Your Passport To SXSW by DIY Magazine

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SINCE 2006, PRS FOUNDATION’S INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FUND (ISF) HAS SUPPORTED OVER 600 ARTISTS AND BANDS TO SHOWCASE INTERNATIONALLY. ISF IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PRS FOUNDATION, DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE, BRITISH UNDERGROUND, ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, THE MUSICIANS’ UNION, PPL, CREATIVE SCOTLAND, WALES ARTS INTERNATIONAL AND ARTS COUNCIL WALES IN ASSOCIATION WITH PLEDGEMUSIC. DISCOVER WHICH ARTISTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED THIS YEAR BY KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FUND LOGO.

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INTRODUCING… THE INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FUND

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FOR A SECOND YEAR, WE’RE DEEP IN THE ACTION: PLAYING HOST TO NOT ONE BUT TWO STAGES PACKED WITH SOME OF OUR BRIGHT NEW HOPES AND OLD FAVES. AND IN THIS PASSPORT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EVERYONE YOU SHOULD BE SQUEEZING INTO YOUR SCHEDULE THIS YEAR. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

DIY’S BAGS ARE PACKED, OUR PASSPORTS STAMPED. IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN: WE’RE BACK AT SXSW. OVER THE NEXT TEN DAYS, HORDES OF NEW MUSIC LOVERS WILL BE TAKING OVER DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, TX - ALL IN THE NAME OF DISCOVERING THE MOST EXCITING NEW THING.

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IDLES

HOW DID YOUR FIRST SXSW LAST YEAR LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS? People warned us that it’s fucking manic and they weren’t lying. It’s chaos. It was a bit more macho on the main strip, but when you get to the specific stages then it’s really cool. But it’s not for the ones who like order. You’ve just got to have a few beers, loosen up and just get involved.

*********************** AFTER CAUSING QUITE THE STIR HERE LAST YEAR, THE BRISTOL BAND ARE HEADED BACK TO AUSTIN ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME, THOUGH, AS JOE TALBOT TELLS US, THEY’RE READY FOR THE CHAOS. WORDS: LISA WRIGHT.

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PAINT US A PICTURE OF WHAT SXSW IS LIKE. It’s a bit like a highly concentrated mess of loads of different kinds of music, under the umbrella of spring break, organised by a spider. With loads of booze. HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO SIMILAR FESTIVALS IN THE UK? There’s shit there that you don’t see back home. It’s funny. You’re a bit loose, a bit pissed and then suddenly it’s like ‘Someone’s been shot!’ And you have to run inside. It’s Texas –

everything’s big and very American. It’s the most American place I’ve been to in America. It’s like a cartoon. But the element of music is great: you’ve just got to run in, watch the band and move on. It’s hectic, but it’s fun; you’ve just got to embrace it. ANY STANDOUT SETS FROM LAST YEAR? LIFE and Shame were sick. Shame were typically shambolic, [singer Charlie Steen] was running about on the bar and someone said [to me] ‘Hey – are you gonna get on the bar tomorrow?’. Fuck no, I’m not copying Shame! I like that though. It’s the first time I’d seen those bands and it was the first time I felt like we were in a similar ilk of bands that were younger and better than us and I liked that competition. I wanna kick their asses off stage, but they’re really, really good and it’s not easy. I wouldn’t like to support either of those bands.

GIVE US A SXSW INSIDER TIP. I knew we didn’t have much time there and I violently love food so much, so I created a list. I looked up about 20 different ‘Best BBQs in Austin’ lists, and then devised my own aggregate list. We only managed to go to two because it was so busy – one was called Coopers and one was called Franklins. But they’re serious about their BBQs. My advice is to get there at 10am, because they start the night before and then there’s queues so if you get there at 2pm, you’re missing it. Those fuckers love their meat, it’s crazy. Oh and Voodoo Doughnuts is the one.***

IDLES play the Hotel Vegas Patio on Wednesday 14th March, the British Music Embassy on Thursday 15th March and Barracuda Backyard on Friday 16th March. t @idlesband I @idlesband

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METZ 2018 isn’t these Canadians’ first rodeo. Playing in both 2013 and 2015 - roughly around the release of first two records, 2012’s ‘METZ’ and ‘II’ unleashed three years later - the Toronto trio’s particular brand of abrasive rock does much to suit the sweaty vibe of a packed Austin venue. They come this time with September’s ‘Strange Peace’, on which they worked with Steve Albini, a “more intense, more melodic, more brutal, more confident” record, as we said so ourselves.*** METZ play Barracuda Backyard on Friday 16th March. t @METZtheband I @metz_theband

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BULLY Bully had a fresh start on new album ‘Losing’. Signing to Sub Pop for their second record, Alicia Bognanno and co have created a biting social commentary, championing community and togetherness via supremely catchy, gritty indie-punk, forged across month after month on the road in an America that was changing by the day. Live, it’s even more inspiring, and coming to SXSW off an extensive US tour, they’re bound to be as sharp as a knife. It’s not one to miss.***

