First OZ and NZ bands announced for next years SXSW

In three months, Austin Texas will become the beachhead of the largest ever invasion of AustralAsian performing music artists and music industry professionals with the announcement that 38 of the 58 initial bands invited have accepted to showcase at the world's largest music festival, trade fair and conference--South By Southwest in its 21st year March 14-18. The complete list of artists so far is at the end of this release.

Though only six of the 58 initial invitees so far declined the opportunity to play before over 12,500 music industry professionals from around the world in Austin due to other recording or touring commitments, it's predicted that at least 15 more artists will accept in the next few weeks with more who may be invited.

SxSW AustralAsian representative Phil Tripp in Sydney revealed the names of the first wave of contemporary music bands--25 from Australia and 13 from New Zealand--and also confirms that both countries' governments have invested in a series of export strategies, trade fair stand presences, publicity campaigns and promotional events for the fifth year in a row. As well, an independent music industry group--The Australian Music Collective--will stage its fifth annual series of concerts in Austin, plus two in Los Angeles preceding SxSW, two in New York the week after SxSW and one in London at the close of March.

As Tripp outlines, Australian federal government export body AUSTRADE, along with state government or music organisations and the New Zealand Music Industry Commission, have created and supported incentives that have increased participation, success in deals and tangible export earnings. "In 2002, there were only five artists and 25 attendees from both countries, where this year, close to 40 bands and over 200 delegates resulted in an eightfold increase in four years. In 2007, we are expecting over 250 registrants from both countries and over 50 acts from more than 240 that applied. The showcase aspect of SxSW features over 1400 bands from more than 8500 that applied globally--so Australia & New Zealand have an enviable strike rate and success tradition." The hour long showcases happen over five nights in more than 50 venues in Austin.

"Aside from the major stand presence in the three day trade fair component, AUSTRADE also conducts a SxSW 'Boot Camp' four hour teleconference in five Australian cities' AUSTRADE boardrooms with more than 50 band managers, artists and executives linked to US music and trade experts for advance strategies and techniques, six weeks ahead of the event. One significant new resource that AUSTRADE will contribute this year is the contracting of a dedicated independent music publicist focused on gaining US media exposure for the artists making the trip over. A 15,000 copy, 40 page street-press style Australian Music Guide is also distributed to all SxSW attendee showbags and in key retail shops throughout Austin. In addition, West Australia has a major concert in Austin every year, subsidises artist travel and promotion, while New South Wales has provided promotion and a tour manager for all its state artists." Tripp concludes.

ARTISTS HAVING ACCEPTED INVITATIONS TO SHOWCASE (As of December 10)

Airbourne
Architecture in Helsinki
Beasts Of Bourbon
Carly Binding (NZ)
Sarah Blasko
Blindspott (NZ)
Brave Radar
George Byrne
Children Collide
Die! Die! Die (NZ)
Dimmer (NZ)
Elemeno P (NZ)
Evermore
Gasoline Cowboy (NZ)
The Gear
The Have (NZ)
Hoodoo Gurus
i heart hiroshima
Kill Surf City (NZ)
Kiosk
Little Birdy
Macromantics
Mint Chicks (NZ)
New Buffalo
Paul Kelly
The Panda Band
Pig Out (NZ)
Josh Pyke Bic Runga (NZ) Shaky Hands (NZ) So So Modern (NZ) Spod
Starky
Sunwrae
Via Tania
Andrew Winton
Youth Group
The Zebras

with more to be announced...