Writer, Kate Eringer, rounds up what you need to know from the music industry’s fastest growing festival.
Photos courtesy of – Vans (House of Vans at the Mohawk) and Ian Orion – www.ianorion.com
SXSW takes over Austin, the hippy capital of Texas. For two weeks each year, in the middle of March, the roads are closed and ‘industry’ people descend upon Texas’ liberal oasis. Hoards of airplanes are unloaded on the city known for BBQ and ‘keeping Austin weird’. The result is something manic and magical. Uncountable free shows with bands new and old, well-loved and unknown, take place each day and night all around the city and it’s up to you, music lover, to find them. Can’t find the time out to attend the festival? Feel like you saw all the movies and didn’t catch the bands? Waited in line to see your favorite musicians and didn’t get to find anything new? You’re in luck because I did it all for you (and asked a bunch of music pro’s on their tips). Read more to find out the best of Unofficial SXSW Music 2015.
Play
Tumblr Irl at Ironwood Hall
Music met art as Tumblr took over the Ironwood Hall venue for this years’ SXSW. With two musical acts each day, they closed up after each performance and redesigned the space to best reflect the music. Artist and musician worked together with Tumblr’s creative director, Nate Auerbach, to “make a space where music lovers could really spend time with music”. With shows by Houndmouth, Tobias Jesso Jr., Travis $cott, Odesza, Twin Shadow and Courtney Barnett, each with personal openers and lasting over an hour, this event was by far the most magical. Houndmouth performed in a road trip-like set, while Tobias Jesso Jr. taught his songs to viewers as they sat at the piano. I, and all the other viewers, came (and stayed, which is rare for a festival as stacked as SXSW) to watch some music and left having experienced music. Look out for other Tumblr IRL’s all over the world.
VANS Waxahatchee KOBANE
VANS VINCESTAPLES KOBANE
VANS THEMEMORIES KOBANE
VANS THE BLESSINGS
VANS SPEEDYORTIZ KOBANE
VANS RAESREMMURD KOBANE
VANS RAESREMMURD KOBANE
VANS POWERTRIP KOBANE
VANS POWERTRIP KOBANE
VANS LUSTFORYOUTH KOBANE
VANS GIRL POOL
VANS FUTUREISLANDS KOBANE
VANS DAY 2 ENVIRONMENT
VANS ALVVAYS
House of Vans at Mohawk
Mohawk went under House of Vans invasion this year and was completely and utterly stacked. With a line-up that boasted Waxahatchee, Angel Olsen, Son Lux, Girlpool, Alvvays, The Oh Sees, Future Islands, Meat Market, Hundred Waters, Vince Staples, Migos, Laura Marling, Børns and honestly, so many more standouts, I implore you to look at their line-up. The ‘cool’ status of both Mohawk, as an Austin staple, and Vans, the constantly relevant skate brand, helped to make this one of SXSW’s standout events. Plus they had a party with yummy BBQ, beautiful people, sand-bag tossing and I got invited, if the rest wasn’t enough.
Other standout events to check out:
Floodfest
Slice of Music by Homeslice Pizza
SX San Jose
Waterloo Records
Wonderland Bar
Listen
Tobias Jesso Jr.
With his first album released in time with SXSW, Tobias Jesso Jr. is set to take the music world by storm. His music is highly personal and connects with its listeners in a big way, as he chats with them on stage and explains his relationship to the songs and his experience with the music. In his Tumblr IRLS show he went out and taught the audience how to play his music on keyboards. Goon? More like Swoon. Get ready for the Tobias takeover with his album, Goon, available on ITunes and Bandcamp.
Hundred Waters
Nothing could prepare me from the presence that is Hundred Waters live. One of the strongest voices alive today, Hundred Waters creates a musical genre all of her own, while remaining entirely classically perfect. Her album, The Moon Rang Like A Bell, is stunning and makes for haunted and magical listening.
Hinds
Spanish girl band Hinds, formerly ‘Deers’, is blowing up in a big way. Equal parts cool girl band and chilled out listening you might think they are California locals, not unalike Mac DeMarco. Their album, Barn, is out now via Bandcamp.
Ibeyi
Homeshake
Hot Sugar
Børns
Courtney Barnett
Lido
Alvvays
Until the Ribbon Breaks
Chastity Belt
Pity Sex
Leon Bridges
Eat
Gus’s Fried Chicken
Franklin’s BBQ
Clark’s Oyster Bar
Arro
Gourdough’s
Amason
Apolo
Basecamp
Big data
Big data
Caral Barat
Caral Barat
Courtnet Barnett
E 40
Eaarl Sweatshirt
Frank Turner
Marit Larsen
Priory
Swimm
Ting Ting
Ting Ting
Twin Shadow
Photos courtesy of – Vans (House of Vans at the Mohawk) and Ian Orion – www.ianorion.com
