SXSW, the annual conference of music, film, culture, and arts in Austin, Texas, has announced the opening of its 2016 submissions for Australian artists and organisers are encouraging local musos to get their applications in early.
The 31st SXSW Music Festival will take place in March next year, but early bird submissions are being accepted via the official SXSW website. This year saw more than 40 homegrown Australian acts make their way over to Austin.
“This year we had more than 40 bands perform at SXSW and over 750 delegates from the Interactive, Film and Music industries,” said SXSW South Pacific Rep Phil Tripp. “This compares to just 20 delegates and five bands attending when I started in 2002.”
“We have the solid history and reputation as ‘take-no-prisoners’ performers at SXSW and music artists would be wise to apply now for next year while the assessment committee’s ears are fresh and applications aren’t overwhelmed as they are in late September…”
“We routinely have 200 or so Australian artists apply of which 70 were invited this year but due to scheduling, touring, recording and finance, only 40 made it over.” Of course, we don’t have to tell you what a huge opportunity SXSW is for young bands.
Aussie bands heading over to SXSW have the opportunity to play at a range of the festival’s 105 participant venues, as well as getting involved in day parties hosted by labels, agencies, consumer brands, media, and of course Sounds Australia’s famous Aussie BBQ.
