Music from Northern Ireland and it’s capital city of Belfast will be playing a major part in this year’s SXSW 2008 Festival in Austin Texas – Not only will a wealth of exciting new and emerging talent be appearing in the official showcase and party programme, but Belfast’s most famous musical son Van Morrison has now announced that for the first time he will be showcase at SXSW on March 12th to mark the worldwide launch of his new album ‘Keep it Simple.’
As Van Morrison’s illustrious career clearly testifies, Northern Ireland has long been producing truly inspiring international music talent. This year’s SXSW will also feature an outstanding crop of emerging Northern Ireland artists who will no doubt also be attracting significant music industry and media attention. http://www.sxsw.com/
Downpatrick's The Answer will be under the SXSW spotlight due to the recent announcement of a featured role in the world's biggest computer game Guitar Hero IV; County Armagh's In Case of Fire are currently one of the hottest unsigned rock acts in the UK, and Belfast's Oppenheimer, Foy Vance and Driving By Night will also be causing a stir amongst the world's industry and media.
The Northern Ireland SXSW contingent consists of over 20 performers and more than a dozen music business representatives including promoters CDC Leisure and Stiff Kitten and record labels Smalltown America and Mr Jones Productions.
The Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) SXSW initiative is supported by Belfast City Council, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) Chairman John Edmund stated: 'The strong public sector support for this initiative comes at a very opportune time - the Northern Ireland music sector is going from strength to strength - we continue to produce brilliant creative talent - and we are now seeing very real growth in the international competitiveness amongst Northern Ireland's music business entrepreneurs.'
Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission representatives can be found at:
UK Trade & Investment, Stand #: 410,412,414,509,511,513
http://2008.sxsw.com/tradeshow/music_exhibition/map/
NORTHERN IRELAND SXSW ARTISTS SHOWCASES:
Wednesday 12th March
- Van Morrison (7pm La Zona Rosa, 612 W. 4th Street, Austin)
Friday 14th March
- Driving by Night (8.30pm – MFI @ Soho Lounge, 217 E, 6th St, Austin)
- In Case of Fire (10.30pm – Kerrang! @ Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto St)
- Foy Vance (12am – Buffalo Billiards, 201 E 6th St, Austin)
- The Answer (12.45am – Kerrang! @ Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto St)
Saturday 15th March
- Oppenheimer (8pm – Time Out NY @ Emo’s Main Room, 603 Red River St)
OFFICIAL SXSW NORTHERN IRELAND SHOWCASING ARTISTS
The Answer
biog | www.myspace.com/theanswerrock
In Case of Fire
biog | www.myspace.com/incaseoffireuk
Oppenheimer
biog | www.myspace.com/oppenheimer
Driving by Night
biog | www.myspace.com/drivingbynight
Foy Vance
biog | www.myspace.com/foyvance
SXSW NORTHERN IRELAND BUSINESS DELEGATES
CDC Leisure Ltd is a dynamic company with extensive expertise and many years of experience within the entertainment and leisure industry. The company run 4 Belfast based music venues; The Limelight, Spring & Airbrake, Katy Daly’s and Auntie Annies and also promote a wide range of concerts throughout various sized venues.
www.cdcleisure.com
AU Magazine – Ireland’s premier music, culture and lifestyle publication. Now in its fourth year, they continue to promote the cream of home grown musical talent alongside the best in international and underground artists.
www.iheartau.com
Joe Dougan – Booker for The Stiff Kitten, an 800 capacity night club situated in Belfast. In addition, Joe is Managing Director for ‘Radio K’ brand which has brought countless club promotions to Belfast, as well as branching into Artist Management for electronic combo Alloy Mental, one of Northern Ireland's most successful new acts. '
www.thestiffkitten.net, www.radiok.co.uk, www.alloymental.co.uk
Smalltown America – Independent Record Label which cultivates a self-sustainable model through which artists can release the best records they can possibly produce. Smalltown has been home to many fantastic artists including Clone Quartet, Fighting with Wire and Oppenheimer.
www.smalltownamerica.co.uk
Mr Jones Productions - Songwriter Ben Glover’s self releasing record label.
Ben has recently recorded his debut album in Nashville with renowned producer JD Foster at Blackbirds celebrated Studio A featuring Grammy Award winner Vince Gille and a host of Nashville finest musicians including Jim Lauderdale, Al Perkins and Willie’s Nelson harp player Mickey Raphael.
www.benglover.co.uk
Belfast Nashville Songwriter Festival - Now in its fourth year, the festival explores the art of song writing and celebrates the Sister Cities relationship. Grammy Award winning songwriters who have appeared include Nanci Griffith, Paul Overstreet and Gary Nicholson who have performed on stage with talented Northern Ireland artists including Paul Brady, Juliet Turner and Bap Kennedy.
www.belfastnashville.com
Real Music Club – Key promoter of acoustic music in Belfast, RMC specialise in ‘real’ music performed by ‘real artists’ and over the past seven years have worked with numerous award winning artists including Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Rodney Crowell and Billy Joe Shaver.
www.therealmusicclub.org
Brian Houston Songs - When his demo played on local radio, switchboards lit up and thousands of hastily pressed debut albums sold He regularly topped the NI charts and national airplay followed resulting in headline tours of England. Taste makers across the country created armfuls of fabulous reviews and the best kept secret leaked. “Sugar Queen is bristling with hope, joy, love and fabulous songs” Mojo Magazine****
www.brianhouston.com
Eilidh Patterson Music - “Eilidh has a voice as clear as the frosty night air and her self-penned songs suggest a maturity beyond her years. Brilliant.” Maverick magazine
Lyrically her compositions bring a message as passionate and fresh as the vocal. Based in Belfast, she is currently preparing material for her debut album. This follows universal acclaim for her first 3-track EP which has had extensive air-play locally, nationally and as far afield as New York City.
www.eilidhpatterson.com
Bruised Fruit Promotions – provide a range of services including artist and musician support networks, showcase events, merchandising, tour management, band management and booking services. Recently they set up a record label and also offer digital distribution. In 2007 they have worked with over 250 bands and released two compilation CDs.
www.bruisedfruitpromotions.com
Penny Distribution – full service music distribution, marketing and promotions company who provide physical and digital distribution and marketing, as well as music publishing, industry consultancy and live event booking and promotion for their affiliated artists and labels. They give great music a louder voice.
www.pennydistribution.com
The Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission SXSW Initiative is supported by Belfast City Council, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
The NIMIC US 2008 Initiative was supported by:
