Whether it’s your first or 10th SXSW, waking up after the previous night of evening showcases is a struggle. With most night showcases around 2 am, most people are still in bed at 6 am. Unless you’re familiar with KUTX’s tradition of having their showcase at that exact time. Entering their 9th year at South By, KUTX will challege attendees to catch their early morning broadcasts live from 7 am to 11 am on Wednesday March 13th through Friday and 8 am to noon on Saturday March 16th at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Each broadcast will four live shows for those who are able to wake up in the morning. While enjoying the music each day has to offer, everyone will get a breakfast taco, KIND granola bar and most importantly bottomless coffee (you’ll probably need it from the night before). Some of the artists that are scheduled to play and be awake with you those early mornings are; Wclef Jean with Jazzy Amra and Moira Mack, Cautious Clay, Steve Earle and Jealous of the Birds.
While most artists playing SXSW are relatively unknown, ready to expand their fan base or both some artists grace SXSW with their presence even after worldwide stardom has been achieved such as Wyclef Jean who was part of grammy award winning trio The Fugees. Each individual evidently went on to pursue solo careers and achieved success with Jean releasing 10 albums his latest being in 2017 with Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee (Delux Edition). Although Jean was quiet in 2018, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t been in the studio working because for 2019 he’s released his new single, “Baba.” Although he’s been working on his own material, he’s been working with Jazzy Amra and Moira Mack who will be joining him at KUTX Live.
Jazzy Amra is an R&B singer who’s starting her singing career. Although she’s been featured on tracks going back to 2016 it isn’t until now that she has her own material which is currently her album out titled, Amra, which is Arabic for princess. Paring with Jean, she’s right by saying her future never looked so bright.
Although when looked up it says pop, Moira Mack, is far from the pop genre especially with her new single, “Demons Enjoy.” Armed with her guitar, “Demons Enjoy” is more soul than pop, which makes sense since she cites her influences being Stevie Wonder and Ella Fitzgerald. Mack who’s been to SXSW before will be back to showcase new music as she joins Wyclef at KUTX Live.
Cautious Clay who’s released a handful of singles, went all in to pursue a career in music when in 2017 he quit his job. On Soundcloud, he quietly dropped the single “Cold War” which grabbed the attention of many and more so on Spotify, racking over 20 million streams. Still working on a full length album, Clay released a seven track EP named Blood Type in 2018 and in 2019, his newest single “Honest Enough.” Like his voice on his tracks, Cautious Clay is quietly making a name for himself in the music scene.
Indie artist Jealous of the Birds will be back at SXSW this time at KUTX Live and more than likely will be playing tracks from her newest album, Wisdom Teeth, that was released on February 1st 2019. It seems SXSW has been good to Birds, after releasing her first EP when she was still school, she released her next project, “Parma Violets” and performed at SXSW in 2016 which led her to sign with Canvasback Music. Wisdom Teeth will be her first project since signing with Canvasbas Music, which brings her back to Austin and SXSW again. After her performance at KUTX only bigger things can happen to Jealous of the Birds because it seems whenever she releases a project and then performs at South By something good happens afterwards.
KUTX Live Wednesday March 13th – Saturday March 16th Four Seasons Hotel Austin (98 San Jacinto)
KUTX is open to the public and is a first come first served event.
Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
Lineup
Wednesday March 13th
Combo Chimbita – 7 a.m.
Sasami – 8 a.m.
Durand Jones & The Indications – 9 a.m.
Wyclef Jean, Jazzy Amra & Moira Mack – 10 a.m.
Thursday March 14th
Heart Bones – 7 a.m.
Bayonne – 8 a.m.
Cautious Clay – 9 a.m.
HAELOS – 10 a.m.
Friday March 15th
SMiiLE – 7 a.m.
Moving Panoramas – 8 a.m.
Steve Earle – 9 a.m.
Patty Grffin – 10 a.m.
Saturday March 16th
Abhi The Nomad – 8 a.m.
Jealous of the Birds – 9 a.m.
Yola – 10 a.m.
Andrew Bird – 11 a.m.
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