Record number of Aussies heading to SxSW

A record 1000 Australians are heading to the 29th South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, this week. There are 700 delegates joining 75,000 colleagues from 82 countries, as well as members and crew of 45 Australian acts picked to showcase from a total of 250 applications.

Organisers say, “It's the largest number of Australians at one place in one time in the US since the Atlanta Olympics.”

South by Southwest is the world’s largest music, film and interactive festival and conference between March 9 to 22.

60% of Aussie registrants are booked for the Interactive section, with Tactify Group and Habitat The Game having their own stands. Four local movies will be screened: the full length The Little Death, short films, Happy With Bear and Followers, plus Cronulla Riots: The Day That Shocked the Nation.

Music export body Sounds Australia is hosting a number of showcases, as well as a networking VIP lunch and B2B meet-ups.

Its famed Aussie BBQ (March 20) at Brush Square Park features Andy Clockwise, Ball Park Music, Big White, Bloods, DCM, Fraser A Gorman, George Maple, Gooch Palms, Hamish Anderson, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Kirin J Callinan, Lenka,  Mansionair, Remi, SAFIA, San Cisco, Steve Smyth, The Delta Riggs, The Love Junkies, Tigertown and Tkay Maidza.

Beat Pie (March 19) hosts a mix of electronic, hip hop, pop, soul, RnB and dance artists in partnership with EMC Australia.

The Sound Gallery (March 21 at B.D.Riley's) hosts blues, roots, soul, folk and country acts as 8 Ball Aitken, Bonnie Mercer, Demi Louise, Far Away Stables, Goodbyemotel, Hamish Anderson, Oxford & Co., Peter Bibby and Steve Smyth.

Others officially invited by SXSW to play include Carmada, Cody Simpson, Courtney Barnett, King Parrot, Luluc, Mark Wilkinson, Meg Mac, Nina Las Vegas, Oxford & Co., Remi, The Church, Twerps and Wax Witches.

“Unofficial” acts who were not invited but made the trip to try and get traction included L D R U, Peking Duk, Satellite Sky, Strange Talk and Yahtzel.

South by Southwest consists of 1500 conference sessions comprising 3,600 speakers, a 4-day trade show, a 6-night music festival featuring over 2,000 bands from 55+ countries in 111 venues, and a 9-day film festival with more than 400 screenings. Over 6000 registered media are attending.

In 2002, only 20 Australian delegates attended and five bands performed.