SXSW (South by South West), the annual gathering based around interactive media, film, music festivals and conferences, is celebrating its 30th birthday with a bang. Presented by Independent Label Alliance, the SXSW Music Opening Party will take place on Tuesday, March 15 at Maggie Mae’s in Austin, Texas. The event will begin at 6:00PM, with complimentary food and drink provided.
The lineup includes a wide range of performers, including SXSW veterans such as Har Mar Superstar, Capsula and Kristin Control. Superstar just announced a brand-new album produced by Julian Casablancas of the Strokes, and is set to embark on world tour later this year. He is also set to perform at the 2016 Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival along with Bon Iver, Beach House and James Blake. Meanwhile, Capsula will pay tribute to the late David Bowie by performing the classic album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
In addition to these veterans, there will also be lesser-known artists taking the stage. John GRVY is an up-and-coming R&B artist featured in the upcoming The Independent Blogger’s Guide to SXSW: 2016 Music Preview, while CHVRCHES will be performing a DJ set. SXSW has catered to some of the biggest names in the music industry as well as hundreds of up-and-coming artists, and the performers at the party will celebrate this tradition.
SXSW was formed in 1986 when the organizers of the NYC-based music festival, “New Music Seminar,” inquired to The Austin Chronicle about adding an extension of that festival into Austin. While these plans fell through, several staffers at the publication decided to co-organize a local music festival. While it was initially considered a regional event and not many were expected to show up, the event attracted hundreds of visitors and almost instantly became a hit.
Since the first SXSW in 1987, the five-day event has become one of the most popular entertainment-based events in the media. Known for its creative approaches, networking opportunities and innovative ideas, the event has maintained a loyal fan base and significantly increased in size over the years. In 2011, the event lasted for 10 days and drew in over 20,000 attendees. The party is meant to celebrate three decades of quality entertainment while looking forward to the future.
The first SXSW Music Opening Party is open to Music and Platinum badges, which can be purchased on the official website. These badges allow access to the party, as well as priority entry into Music Festival showcases, assistance with booking your hotel room, exclusive industry networking opportunities and more.
Here you can find the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of 2016 SXSW artist announcements.
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