Bully play Outdoors at Mohawk on Monday 12th March and The Scoot Inn on Thursday 15th March. t @Bully I @bullythemusic

Switching gears for his aptly-titled second album ‘Revelations’, last year was a transformative one for Shamir. Trading in the electro-pop ebullience of ‘On the Regular’ for a more introspective route forward - built on a foundation of fuzzily gnarled grunge - the Las Vegas shapeshifter has found a new home on the excellent Father/Daughter Records. And returning to Texas with renewed drive, his show should be a revelation to match.*** Shamir plays the Sidewinder Outside on Tuesday 13th March. t @ShamirBailey I @shamir326

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B SPEEDY ORTIZ Speedy Ortiz aren’t new faces in Austin; most infamously recruiting Broad City’s Hannibal Buress as their guest drummer when they played SXSW in 2015. And last year, self-described “frontdemon” Sadie Dupuis returned again with her solo pop project Sad13. This lot might be veterans of the Tex-Mex capital, then, but with new record ‘Twerp Verse’ taking its cues from Dupuis’ lone forays into hooky popped-up demo-making, expect Speedy to shake things up once again. Who knows if they’ll sneak another cameo into the mix this year, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that Antoni from Queer Eye will crop up on bass.*** Speedy Ortiz play Clive Bar on Thursday 15th March. t @speedyortiz I @sad13

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*********************** MID-WAY THROUGH A US HEADLINE TOUR, BAND OF THE MOMENT PALE WAVES ARE BACK IN AUSTIN, AND, AS HEATHER BARON-GRACIE REVEALS, IT TURNS OUT THEY’RE ALREADY EXPERTS ON THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. INTERVIEW: WILL RICHARDS.

*********************** HI PALE WAVES! YOU’RE GOING TO SXSW! EXCITING, RIGHT? VERY exciting! YOU’VE BEEN TO AUSTIN BEFORE, HOW DID YOU FIND IT? It was really great! We spent like six or seven days there for some reason at the start of the US tour we did with The 1975, so we’re experts! We’re excited to go back. We’ve never done the showcase kind of festivals, playing loads of shows in one day, and people say it’s loads of fun. Hard work, but fun! DID YOU FIND ANY FAVOURITE SPOTS IN YOUR WEEK IN AUSTIN LAST TIME? We found this really nice rooftop bar which we went to a lot, but I’ve completely forgotten the name of it, so I’m going to have to go on a scavenger hunt to find it again this time.

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AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER BANDS YOU’RE MAKING SURE TO MEET UP WITH WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE? We’ll be on tour with INHEAVEN at the time, so we’re definitely going to make the most of both being in Austin together. We’re so busy at the moment that we can’t even see our own parents let alone other bands we’re friends with, so we’re going to cherish it!*** Pale Waves play the British Music Embassy on Tuesday 13th March and the Empire Control Room on Wednesday 14th March. t @palewaves I @palewaves

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LIFE *********************** RETURNING FOR THEIR SECOND CRACK OF THE SXSW WHIP, LIFE ARE BRINGING A DOSE OF TIGHTLY-COILED NORTHERN ENERGY TO THE SUNNY STREETS OF AUSTIN. WORDS: LISA WRIGHT. *********************** It’s a mighty long way from Hull – the rainy home of wired, political post-punk upstarts LIFE – to Austin. As far removed in vibe as it is in location, it’s no surprise that the quartet’s first trip to SXSW last year was a slightly baffling one. “The first thing I did was buy a ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ T-shirt to wear on stage and then literally ten minutes later this cowboy just went past on a horse, just strolling down the street like he was in a Mini Cooper,” recalls singer Mez Green, still laughing at the prospect. “You can still see that proper old school culture mixing in with this real cosmopolitan, metropolitan vibe. It’s really cool. Then you go down to 6th Street and there are loads of rap and grime artists being carried on thrones on these big floats.” Having recovered from the culture shock of flying from “fucking freezing cold England to this really humid, warm place where there’s loads of little birds flying around,”

