrae 
• The Beasts Of Bourbon
• The Gear
• The Presets
• Via Tania
• Youth Group

From Western Australia:

• Andrew Winton
• The Panda Band

ENDS

Media contact

Simon Kelly
Tel: +61 02 9330 2077 (diverts to mobile 24/7 if no answer)
Mob: +61 414 062 730
Email: simon.kelly@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au//mediacentre.