SCHED* SXSW 2011

Legendary evening of true personal storytelling returns to SXSWi. Featured performers and open mic. No badge required. Come tell your story!

http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_OE00323

, 10 Bands + Free Show = YES!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137839696282955

15 bands from the city that never sleeps and the city by the bay go head to head in one killer day of music.

http://austin.noisepop.com/

Tiger Mountain & Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop presents BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop present BROOKLYN VS. THE BAY

Originally hailing from Florida, Marques Toliver is a 23-year-old, classically trained musician and vocalist now based in London. Marques recently made his television debut on 'Later With Jools Holland' and his first EP 'Butterflies Are Not Free' will be released by Bella Union (home to the likes of Fleet Foxes, Beach House, John Grant, amongst others) on April 25th.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14423

Summer Camp are duo Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley. The pair make sublime, skewed lo-fi pop. Together since September 2009, they released first single Ghost Train in April 2010 to much critical acclaim. September 2010 has seen the release of a 6 track EP on Moshi Moshi Records. They are currently writing their debut album set for release Spring 2011.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12338

The family Dry the River could not have been built from five more disparate sons. From Norwegian born singer-songwriter Peter Liddle, drawing narrative inspiration from university studies in Medicine and Anthropology, to once homeless punk-rock drummer Jon Warren and classically trained violinist William Harvey, the band grew from the haphazard seeds of varied personal and musical upbringings. Thus, whilst Liddle rifles through a musical and literary heritage which includes ethnographic texts, the works of Ted Hughes and Milan Kundera, and artists such as Leonard Cohen and Suzanne Vega, guitarist Matthew Taylor introduces the angular hum of Southern rock, blues and country records played to him in his youth, accompanied by childhood friends Jon and Scott, a rhythm section who draw heavily on 70s rock and post-punk. Each song is the offspring of this unlikely marriage: a personal tale of coming-to-terms, wrapped in gospel guitars and driven by inventive, bold percussion. Most of all, the deep involvement of all members gives birth to a live show which is both intense and honest; a band who play with their hearts on their sleeves. Since mid 2009, Dry the River have lived and worked in their shared home in Stratford, east London. Their debut EP “The Chambers & The Valves” (June 2009, self-released), was live-tracked in just two days and was closely followed by a heavy schedule of shows with acts including Hjaltalin, Port O Brien, Bowerbirds, Johnny Flynn and Magic Numbers. The band enjoyed a busy festival season, playing Glastonbury (BBC Introducing), Big Chill (Lazyland), and Standon Calling (Main Stage) and will be on tour throughout November and December 2010. A free 3 track EP is available to download from http://www.drytheriver.com/
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14124

Liam Finn has confirmed his first ever North American tour with a full band. Kicking off at SXSW Finn will play the Yep Roc and New Zealand showcases as well as the Dickies Sounds day party among other sets. From Austin, he'll head to Los Angeles March 23 to begin a month of headlining shows in the U.S. and Canada. See below for full dates. Finn has spent much of the past year working on the follow-up to his debut 'I'll Be Lightning,' which will be released this spring on Yep Roc. A New Zealand-native, Finn burst onto the American scene in 2008 with the release of 'I'll Be Lightning,' which earned him Artist to Watch accolades from The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Stereogum and more. Spin called it "a remarkable solo debut album of bittersweet indie pop," while Entertainment Weekly praised his "effervescent choruses [and] swooning harmonies."
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13493

Motorcycles, blood, sex, guns and insanity. Not things you'd immediately associate with Reading's prime guitar pop exponents Pete & The Pirates, but then neither are phasing synths, sizzling psychedelia and the general atmosphere of darkness and thunder. Yet, these are the potent thrills P&TP are mixing into their infectious pop stew on their second album, thickening the plot and beefing out their indiepop's marrow to a staggering bulk. As bold steps forward from their pristine pop 2008 debut 'Little Death' go, it's as fearless as any Wikileak.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14135