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“IF I SAW KEANU REEVES JUST STROLLING THROUGH AUSTIN, THAT’D BE A SELFIE MOMENT.” MEZ GREEN the band spent their inaugural year displaying the angular wares of debut LP ‘Popular Music’ around a short barrage of showcases (sadly, sans thrones). This year, with gigs supporting the likes of Slaves, IDLES and Nadine Shah now under their belts, the band will be hitting it even harder, with six shows including a late night slot for DIY on Monday at the British Music Embassy. They’ll also possibly even have some new wares to flaunt. “We’re currently mooching in the studio writing and demoing new gear for our next body of work,” explains the singer of their current position. “Starting off experimental, chucking words in u-bends so that we are ready to cut the demo-statute into a beautiful thing.” LIFE’s first barrage of razor-sharp sonic bullets [think The Fall meets Pulp at a Northern indie disco] may have earmarked them as critical ones

to watch, with radio legend Steve Lamacq introducing the band at last year’s event, but don’t bother asking Mez about any other notable spots. “Jarvis Cocker could walk past me and I’d just be in my own world and not notice,” he shrugs of the festival’s celeb-sighting opportunities. “Obviously Keanu Reeves is the dream though. If I saw Keanu just strolling through Austin, that’d be a selfie moment and I don’t do selfies.” They do, however, have some more useful tips for the first time SXSWer: “It’s one of those festivals that isn’t like anything else. It’s not like going to Reading or Leeds and there’s a similar vibe; this is totally different and out there. The city’s phrase is ‘Keep Austin Weird’ so you have to throw yourself in. Go to Rainey Street – I think it’s called that, but it might actually just be a Pogues song – where there are all these bars that are like cabins on stilts. Go to the Burger Records pool party where they have this thing that looks like a Dr Pepper vending machine where you press it and out comes a lucky dip lager. Get embedded in the culture.” Spitting tales influenced by the modern disenfranchisement of young Britain, with one eye on the politicians and the other on the dancefloor, LIFE’s own home culture might be a world away from Austin’s but you wouldn’t bet against them whipping SXSW into their own type of frenzy. Take Mez’s advice. Get embedded.***

LIFE play the DIY showcase at the British Music Embassy on Monday 12th March and Thursday 15th March, as well as the Barracuda Backyard on Friday 16th March. t @lifebanduk I @lifeband

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For our first SXSW 2018 showcase, we’re returning to take over the opening evening at the British Music Embassy at Latitude 30 on Monday 12th March, where we’ll be joined by some of the best British acts heading to Austin this year. Boisterous Hull quartet LIFE will be joined by Class of 2018 faves Our Girl, along with brilliant Scottish rockers Catholic Action. Francobollo and Breakfast Muff will also be joining in the fun, and we’ve invited along Transgressive’s new signing Boniface too.

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PUBLIC ACCESS TV On 2016 debut ‘Never Enough’, New Yorkers Public Access TV were content to fall into the rich lineage of the city’s indie heritage. On new LP ‘Street Safari’, however, the quartet have blasted open their own boundaries, adding a legion of funk and disco references into the mix to take them into altogether slicker territory. It’s an intoxicating blend that owes as much to Nile Rodgers as it does to Julian Casablancas and co, and it’s turning PATV into one of their hometown’s finest. Join the party, if you know what’s good.***

Public Access TV play DIY’s showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March and Barracuda on Friday March 16th. t @publicaccesstv I @publicaccesstv

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THE BRITANYS *********************** *********************** *********************** New York natives The Britanys have got the spirit of indie’s finest running through their veins. Straddling the transatlantic divide with one foot in The Strokes’ effortless cool and the other in The Libertines’ ramshackle way with a melody, the quartet are your classic ‘band as a gang’: an infinitely magnetic troupe that serve up hooks for days, delivered with a tearaway charm that celebrates the joys of being young and reckless. Recent single ‘When I’m With You’, meanwhile, is full of the kind of doe-eyed romance that we can get on board with. Grab a cold one and throw yourself in.***

The Britanys play DIY’s showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March. t @thebritanys I @thebritanys

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Photo: Pooneh Ghana

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SUNFLOWER BEAN *********************** *********************** *********************** Just a week before they release defiant second album ‘Twentytwo In Blue’, Sunflower Bean will return to SXSW to christen their second age. With the absurdly catchy ‘Crisis Fest’ and profound ‘Twentytwo’ already out in the world, their Austin shows will showcase more of the new record, forged across years on the road in a politically torn America. It’s a hammerblow of an album, and their sets are set to be more of the same.***

Sunflower Bean play the Hotel Vegas Patio on Thursday 15th March and the Austin Convention Center on Friday 16th March. t @Sunflower_Bean I @sunflowerbean

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PROUD TO SUPPORT EMERGING BRITISH TALENT ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SXSW.

BENIN CITY • CHLOE FOY • DAN LYONS • GENGHAR • HUSKY LOOPS • JERRY WILLIAMS • LYLO • TIJUANA BIBLES

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GOAT GIRL **************** A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THEY RELEASE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, THESE HOTLY-TIPPED LONDONERS HEAD TO AUSTIN WITH NEW SINGLE ‘THE MAN’ IN THEIR BACK POCKETS. THEY’VE GOT MORE THAN A FEW IDEAS OF HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR FIRST SXSW. INTERVIEW: WILL RICHARDS.

