21 Aus & NZ acts added to SXSW

Image: Sydney twins Cosmos Midnight to perform at SXSW in March

21 artists from Australia and New Zealand have been added to arguably the biggest music showcase in the globe, Austin, Texas’sSouth By Southwest (SXSW).

Local acts Matt Gresham, Kita Alexander, 8 Ball Aitken, Andy Clockwise, Big White, Cosmo’s Midnight, DZ Deathrays, Gang Of Youths, Harts, Stonefield, D.D Dumbo, DMA’S, Julia Jacklin, WILSN, Wave Racer, Vallis Alps, Tigertown, Spookyland, Scraps, Pretty City and Mr. Rogers were added today.

Two New Zealand-based acts were included in SXSW’s third artist announcement: Diaz Grimm and Marlon Williams.

The aforementioned join another 29 Australian acts headed to SXSW this March, bringing the total to 50. The previously announced acts are:

Demi Louise

Wolfmother

Jakubi

Porsches

Kllo

Hockey Dad

DRELLER

Violent Soho

Mansionair

The Gooch Palms

Gold Class

Methyl Ethel

Flyying Colours

Lupa J

SAFIA

Bluetile Lounge

W O R K S H O P

HOWQUA

Tora

Major Leagues

Mark Wilkinson

Nite Fields

The Griswolds

Oh Pep!

Sui Zhen

Polish Club

Ben Abraham

Troye Sivan

The Temper Trap

Phil Tripp, SXSW’s Australia, New Zealand & Hawai’i Representative told TMN: “Despite the distance, the diminishing dollar and increasing competition from 8,500 acts that applied from 65 countries, Australian and NZ acts are continuing their momentum as artists that take no prisoners among the 2000 other bands performing in 100 venues over SXSW’s five nights.”

Tripp said Australia’s presence has gone from just five artists in 2002 to the 47 that performed last year, to the now 50 announced so far.

“Australian artists have created a sizzling brand making the industry ever more hungry for our type of bands,” said Tripp. “This is owed in no small part to Sounds Australia, the industry body which champions homegrown artists in their annual Aussie BBQ and other events. We’ve also evolved a better management style as well as superior promotion.”

Sounds Australia Associate Producer Esti Zilber told TMN that previous AustralianSXSW performers are expertly capitalising on theirexposure by heading back.

“It’s another really strong year for Australian artists, and what we are seeing is that a healthy portion of those showcasing at SXSW 2016 are heading back to build on previous exposure at the event,” said Zilber. “Acts such as Gang of Youths, DZ Deathrays, DD Dumbo, Demi Louise,The Temper Trap, Mansionair, SAFIA, Tigertown, The Griswolds have all showcased at SXSW before. It makes sense to see a return to market, with a view to building on the groundwork that has already been laid in North America and other international territories.

“SXSW maintains its position as one of the premier platforms for music promotion and discovery, and globally there is still a great interest in the work that Australians are producing,” Zilber added. “These numbers certainly point to a huge amount of established, and export-ready Australian talent on offer for international industry to get excited about in Austin this year.”

Just announced Sydney band Big White performed their track performed their track You Know I love You at the FBi SMAC Awards at Carriageworks last night. The band inked a deal with Caroline Australia last year and supported fellow SXSW export DMA’S in Melbourne and Sydney last September.

DMA’S released their latest single Too Soon yesterday ahead of debut album Hill’s End, out February 26. The trio from Newtown have been championed overseas by NME, Blur’s Dave Rowntree, Zane Lowe, The Fader, Nowness and Stereogum. The band has indie label deals with Mom+Pop (FIDLAR, Courtney Barnett, Flume) and Infectious (alt-J, The Temper Trap) in North America and Europe respectively.

Sydney based electronica duoVallis Alps this month signed withOlly Hodgsonfrom Coda Agency in the UK/Europe. The duo from Canberra and Seattle are also represented byOwen Mallonfrom Windish for the US and Canada, andEvan DavisandAndy Gumleyat Village Sounds to cover them in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.Vallis Alps were the second most played act last year on triple j unearthed with their self-titled EP.

Cosmo’s Midnight (pictured), aka twins CosmoandPatrick Liney, were named a MTV Brand New Artist last year following a healthy stream rate on YouTube and SoundCloud with their remixes of the likes of Anna Lunoe, Snakadaktal and JaysWays.The duo embark on a national five-date tour next month in support on their latest EP Moments. Fellow SXSW export Wave Racer will tag along as the support act along with WAM Song of the Year winner Kučka.

Sydney-based independent label I Oh You will see three of its acts headed to Austin, Texas: Brisbane alt-grunge quartet Violent Soho, DMA’S and Brisbane-based two-piece thrash party band DZ Deathrays.

In 2015 Courtney Barnett was the break out Australian export; the Melbourne multi-ARIA winner took home the Developing Act Grulke Prizeat SXSW and ticked off coveted US TV performances on The Ellen Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Industry whispers for 2016 have picked Melbourne singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and music producerHarts to make international headlines following his stint at SXSW.

SXSW takes place in Austin from Tuesday March 15, until Sunday, March 20.

SXSW AUS & NZ Site:http://www.sxsw.com.au & http://www.sxsw.com