Music City The Hague powered by Crossing Border is very happy to be at SXSW for the second time. This year we will be taking three of the best bands from our city and will host a party in the Red Eyed Fly March the 17th. We are here to promote the popscene and festivals of Music City The Hague, the number one pop city of The Netherlands. Crossing Border is a renowned music and literature festival and is of course situated in The Hague. We hope to meet a lot of people again at the trade show and the festival. Please come to meet us at our stand, showcase or give us a call. See you there!
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_HB1531

Dizzy Eyes are three fast friends, Marissa Johnson, Jordan Gervais, and Alejandro Constanzo, who decided to start a band over mutual admiration for each other and for fun, as most of the best bands do start. The band formed in Vancouver, Canada in the year 2010 and subsequently wrote a very taut set of rock and roll / guitar pop anthems, and in the eight months of the band's existence played a handful of shows. Those live shows were the stuff of legend and word spread fast to the executives, CFOs, VPs, and CTOs at Hardly Art. But before the band could make the album of our and their dreams, the band's activity was cut short by Constanzo's obligatory departure of the country when his application for his residence was withdrawn. So via this 7', we give you three artifacts of a band put on hold, for the time being. The songs displayed on the band's debut seven inch are perfect, sweet, noisy and sit at the tip of the ear in a 'where have I heard these songs before?' sort of way and like all great songs, in that way, they fulfill their mission. Great pop songs should do this to the people. 'Let's Break Up the Band' seems a fitting title, too, due to the circumstances, but be sure, this band is not done yet. 'Ay!' and 'Sugar Cain' are not really B-sides, but two more examples of the band flexing their mastering of 90s style noise pop. Let's hope these guys get back together really soon. Can you tell me who this band reminds you of? I bet you cannot. All three tracks presented here were recorded and mixed by Felix Fung. Dizzy Eyes are Marissa Johnson on bass and vocals, Jordan Gervais on drums, and Alejandro Constanzo on guitar and vocals.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12207

Maps & Atlases' unique style melds the technicality of progressive music and the idiosyncrasies of art rock into a fascinating and oddly accessible sound all their own. They are known for their virtuosic musical ability, writing pop songs with a magnificent aptitude for texture and a distinctive blend of both the intricate and organic. Their debut full-length, perch patchwork was produced by Jason Cupp (The Elected, Nurses, Cast Spells).
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12738

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

TEXAS TORNADO at Red Eyed Fly is presented by .MUSIC in association with Tijuana Gift Shop & Sideways Media. This unofficial day party will celebrate the launch of The Force Agency and features emerging and established artists on two stages. Sponsored by El Grado tequila.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180024538708841

Polock are: Papu (vocals, guitar) Pablo (guitar), Alberto (keyboards), Sebas (bass) & Marc (drums). Polock hail from Valencia, Spain and are following in the footsteps of beloved Euro-bands like Phoenix, destroying the default assumption that young, exciting and effortlessly cool bands are home-grown or hail from across the pond – Westside that is. Polock are five young men making music The Stokes would’ve made, had their blend of garage rock story-telling been written under the Spanish sun and a giant disco ball; laced with sparkling Friendly Fires-esque electronica, a sound so alive in Polock’s audio Catherine Wheel of a debut single ‘Fireworks’: spinning, sparkling and building with every second. Then there are the songs built on such solid, accomplished song-writing – ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Not So Well’ (to name a few) – that they could’ve been written by critically acclaimed veterans Modest Mouse or Spoon. Songs that grab from the opening riff, floating into sublime melodies, keeping you hooked from start to finish and sounding like a classic track yet shimmering with brand-spanking and exciting newness simultaneously. Though on reflection living in the yearly walkway to the baking hot, bohemian eclecticism that is Benicassim Festival would explain Polock’s melting pot of sounds; the instrumental experimentation coupled with maturity in their sound, at odds with a band so in their infancy. A sound born from a place where music is a thing to be taken seriously, but also with an abundance of passion and fun. For this is what Polock bring: it all. A debut album from five musicians whose talent screams longevity, while, simultaneously, their distinctive playful sound – delivered with their youthful exuberance and artistic flair - yells even louder: ‘This is where it is. Right here. Right now’. Polock’s debut album ‘Getting Down From The Trees’ is released on 11th April. The album is preceded by single ‘Fireworks’ released on 21st March. ‘Fireworks’ includes two remixes from by Lo-Fi-Fnk and Eim Ick. The artwork for both releases are courtesy of friend-of-the-band and renowned Spanish artist Carla Fuentes, brought in to make sure Polock’s artwork is as distinctive as their music. Both are out on Mushroom Pillow Records. Polock will visit the UK for live dates this Spring/Summer. Details to follow.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13080