**************** HI GOAT GIRL! YOU’RE GOING TO SXSW! ARE YOU EXCITED? All: YEAH! Rosy Bones: Very, very excited. HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE STATES BEFORE? Clottie Cream: My Mum wanted to take me to the US as a child but I was too scared to go. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT TO

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EXPECT FROM AUSTIN ITSELF? Clottie: I’ve heard there’s a big underground music and arts scene. L.E.D.: I don’t know much about it, but I do know that I wanna go there! Clottie: I wanna see a cowboy! ARE YOU GONNA GET COWBOY HATS? Rosy: I want to, but maybe then we’ll get beaten up. Cowboys are not good people. ARE YOU TACO FANS? L.E.D.: I’ve heard a lot of things about the tacos in Austin. I thought the taco was the shell-like ones, but turns out it’s the more dough-y ones? Maybe? HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN ANY ADVICE ON SXSW FROM FRIENDS IN OTHER BANDS? L.E.D.: I’ve heard it’s very intense. Multiple shows in a day kinda thing. AND ARE YOU PRETTY GOOD AT CONTROLLING YOURSELVES IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES? L.E.D.: Personally, I hate day drinking. If I drink and then eat, I just have to sleep. So if I can’t have a nap, then it all goes downhill. Naima Jelly: I like day drinking if I can go to bed at about 8pm, but that might not work so well at South By. Rosy: The only thing we’ve done like that recently is we supported Baxter Dury at KOKO in London then went down to The Windmill in Brixton to play another show the same night. Naima: I feel like we kept it together pretty well. SXSW IS FAMOUS FOR HOSTING A LOT OF, UH, FAMOUS PEOPLE - WHO WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL CELEBRITY TO STUMBLE INTO A GOAT GIRL SHOW ACROSS THE FESTIVAL? Rosy: Gwen Stefani. L.E.D.: Yes! Clottie: I want Eric Andre. Naima: Who’s famous right now? Oh, Phil Collins’ daughter! What’s her

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For DIY’s second show this year, we’re hosting proceedings at Austin’s Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March, where we’ll be bringing along a whole host of ace acts from both sides of the pond. Fresh from our Class of 2018, the incendiary Goat Girl will be joined by two of New York’s finest - The Britanys and Public Access TV - alongside the bombastic Starcrawler. The evening will also see sets from the brilliant Suzi Wu, and Madrid’s own Baywaves.

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name? Any one of the Kardashians. L.E.D.: Any one of the Kardashians would be a dream. Clottie: As long as they bring Kanye! HAVE YOU GOT WORD OF ANYONE FAMOUS COMING TO SEE YOUR GIGS? All, immediately: LOUIS THEROUX! L.E.D.: We were playing with Parquet Courts and he came in with this ridiculous disguise, with glasses and a fake nose. Naima: Oh and one of the guys from Stranger Things too! THERE’S ALSO A TECH FESTIVAL ALONGSIDE THE MUSIC AT SXSW - ARE THERE ANY HOT NEW INVENTIONS BREWING IN THE WORLD OF GOAT GIRL? Clottie: We’re very anti-technology. Rosy: I like the idea of contact lenses that can take pictures. Clottie: I wouldn’t mess around with that shit though. Once you create it, it’ll inevitably be used for evil. Rosy: Maybe people should give inventions a rest for ten years or so. Clottie: Oh I have my crisps idea! If

I didn’t have Goat Girl I’d be doing this business. They’re called Yummy Mummy crisps. You can get hummus flavour, or poached egg and avocado flavour. I think it’s gonna go far. Naima: Moaning Musicians is another one of our magic ideas. It’s basically creating very, very light equipment for bands, so they don’t have to lug around really heavy gear up venue stairs and so on. They’d have wheels on everything. Loads of ramps everywhere. Perfect. Rosy: I’ve been thinking about useless superpowers. My favourite is where you have £3 in your pocket at all times, never any more any never any less. It’d be pretty good but also pretty shit. Makes you think.*** Goat Girl play the DIY’s showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March, the British Music Embassy on Thursday 15th March and Cheer Up Charlie’s on Friday 16th March. t @goatgirlofficial

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CANSHAKER PI *********************** *********************** *********************** Rewind just over a year and Dutch quartet Canshaker Pi quietly put out one of 2016’s most underrated debuts. A careering, wonky slacker rock gem produced by king of the scene Stephen Malkmus (he of Pavement fame), their self-titled first effort was riddled with the kind of idiosyncratic trains of thought that marked them out as natural heirs to their mentor’s throne. Now, with recent single ‘Pressure From Above’, the band are finally starting to make the wider waves that they so rightly deserve. About time too.***

Canshaker Pi play the Waller Ballroom on Wednesday 14th March and Hotel Vegas on Friday 16th March. t @Canshakerpi I @canshakerpi

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BAYWAVES *********************** *********************** Bursting out of the same Madrid scene as their indie rock compatriots Hinds and The Parrots, the success of the former credited with being able to break them out of their home city, Baywaves come to Austin having smashed tours in the UK and across the continent, hot off the heels of single ‘Down 4 U’. They’re currently working towards a debut full-length, following an EP expected in early 2018.***

