SaskMusic Heads to SXSW

For immediate release, March 2, 2016

SXSW artists

SASKMUSIC HEADS SOUTH TO SXSW

SaskMusic and our artists are preparing to head south for another international market export event: the 30th Annual South by South West (SXSW) Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. “The world’s leading music industry event” offers attendees the opportunity to explore the future of the music industry during the day through important panels discussions, talks, trade show, gear expo and other activities. At night, the music festival showcases over 2200 artists, including over 500 international acts from 60+ countries.

SXSW’s innovative approach melds music, film, and interactive industries together into one enormous business and networking opportunity. With over 30,000 delegates to the music conference component alone – and millions attending the festival – it’s easy for an artist to get lost in the roar. To rise above the noise, SaskMusic partners with other Canadian music industry associations to present targeted events, with artists who have been selected by SXSW organizers as representing the best in Canadian talent.

SaskMusic sustains an international market presence by representing and showcasing Saskatchewan talent at a number of highly respected music industry events annually, including Canadian Music Week (Toronto ON), The Great Escape (Brighton UK), Reeperbahn (Hamburg DE), and Folk Alliance International (Kansas City MO), among others.

SaskMusic is preparing for another successful year in Austin, where we will present showcase events and network with international delegates as part of an international marketing partnership with Creative Saskatchewan, BreakOut West, Manitoba Music, Alberta Music and Music BC. We are pleased to promote our talented export-ready Saskatchewan artists to the international music industry through the following official events:

BREAKOUT WEST MUSIC X INTERACTIVE Showcase, Tuesday, March 15/2016, 3-6pm
Bold Music & Big Ideas From Western Canada
Presented by BreakOut West, SaskMusic, Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, and Music BC

This showcase on the intersection between the interactive and music components of SXSW is targeted at technology and innovation companies; key relationships can be formed in synchronization, gaming, streaming, and other new digital strategies. BreakOut West and these provincial associations have partnered on an interactive event for a number of years, and return to Austin with a strong Canadian brand.

The Majestic (419 B E. Sixth Street, Austin TX)
4 artists will perform, including Saskatchewan representation from Saskatoon’s Close Talker

HOW THE WEST WAS WON, Thursday, March 17/2016, 12-3pm
A showcase of some of the best artists in Western Canada
Presented in partnership with Creative Saskatchewan, and our neighbours to the west, Alberta Music

How The West Was Won has been established as an internationally recognized brand of Western Canadian music over the past several years. We return to Austin with two of our hottest music exports.

Friends (208 E 6th Street, Austin TX)
4 artists will perform, including Saskatchewan artists Kacy & Clayton and Library Voices

THE BEST FROM THE WEST (Official Sponsored Showcase), Thursday, March 17/2016, 8pm-2am
Presented by BreakOut West, SaskMusic, Alberta Music, Manitoba Music and Music BC

Canada House is presented by Canadian Blast, an initiative of CIMA (the Canadian Independent Music Association) with support from the Government of Canada and the Ontario Media Development Corporation. Canadian Blast is a project that seeks to connect Canadian music professionals with other industry professionals around the world via showcases, meetings and events.

At SXSW, this well-established venue is a staple of the 6th street strip in Austin. Its consistent branding of Canadian music and hospitality draws international industry colleagues back every year, serving as a prime networking hub for Canadians to connect with our counterparts from around the world.

Canada House at Friends (208 6th Street, Austin TX)
6 artists will perform, including Saskatchewan artists The Dead South, We Were Lovers and Close Talker

SXSW 2016 Showcase Times: Saskatchewan Artists
Time and venues subject to change, consult official schedule at http://schedule.sxsw.com

Close Talker, www.closetalker.ca