The sexy, dark and ultra-cool Capsula have come a long way since, with tours in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, South America, the United States and Canada. Based in Bilbao, Basque Country, north of Spain, their songs are shaking with the punk roar of The Velvet Underground and The Stooges, yet immersed in a psychedelia akin to that of the late 60s and 70s from groups like Os Mutantes and Pescado Rabioso in South America, the band’s birth-place. The result is 'a furious hologram with adhesive lysergic songs and future’. After three albums released by their own label in Buenos Aires, Argentina, they published 'Songs & Circuits' in 2007 (Liliput) in Europe, an album that garnered rave reviews from the international press and was received with great enthusiasm by the public, and was continued after storming SXSW in 2010 and receiving brilliant reviews placing the band in the Top 10 most exciting bands at the festival from Wired and The Chicago Tribune, not to mention Rolling Stone’s David Fricke picking the wild trio for ‘Fricke’s Picks’. In 2009 BCore Disc (one of the most renowned Spanish indie labels) published 'Rising Mountains' a wild energy cross of post-punk blues sounds with noise and psychedelia. The album hit number 1 in Spain (Ruta 66, Mondosonoro-Euskadi) and stayed as one of the top 10 albums on radio in the US. The trio has been wildly on tour with over 100 shows at festivals in Europe and America, launching 'Rising Mountains', a fascinating strange shock of adrenaline and sounds that hits straight through to your heart and bones.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14594

Practically as a brand new band, the projection of Mujeres until today is very strong and are considered one of the most pushing bands of Barcelona (Spain). Mujeres are four friends that met during their film studies and after working on several projects together decided to form a band and spread around their art and charisma. With their debut album 'Mujeres' (Sones 2009) and in less than 2 years Mujeres have played their powerful and empathic Iberic garage rock in the main venues of Spain, as well as most of the national festivals (specially remarkable their 3 amazing shows at Primavera Sound 2010). Also, in 2010 the band have travelled abroad and offered their extreme shows in th UK (they played The Great Escape in Brighton, Liverpool Sound City, London Camden Barfly, Camden Eye and Proud Camden, Sound Control and In te City in Manchester) and have crossed the Italian border to play in Here Stay Festival and Soundlabs. In 2009 the band was the Spanish representation in last year's Europavox edition (FR). Mujeres were one of the 10 finalists artists of the International Diesel U Music contest (were thousands of artists from all over the world participated). For that reason the prestigious production company Linkink recorded a music clip for them in London last autumn; it's shown on tv channels like MTV nearly every day. Their beautiful second music clip is a production of the genious Canada. The reviews of their live acts full of energy and brilliant hits and the reaction of the whole press and media about the album, as well as the audience attending to their gigs is unanimous: Mujeres are publicaly well acclaimed. At this moment, Mujeres are ready to follow their winter tour around Spain and ready to hit Texas and the US west coast in the next spring 2011.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14592