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Baywaves play the DIY showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March and The Townsend on Friday 16th March. t @joinBaywaves I baywaves

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SUPERORGANISM Breaking through with the ‘90s-indebted ‘Something For Your M.I.N.D.’ back at the end of last year, and cementing the hype with the poptastic ‘Everybody Wants To Be Famous’ in January, the recently-released debut from this eightpiece collective was one of 2018’s most anticipated. With members from Japan-via-Maine, New Zealand and Korea all based in East London, Superorganism bring their buzzy live set to SXSW - complete with water sounds, animated dolphins and the nothing-short-of-anthemic ‘The Prawn Song’, which is (obviously) a song about being a prawn..***

Superorganism play the British Music Embassy on Saturday 17th March. t @SPRORGNSM I @sprorgnsm

SHAME Releasing debut album ‘Songs Of Praise’ at the start of the year, Shame effortlessly rose to the status of one of the most exciting new bands in the UK. After a debut Australian run in February, the London five-piece are taking their attack further afield, coming to SXSW as part of a huge US run,‘Songs Of Praise’ is a vicious, sarcastic barrage which is being taken out on increasingly notorious live shows. They’re bound to be one of the hottest tickets at SXSW 2018.***

Shame play Barracuda Backyard and Cheer Up Charlie’s on Wednesday 14th March and Barracuda on Thursday 15th March. t @shamebanduk I @shame

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NILÜFER YANYA There were similarities to The xx on Nilüfer Yanya’s debut ‘Small Crimes’ EP, and it’s been followed by tours with Broken Social Scene and Everything Everything, proving the singer-songwriter as a genrebending delight. Refining her soul-tinged palette on the reverbdrenched, emotional ‘Baby Luv’ and catchy-as-hell ‘Thanks 4 Nothing’, her promise is only growing. *** Nilüfer Yanya plays Elysium on Tuesday 13th March, and the British Music Embassy and Cedar Street Courtyard on Thursday 15th March. t@niluferyanya I @niluferyanyaaaaaa

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DOE *********************** ANOTHER ACT ON THEIR WAY BACK TO TEXAS FOR A SECOND BITE, DOE VOCALIST NICOLA LEEL AND GUITARIST DEAN SMITHERS SPILL ON VEGAN BURGERS, WHO THEY’RE LOOKING TO WATCH - AND THE ALL-IMPORTANT ROLE OF FUNDING. INTERVIEW: SARAH JAMIESON.

*********************** THIS YEAR WILL MARK YOUR SECOND TRIP TO SXSW - WHAT WAS IT LIKE AS A FIRST EXPERIENCE? Nicola: It was totally overwhelming! We’d heard a lot about what to expect but as soon as you get there your senses are blasted, there’s not enough time for your eyes and ears to process everything that’s going on around you. From the moment we arrived it was just like ‘fuck, here we are in Texas playing this huge festival and wandering around in the sun seeing our favourite bands’, very surreal for 3 pasty nerds from the UK. Dean: Who you calling pasty, aha? But yeah, our first experience was very overwhelming; a ton of new experiences that I’m super grateful for. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’LL TRY TO DO DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR?

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Nicola: We only played two showcases in 2017 as the trip was organised last minute after we found out we got funding from PRS. When we decided to come back for 2018 we made a point of trying to book more shows, as last year we spent a lot of time watching other bands and were itching to play more ourselves. We’ve got more lined up this time so that’ll be good. I’m also going to try and get more free things this year. Dean: I’ll probably start queuing for Weezer - or this year’s equivalent - earlier as opposed to five minutes before they play. Spoiler alert: I never got to see Weezer. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO ARTISTS HEADED THERE THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME? Nicola: Try to remember you’re across the world in a beautiful place playing music and you’re very fortunate. Make some kind of spreadsheet of all the stuff you want to see / do in advance because once you get there everything will happen quickly and before you know it you’ll have missed a bunch. Oh and try the vegan burger at Cheer Up Charlies. Dean: Yeah it’s a privilege to be doing something like this and recognising that is important I think. Get a side of ‘Tots with that burger. IS THERE ANYONE YOU’RE HOPING TO WATCH LIVE WHEN YOU’RE THERE THIS YEAR? Nicola: I would really love to catch Speedy Ortiz as they’re one of our collective favourite bands and I’ve never seen them before. We’re playing some super exciting line-ups this year, so I’m also looking forward to barely moving and still getting to watch a load of great bands. Dean: I haven’t seen Speedy since 2014 so that’s exciting! I’m intrigued to hear how the new songs sound live. Also, I just checked and RYAN Playground is playing again she was

