Wales at SXSW 2008
Date Posted: 20th March 2008
SXSW – takes place every March and is the largest music showcase in the world and one of the key events in the music industry calendar, with 1,4,00 acts and 8000 delegates.
It has been the catalyst for launching the careers of many artists internationally and a fertile ground for talent spotting, attracting the world’s music media, major record labels, festival organisers, producers and managers.
This year seven acts from Wales had been invited to play at the festival’s showcase events – a considerable achievement as bands from all over the world apply and are only invited after a vigorous selection process.
To make the most of 2008’s opportunity, Welsh Music Foundation joined forces with Welsh Assembly Government’s Creative Business Wales (CBW) to ensure a strong Welsh presence at SXSW and maximise opportunities for the Welsh music industry.
It forms part of a strategic co-ordinated campaign to promote the sector internationally and CBW is working with a range of organisations and companies from the UK and US to raise the Welsh profile during the festival and help market Welsh bands participating in the festival. The artists invited to play at the festival have also been supported by Wales Arts International who have given financial support to the acts to help cover the costs of visas, travel and accommodation.
Wales was exhibiting on the UK British Music stand and also hosted a party to provide a platform for Wales based music businesses to explore international opportunities with key industry representatives from all over the world.
Four Welsh bands performed live at the party which was compered by Radio 1 DJ, Bethan Elfyn. The bands were:
Cate Le Bon
People in Planes
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club
Christopher Rees
The full list of Welsh acts invited to perform at SXSW:
- Duffy
- Neon Neon (Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals & American producer, Boom Bip)
- Los Campesinos!
- Cate Le Bon
- People in Planes
- The Victorian English Gentlemens Club
- Christopher Rees