Nubes De Papel (Paper Clouds), the second album from Spanish guitarist-singer-songwriter Jairo Zavala, is, at its heart, a series of reveries from the road. States Zavala, who has adopted the moniker of Depedro for his solo performances, œI had been touring for two years straight. I was in different cities, different hotels, different countries, yet every night I would have really, really good dreams. Dreams were a constant in the peripatetic life of this solo artist and always-in-demand sideman for such acts as Calexico and Andrew Bird, and from his dreams came these quietly intense, emotive, yearning songs. His music, balancing the traditional and the experimental, is rooted in sounds from Spain, Mexico and Latin America, yet it suggests a place all its own. The seductive landscape of Depedro is easy to enter but not on any map. In keeping with the borderless nature of his songs, Zavala purposefully chose the name Depedro because it was both evocative and vague: œKind of Mediterranean, kind of Spanish. His 2009 self-titled debut helped to inaugurate National Geographic's expansion into record-making, an effort that has steered clear of travelogue-style world music in favor of material that's more sophisticated and adventurous, international but not anthropological. On a personal level, Depedro was a turning point for Zavala, the culmination of years of writing and stockpiling his own songs while devoting himself to more collaborative efforts. The Madrid native had fronted Spanish rock band Vacazul and the more blues-oriented 3000 Hombres; Zavala had also written for and played with Spanish surf band Los Coronas and, most notably, Spanish singer Amparo Sanchez's brash, genre-juggling band Amparanoia. Working with Sanchez brought him to the attention of the influential, Arizona-based alt-country band Calexico, who, in 2004, offered Zavala a guitar slot for a Spanish tour and, not long after, a permanent place in its touring lineup. The band subsequently gave Zavala the use of its Tucson studio to complete Depedro, with founding member Joey Burns producing and his fellow band members sitting in. Burns is once again behind the boards for Nubes De Papel, but, says Zavala, making his sophomore album turned out to be a very different experience ' less rushed, more carefully considered. It was literally a journey, from Madrid to Tucson, with stops at hotels and homes along the way, as inspiration struck. As Zavala recalls, œWith the first record I didn't know what was going to happen. I had a collection of songs that needed to be expressed at some point, to be on an album. I had the guys from Calexico help me make it and it was completely improvised. The second record followed a different path. I drew from the experiences I'd had in the last few years, like having the chance to play with wonderful artists like Andrew Bird and, of course, Calexico. I'd also played several world music festivals, where I met artists like the Cuban guitarist Eliades Ochoa. It was a great environment to draw inspiration from. In New York City I discovered interesting bands like Forro in the Dark [now his Nat Geo label-mates]. This album is more like a trip, a road album, and the other was more like choosing the songs I had to make a collection. Nubes De Papel has a more intimate feel than Zavala's previous disc, with the focus on his expressive voice and virtuosic guitar playing. The arrangements are often artfully stripped down, subtly blending acoustic and electronic instrumentation ' though some tracks, like œTramuntana swell dramatically with soulful, south-of-the-border horns and strings. All of them are infused with bittersweet emotion, perhaps most dramatically on the aching œDiciembre and the English-language œEmpty Fields, co-written with Burns. Explains Zavala: œEasy doesn't have to be simple. I tried not to overdo the arrangements or effects. I like the sound of a lot of jazz records from the forties, fifties and sixties. I like the warmth of them and I wanted to add the flavor of that. In that era, the music had to be real. They only had two tracks or four tracks to record on and tried to spread the emotion of the songs with minimal elements. That's a big challenge for me. I try to do that always. You need space to hear the truth of the songs. He paid particular attention to his mostly Spanish-language lyrics, which balance emotional candor with a kind of magical realism, especially on the title track. Zavala admits, œI'm so proud of the songs on this album. I spent a lot of time writing and rewriting the songs, again and again. I like to spend time choosing the right words to help the music come out. I don't want to change the world or talk about big things; I'm talking about common things that happen to all of us every day and to the people that we love. I put a lot of love in the lyrics. With the previous album, I had the music for a long time, but the lyrics came out quickly. This time I thought about them more. If one were to make comparisons or look for antecedents beyond Calexico, Zavala's mash-up of Spanish and Latin American elements with a kind of stark indie rock recalls the adventurous Latin Playboys-side of Los Lobos. His vocal delivery suggests at times the endearing rasp of M. Ward; at others, the alternately sensual and playful approach of Brazilian icon Caetano Veloso, particularly on Zavala's brilliant transformation of the Velvet Underground's œWhat Goes On.(Zavala had previously tackled the percolating funk of Brazilian soul man Jorge Ben Jor on Depedro.). It was a surprising, telling and smart choice that came about, Zavala explains, because œI always play Velvet Underground records at home. My older son Mario started to sing along to 'What Goes On' and he gave me the idea ' why not do a cover of that song, but make it feel like the old soundtracks of the sixties, like West Side Story. You can imagine these guys putting the song in that film. That's the result. People are always asking me, is this your song? Everyone knows the lyrics but they don't expect where I take the song musically. It's like my homage to the Velvet Undergound, a gift of thanks to those guys for inspiring me. It is now Zavala himself who is doing the inspiring with Nubes De Papel, This constant traveler, who has traversed continents musically and geographically, offers us a beguiling new world to discover. Muchas Gracias.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13069

Russian Red New Album "Home tonight" Spring 2011 After a successful tour in 2008-2009 followed by a year off the stage, Russian Red is back with her eagerly anticipated second album. Russian Red has quickly become one of Spain's biggest artists. Starting in small clubs of her native Madrid, she quickly moved to theaters and clubs all around the world. Singer Lourdes Hernández owns an exceptional voice and a natural ability to transmit and connect with her audience. Her first album " I love your glasses", sold more than 40.000 copies to become a gold record. Her music and live shows have reached places like Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belgium among others. From April 2008 to December 2009 Russian Red played over 200 concerts, including at some of the most important festivals in Spain and Europe (FIB, Primavera Sound, Jazzaldia, Eurosonic). She has been recognized with such awards as Pop Eye's Best Debut Album (2008) and Best Female Artist (2009), as well as received three nominations for the Spanish National Music Awards. Her music has also permeated the worlds of film, television and advertising, featuring prominently in campaigns for such companies as Häagen Dazs. Recently, her song "Loving Strangers" from Julio Medem's film _Room in Rome_ received a Goya nomination for Best Song. Russian Red can also be found singing a duet of "Love Me Tender" with Elvis Presley as part of the special Spanish edition of the album "Viva Elvis". Currently, Russian Red is holed up in Glasgow recording her second album with producer Tony Doogan (Belle & Sebastian, David Byrne, Mogwai), to be released Spring 2011.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13078

This Spanish Nu- Funk band, has recently release 8 maxis in different european an Us labels such as Manmade, Howling Records, Big M Productions, and has been performing all over the world, US, Europe, Africa...
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS10818

By far the craziest daytime party you’ll witness, the Brooklyn Vegan / M for Montreal Daytime Party brings you the best of Montreal and America under one roof, many stages and some 15 acts to rock your socks. So Montreal might be cold during winter but we sure as hell bring the bacon and light the fire when we head south.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_HB1613

Blessed with a blast-it-to-the-back-of-the-room voice, the 20 year old native of Columbus, OH combines country classicism with punk rock candor-sometimes within the same song. Lydia grew up on a farm in Coshocton OH, a small weird town with nothing to do but make music. So she did, starting off by playing bass in her sisters' band at age 14. She cites Hank Sr, Hank III, Richard Hell, Charles Bukowski, Loretta Lynn, Britney Spears and Lydia's musically inclined family as her big inspirations. Yes, you read that right. Bukowski AND Spears. Look for her debut Bloodshot release in the fall of 2011.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13076

Maggie Bjorklund, Danish Pedal Steel player, guitarist, & composer. Maggie is best known in Europe as a member of the group the Darleens and as a featured player with Lennart Ginman, Miss B. Haven, Nils Skousen and others. In the U.S. she is known for her work with Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands and as a session player for producers Johnny Sangster and Steve Fisk. Maggie’s connection to Seattle, WA has led to playing on many records for US artists. Some of the recordings she has appeared on are Christy McWilson “Martini Mansion”, The Dept of Energy “Faster”, Mark Pickerel “Cody’s Dream” and “Snake In the Radio” and Rusty Willoughby “Cobirds Unite”. Coming Home In 2009 Maggie recorded her debut solo album, a collaboration with Calexico’s Joey Burns and John Convertino and singers Mark Lanegan, Rachel Flotard and Jon Auer. The record entitled “Coming Home” will see a stateside release in 2011 on Bloodshot Records.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13085