my fav last year *heart eyes*. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT AUSTIN? Nicola: It’s difficult to judge it by what it’s like during the chaos of SXSW, but the general vibe was so relaxed and welcoming. The people are nice and the venues are cool and the food is great. The food is always the most important thing. Dean: Literally food. Counter Culture is THE spot. Get the southern baked seitan with a side of jalapeño cornbread. Next level. IS IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO SXSW AND ARE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IMPORTANT? Nicola: Yes and yes. Aside from the logistics of getting a spot and finding showcases, the cost of getting over there from somewhere like the UK makes the experience near-impossible for artists without the backing of a label and team. The music industry can be super alienating to anyone who isn’t from an affluent background and funding opportunities open the door to a wider range of acts who wouldn’t be able to play otherwise, in turn making the schedule more eclectic and interesting. HOW DID YOUR TRIP TO SXSW LAST YEAR HELP YOUR CAREER? Nicola: It was definitely a boost for us to play to an audience beyond that we’re able to reach on our own. I think on paper it’s exciting to people to see that we’ve been a part of something so big, we also ended up meeting our now manager over there (shout out Ian) - he’s been helping us out with plans for the next album so we’ll see how that goes.***

Doe play Swan Dive on Saturday 17th March. t @hellowearedoe I @hellowearedoe

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THE FISH POLICE **************** NOT ONLY ARE LONDONBASED ELECTRONIC EXPERTS THE FISH POLICE SET TO BRING THEIR UNIQUE MIX OF MUSICAL INFLUENCES TO AUSTIN THIS YEAR, BUT THEY’RE HOSTING A PANEL ON NEURODIVERSITY IN THE ARTS TOO. THE BAND’S DEAN RODNEY JR. AND CHARLES STUART TELL US MORE. INTERVIEW: SARAH JAMIESON.

**************** YOU’RE HEADED TO SXSW VERY SHORTLY - HAVE YOU VISITED AUSTIN BEFORE? HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD MUCH ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT? Dean Rodney Jr: No, I’ve never been, but we’ve been told it’s going to be really busy, a bit non-stop, with lots of people and music everywhere. We were told it’s a bit like six Glastonburys with Notting Hill Carnival running through it, so it’s

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going to be hectic! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT HEADING TO AUSTIN? Dean: Definitely meeting lots of different people. It’s also going to be really exciting seeing all the different bands performing. Charles and I are also going to be on a panel talking about neurodiversity, so I’m really looking forward to be being part of that too. Charles Stuart: I am genuinely excited about performing at SXSW. It’s a festival that I’ve heard so much about over the years so to be a part of it is quite something, especially for this band. I’m hoping that people will get off on the honesty of the music because it’s perhaps a different way of seeing things. FOR ANYONE WHO’S NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE, WHAT SHOULD THEY EXPECT TO DISCOVER WHEN THEY WATCH YOUR SET? Dean: A big performance with lots of energy! Our sets are funny because I talk to the audience about funny stuff. I really enjoy playing live and having a connection with the audience. The songs we write, they’re different, most bands don’t write about cocoa butter or black scissors but we do, so the audience are going to have a great experience! HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS FOR UK BANDS TO BE ABLE TO GO OVER TO THE STATES FOR FESTIVALS LIKE SXSW? Dean: Very important. It’s important for us to go over there and let people know who we are. We want the audience to come and see what we can do, if people like us then we’ll be able to do more gigs. We’d love to do more shows over in the states. Charles: Getting to SXSW in itself is a huge achievement. The general feeling is that we just want to be able to play to more people around the world, of course playing this

festival is a big step in that direction. YOU’RE ALSO GOING TO BE HOSTING A PANEL EXPLORING THE POSITIVE IMPACT NEURODIVERSITY IS HAVING ON THE ARTS. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE ASKED TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT? Dean: I’ve done some talks before, but not a panel, so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be interesting because we’ll be talking about how people like myself see the world in a different way. I’ll be talking about the different universes I create in my head and jamming with Robyn Steward, another Heart n Soul artist. Charles: It feels really good. The panel is called ‘Exploring music through the lens of Neurodiversity’ and we will be discussing many things, including how artists with and without autism experience creativity on a personal level and collaboratively and what the effects of that might be. We are also hoping for a more interactive audience generally across the talk because we want to know what other people’s experiences, thoughts and feelings are on the general subject of autism. WHICH OTHER UK ARTISTS WILL YOU BE TRYING TO SEE WHILE YOU’RE THERE? Everyone! We’re going to try and see as many bands as possible!***

The Fish Police play the Flatstock Stage at the Austin Convention Center and The Hideout on Thursday 15th March. t @_TheFishPolice I @thefishpolice

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OUR GIRL *********************** FRESH OFF THE DIY CLASS OF 2018 TOUR AND WITH THEIR DEBUT ALBUM IN THE WORKS, OUR GIRL MAKE THEIR SXSW DEBUT IN MARCH. INTERVIEW: WILL RICHARDS.

