Texas calling for ten Scottish Bands
11/02/2009
Ten Scottish bands will receive support to appear at this year’s South by South West (SxSW) music festival in March in a prestigious American showcase co-ordinated by the Scottish Arts Council.
Over four days, from 18 to 21 March, the Scottish contingent will meet with international promoters, record companies and booking agents during the annual SxSW festival, held each year in Austin, Texas.
Two ‘Showcasing Scotland’ events, presented by the Scottish Arts Council, will take place on 20 March featuring Primal Scream, The Proclaimers and Glasvegas, alongside newer Scottish acts that are ready and set to ‘break’ the American market.
The following bands are receiving financial support from the Scottish Arts Council to showcase in Austin:
- Come on Gang! are driven by energy, melody and honesty. The tight pop-punk three-piece have released two singles to date, each to critical acclaim,
- Found make melodic, experimental pop music with a distinctive Scottish accent – singer, Ziggy Campbell’s discount-whisky croon is unmistakable,
- Camera Obscura Glasgow’s finest purveyors of literate, melodic pop, are gearing up for an exciting 2009, releasing their fourth, soon-to-be-named album on the seminal 4AD label,
- Dananananaykroyd their unique brand of fun loving post-hardcore/indie rock (also known as fight-pop) has been winning hearts and capturing fans across the UK,
- Nacional music bursting with energy. The prodigal, prodigy children of The Smiths & The Wedding Present with rhythms that will make you dance like Joy Divison,
- We Were Promised Jetpacks one of the most talked about new talents emerging from Scotland. The band’s set moves at a breakneck pace and delivers a mini-anthem in every song,
- My Latest Novel April sees the release of their second album ‘Deaths and Entrances’, the follow up to the acclaimed ‘Wolves’,
- The Pictish Trail features Johnny Lynch, electro-folk-pop troubadour, as well as label manager of Fife’s Fence Records,
- Alex Smoke with a production style drawn from a wide spectrum of influences, and blurring the boundaries between electronica, techno, classical and hip hop, Alex Smoke’s music encompasses a myriad of styles,
- Twin Atlantic prior to departing for Austin, the unsigned band will first have a UK headline tour, kicking off in Glasgow’s 900-capacity Queen Margaret Union.
This year’s events will be the sixth Scottish showcase at South by South West: since 2004, more than 50 bands have been supported by the Scottish Arts Council to perform at this premier event for the global music industry. However, Primal Scream, Glasvegas and The Proclaimers will be supported by their record labels and will not be receiving financial support from the Scottish Arts Council, though their appearance on the Showcase bill will boost the profile of all of the bands appearing.
Ian Smith, Head of Music, Scottish Arts Council said:
‘Scotland has a brilliant international reputation for the quality of the acts that play in Austin and our showcases are must-see, events in a pretty crowded calendar. This year, we’re delighted that Primal Scream, Proclaimers and Glasvegas will be appearing under the Scottish banner at our evening showcase in La Zona Rosa. It’s shaping up to be yet another memorable trip to Austin for Scotland’s incredible musical talent.’
Successes following from the 2008 delegation to Austin include: a new management and recording contract for the Law, alongside a synchronisation deal from Sky Sports; The Dykeenies secured a number of significant festival performances in the UK over the summer as well two slots as part of the Redbull Bedroom Jam; Frightened Rabbit released their album The Midnight Organ Flight in the US in April 2008 and, since completing a promotional tour there, have been rewarded by sales of more than 20,000 copies.
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor. The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding. For more information visit: www.scottisharts.org.uk
- Selection for South by South West is by initial invitation from the festival organisers. Scottish Arts Council support is agreed by through a panel of Music Industry Specialist Advisors, including Radio 1 DJ Vic Galloway and Paul Cardow of PCL Presents, alongside the Scottish Arts Council’s music department.
- Each group will receive funding based on the number of members travelling to Austin, Texas. The maximum award is £800 per person.
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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