A true renaissance woman, Exene is a singer, artist and poet whose work traverses virtually every aspect of those disciplines. She is known for her work as singer for the legendary punk band X as well as The Knitters and The Original Sinners. Her spoken word performances with Lydia Lunch in the 80's led to the publication of "Adulterers Anonymous" and another four volumes of poetry followed. In 1992, Exene collaborated with photographer Kenneth Jarecke on "Just Another War", a volume of images and verse concerning the 1991 war in Iraq. A lifelong visual artist, Exene's drawings paintings and collages were exhibited at the Santa Monica Museum of Art in 2006 and were the subject of a monograph, Magical Meteorite Songwriting Device, published by Perceval Press.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12794

Eddie Spaghetti grew up in Tucson, Arizona trying desperately to ignore the country music that floated all around him. Seems like every pick-up truck and storefront speaker was cranking out the syrupy wails of some heartbroken hick and he just wasn't having it. So, as a kid, he turned to Heavy Metal, then Punk Rock, to block out the noise and that's how his band, The Supersuckers, was born. Formed in late '88, The Supersuckers aim was to strip away some of the pretense of late '80's Heavy Metal and put a little showmanship into the Punk scene. It was a tightrope act few bands could achieve but, by the beginning of '89, not only had the band done it, they were ready to make a move away from the dirt roads, dead ends and dust of their hometown. Heads was New Orleans, tails Seattle. Tails. And, in May of 1989, off they went. Having no clue that Seattle was about to become "Rock City, U.S.A." for a few great years, Eddie and his grimy gang jumped blindly into a scene that had been thriving unrecognized for years. It didn't take long however for them to find Seattle to be the perfect place to "not fit in". The Supersuckers put out a few singles, then signed to Sub-Pop and began what has been over two decades of ass kicking, ground pounding hemi-hogging punk-n-roll. It didn't take too long, however, for the country music that he tried so hard to avoid in his youth to start surfacing in the music Eddie was making as a young man. The foray back to the country began in 1993 with the Supersuckers side project, The Junkyard Dogs and the rare, hard to find and out of print recording, "Good Livin' Platter" (Sympathy For The Record Industry). It wasn't county per-se, but it was close and the seed was planted.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12830

Ladies and gentlemen, quite possibly the best live rock band on the planet. We've seen them a hundred and sixty seven times, and the Waco Brothers never fail to entertain with their train wreck approach to country. Subtlety is for the weak, so they've chosen the path of optimum mayhem and tomfoolery. In their rollicking career, they have been called everything from the flagship act of the alternative country "movement" to pure butchery. Both are likely to be correct. The line-up, in case you haven't been paying attention: Jon Langford (Mekons, Pine Valley Cosmonauts), Steve Goulding (Mekons, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Graham Parker & the Rumour), Alan Doughty (Jesus Jones), Deano (Dollar Store, Wreck), Tracy Dear (World's Greatest Living Englishman), and Marc Durante (KMFDM). In a world of corporate-sponsored tours by lame-o alt-rockers complaining about their hotel suites and "country" stars who owe more to Boston than Bakersfield, the Wacos go out every night and play as if their lives depended on it. Their shows at SXSW and CMJ are legendary, and every year threaten to actually collapse under the weight of their runaway brilliance. If you're not drunk, sweaty and out of money at the end of one of their shows, then brother, we pity you.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12827

“Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.” —Daniel Woodrell, Winter’s Bone There’s a certain wisdom that exists in the hills of the Ozarks. It’s a wisdom that spits out of the mouths of Woodrell’s characters; it’s a wisdom that is found in the lyrics by Woodrell’s fellow West Plains, Missouri natives, Ha Ha Tonka; and it’s a wisdom that’s found on the band’s new full-length LP, Death of a Decade. “They say that if you don’t change where you’re going / you’re gonna end up right where you’re headed.” —Ha Ha Tonka, “Made Example Of” Recorded in a 200 year old barn in scenic New Paltz, NY with producer Kevin McMahon (Titus Andronicus, The Felice Brothers, The Walkmen), Death of a Decade began as a stripped down record, rich with warm tones that could only be captured under a 30 foot roof of a barn. “We wanted to make sure we left in all the imperfections of the barn such as the chairs squeaking and the boards creaking”, explains lead singer Brian Roberts. After tracking the songs in this rough hewn setting, the files were shipped to hAUs Studio in Kansas City, MO where The Ryantist mixed and manipulated synthetic sonic threads into this organic tapestry. Death of a Decade is where authentic meets synthetic, acoustic meets electronic, and tradition meets innovation. Thematically, Death of a Decade is less “story-based” than Ha Ha Tonka’s previous work (which pulled heavily from Missouri history and folklore for its lyrics), with the band now focusing on the transition into manhood—something that doesn’t automatically come once you pass a certain age: “I realize that youth is wasted on the young,” Roberts sings on “Westward Bound,” “Oh, I know that now my wasting days are done.” However, Roberts says, Death of a Decade is not meant to be a requiem for lost youth, but rather an embrace of the notion that the passage of time is better than the alternative. There you have it again: the wisdom of the Ozarks. Even if the album’s songs aren’t specifically of the Ozarks, the sound is—still present is the traditional instrumentation (just listen to guitarist Brett Anderson’s arpeggio mandolin lines on “Usual Suspects” and “Made Example Of”), with bassist Lucas Long and drummer Lennon Bone rounding out the rhythm section to stampeding affect. Still present are the spine-tingling four-part gospel harmonies, a signature sound that sets Ha Ha Tonka apart from every other indie band-cum-Southern rock group that seems to be shambling out of the suburban woods these days. Ultimately, what makes the Ha Ha Tonka brand of Southern rock so special is that it’s authentic, it’s effortless, and it never comes across as forced. They are masters at bringing together the traditional and the modern. They sit at the crossroads of Americana and indie, where Alabama meets Arcade Fire – shakes their hand and takes them out for a drink. So, back to Woodrell’s Ozarkian wisdom from “Winter’s Bone,” being considered one of the best bands you’ll discover (or rediscover) in 2011 isn’t something Ha Ha Tonka ought need to ask for—it will be offered. More about HHT: Named after Ha Ha Tonka State Park in their native Missouri, the group’s relentless touring has seen them become one of the most buzzed about young bands in America, appearing at Lollapalooza, Sundance Film Fest, SXSW, CMJ while touring nationally as a headlining act, as well as supporting many great bands such as Old 97s, Murder By Death, Langhorne Slim, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin, Ludo, Meat Puppets and more.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12828

Outlaw's always been the rough-around-the-edges, tuff guy uncle at the country music family picnic. Denim and leather, not Stetson and Nudie. Hair by Pennzoil, not Pomade. But, in the right hands—Haggard, Paycheck, Junior, Willie and Waylon and now Whitey Morgan—Outlaw is more than beards and bandanas, ink and attitude, it's goddamn folk music. It’s about doing the best you can, about getting by and about cold beer and colder women—everything that keeps the honky tonks full on a Saturday night. It’s about standing up when it’d just be easier to fall down. Coming from Flint MI, the always forgotten civic little brother to Motown but no less a hard town with empty factories and emptier prospects, loaded Whitey Morgan & the 78’s with that survivors’ f.u. mentality. The self-titled debut Bloodshot album was recorded at Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock NY, and while their antecedents are pretty clear, Whitey and the boys play with a muscular attack and energy that makes us think they HAD to learn to play it that way to be heard over the din of the stamping plant and its ghosts.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13714