*********************** HELLO OUR GIRL! ARE YOU EXCITED TO GO TO SXSW FOR THE FIRST TIME?

ALL: YEEEEEAH! AND SOPH, YOU’VE BEEN BEFORE OF COURSE, WITH THE BIG MOON. HAVE YOU IMPARTED ANY AUSTIN WISDOM ON YOUR BANDMATES? Soph Nathan (guitar, vocals): Texas always sounds a bit scary, but turns out Austin is lovely! When I was younger I’d always think ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre aaaah I’m never gonna go there’ but I was wrong! We were told that SXSW was so insane, and you’ll be so tired all the time, but it wasn’t at all, it was just so

fun. And we were playing for Marika as well! I think we’re gonna have a really nice chill time, explore and see other bands. Josh Tyler (bass): I just wanna be in the sun! Eating tacos! ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR ANY COWBOY BOOTS? Josh: I am, absolutely. Lauren Wilson (drums): I think you could pull it off, you know. Soph: Right, let’s dress up for every show! AND FINALLY, SXSW IS NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE WANDERING AROUND - WHO’S THE IDEAL CELEB YOU’D WANT TO STUMBLE INTO AN OUR GIRL SHOW AT THE FEST? Soph: I’d want Courtney Barnett to come, just so I can ask her if we can go on tour with her. Lauren: I mean, obviously Beyoncé. Soph: Would she like us, do you reckon? Lauren: I think she’d appreciate our vigour and our attitude. I couldn’t talk to her though. Maybe I’d just want her to tweet about us. I bet noone tweets about her - she’s probably waiting for a tweet from us right now.***

Our Girl play the DIY showcase at the British Music Embassy on Monday 12th March and the Sidewinder Inside on Saturday 17th March. t @weareourgirl I weareourgirl

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Curation, Collaboration &Creativity Speakers Nick Keynes (Tileyard), Michael Harwood (Tileyard Music), Sammy Andrews (Deviate Digital), and Rupert Vereker (DIY Magazine) Overview This session will outline the journey of Tileyard Studios and the revolutionary transformation of a dilapidated area of London to one of the most exciting music creatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hubs in the world. Now with over 80 music studios and 150 creative businesses, it is home to stars such as Mark Ronson and The Prodigy, as well as some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most disruptive companies, as well as its own management, label, and publishing company. Discussion Tileyard Studios is redefining how the music industry can operate by using the forces of agglomeration to allow like minded businesses and artists to create, collaborate and compete with each other in close proximity. It is this resulting community that now contributes to a symbiotic and self sustainable model, providing end to end industry specific services in a autonomous environment.

Wednesday 14th March, 2pm Austin Convention Centre, Room 17a tileyardstudios.co.uk DIY

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BELTS… I’ve listened to too much Thin Lizzy to not already own more than one cowboy belt. Regarding our album, it’s exciting yes, it’s just a pity American customs wont let me hawk them from my suitcase.

CATHOLIC ACTION *********************** RETURNING TO AUSTIN WITH DEBUT ALBUM ‘IN MEMORY OF’ IN TOW, FRONTMAN CHRIS MCCRORY TALKS A QUEUE-SKIPPING TYLER, THE CREATOR AND HEAVY METAL TIME TRAVEL. INTERVIEW: EMMA SWANN.

*********************** YOU’RE OLD HANDS AT THIS NOW: WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT SXSW ’18? The people - I’ve met so many interesting folk from all over that I keep in contact with. Plus, the sheer amount of opportunities SXSW gives you to stumble into something truly special is brilliant. It’s a real musical rabbit hole if you let yourself get sucked in. AND THE SUN.

THE CITY’S SLOGAN IS ‘KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD’. WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE SEEN THERE? Tyler The Creator and his entire cohort skipped me (and Angel Olsen)

“IT’S A REAL MUSICAL RABBIT HOLE IF YOU LET YOURSELF GET SUCKED IN.” - CHRIS MCCRORY

EVERYTHING’S BIGGER IN TEXAS, APPARENTLY: WHAT’S GOING TO BE BIGGER ABOUT CATHOLIC ACTION’S SETS IN THE LONE STAR STATE? In no particular order I guess that it might be our bellies, our foreheads and / or our egos. WE ASSUME YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING NOW WITH AN ALBUM RELEASE UNDER YOUR NEWLY-PURCHASED COWBOY

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in the queue for a free pair of Vans a few years ago. Also, last year we saw this band at Hotel Vegas, they were baically exactly like Black Sabbath circa 1970 down to the very last detail. It was phenomenal, time machine stuff. They were from Austin. Our minds were blown, so blown that I can’t remember their name for the life of me.***

Catholic Action play the DIY showcase at the British Music Embassy on Monday 12th March and Hotel Vegas Annex on Wednesday 14th March. t @_CatholicAction I @catholicaction

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BREAKFAST MUFF *********************** *********************** Glasgow trio Breakfast Muff can be explained pretty accurately via the title of their debut album. ‘Eurgh!’ saw the band taking aim at injustice left, right and centre, over superbly catchy indie-punk. Highlight ‘R U A Feminist’ calls out any bullshit it sees without hestitation, and the band’s live show is just as uncompromising.***

Breakfast Muff play the DIY British Music Embassy showcase at Latitude 30 on Monday 12th March and Hotel Vegas Annex on Wednesday 14th March. t @breakfastmuff I @breakfastmuff

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SNAIL MAIL Releasing her debut full-length album later this year, Snail Mail is really starting to power up. Debut EP ‘Habit’ was an enticing introduction, with lead track ‘Thinning’ showing Lindsey Jordan’s expertise in writing sad but rousing numbers, and packing in melody by the pound. The album is set to see her come good on all that promise, and her sets at SXSW should be the perfect appetiser.*** Snail Mail plays Barracuda on Wednesday 14th March and Clive Bar on Thursday 15th March. t @snailmailband I@snailmailband

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ALBERT HAMMOND JR You don’t need us to tell you who Albert Hammond Jr is. As one fifth of the most influential guitar band this millennium (that’s The Strokes, duh), his legacy is already secured. You might need us to tell you who Francis Trouble is, though. The title of AHJ’s latest solo record, Francis is also the alter-ego giving the guitarist a renewed lease of life and a whole fresh clutch of bangers to boot. Meet them both down in Austin.***

Albert Hammond Jr plays Lustre Pearl on Saturday 17th March. t @alberthammondjr I @alberthammondjr

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STARCRAWLER You’ll remember new Rough Trade signings Starcrawler if you’ve seen them. Fronted by mercurial singer Arrow De Wilde – a strange, hypnotic figure prone to spitting blood at one minute and faux-cowering in the corner the next – their brand of LA garage rock is part Cramps horror-core and part Yeah Yeah Yeahs wild-eyed frenzy. It’s not there to make you feel comfortable, but then when did comfort ever push things forward? ***

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Starcrawler play The Main II on Tuesday 13th March, DIY’s showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March and Barracuda on Friday 16th March. t @thestarcrawler I @starcrawler

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“IT HAS THE LARGEST URBAN BAT COLONY IN THE WORLD - I’M ALSO AN URBAN BAT” SUZI WU

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BREAKING THROUGH WITH DEBUT EP ‘TEENAGE WITCH’ BACK IN SEPTEMBER, 19-YEAR-OLD SUZI’S ONE OF THE NEWEST UK ACTS HEADING TO AUSTIN. INTERVIEW: SARAH JAMIESON. **************** **************** HELLO THERE! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO RECENTLY? All sorts of things. Hanging with my family and friends before I leave for the States and working on my live set with my mate Otto. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM SXSW? A pretty big life experience. I love city-based festivals and I’m already prepared for all the acts I want to see if I have the time. I keep being told I’ll love it so that’s a good sign. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT HEADING TO AUSTIN? It has the largest urban bat colony in the world. I’m also an urban bat so we’ll have lots in common. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS FOR UK ACTS TO BE ABLE TO GO OVER TO THE STATES FOR FESTIVALS LIKE SXSW? The Prime Minister’s always going on about the ‘special relationship’ between UK and US. Which is of course a load of crap. Our relationship isn’t about soldiers and presidential visits. It’s stuff like SX that brings us together to share in music and film and remind us we’re all human. So in these dark days I’d say it’s more important than ever for us British people to get over

YOU’VE ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ANNOUNCED AS PART OF KEYCHANGE - A NEW PROGRAMME BY THE PRS FOUNDATION TO HELP ENCOURAGE EQUALITY IN FESTIVALS ACROSS THE WORLD. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THAT AND WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE TO BE A PART OF SO FAR? I applied to be involved because I haven’t worked with a lot of women yet and there’s loads of stuff I want to ask them. I could tell you it’s important to me because of equality and the initiative to get all festival lineups to be half-and-half, but the main thing that’s important to me as a young woman is feeling part of a sisterhood and having women to lift me up and support me. Sometimes it’s draining constantly being the only woman in the room. So there’s a lot to discuss.

there and let ourselves be heard for who we really are. Instead of being judged on Boris Johnson. Our Foreign Secretary. A truly scary thought. WILL YOU BE TRYING TO SQUEEZE IN ANY TOURIST ACTIVITIES WHILE YOU’RE OUT THERE? I want to eat ribs and Tex-mex. WHICH OTHER UK ARTISTS WILL YOU BE TRYING TO CATCH IN BETWEEN YOUR SETS? SASSY 009 are my go to for a UK act.***

Suzi Wu plays the DIY showcase at Seven Grand on Wednesday 14th March, Empire Control Room on Thursday 15th March and the British Music Embassy on Saturday 17th March. t @therealsuziwu I @therealsuziwu

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