SaskMusic is preparing to head south for the annual international market export event, South by South West (SXSW), Austin TX, March 11-16, 2024. Sask. artists invited by SXSW for official showcases this year are Grimelda, Marissa Burwell, and Merv xx Gotti. We will assist in the presentation and promotion of these artists in collaboration with partners Alberta Music, BreakOut West, Manitoba Music, Music BC, Music Ontario, Range Magazine, and the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA).
“The world’s leading music industry event,” SXSW 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 – SaskMusic is this year partnering for Canada House and RANGE Magazine showcase presentations, to provide enhanced placement and visibility for the Sask artists. In addition to assisting the artists with their pre-event export strategy, SaskMusic will be providing support and helping to build new connections during the event.
SaskMusic’s Export Manager, Kaelen Klypak, will be on the ground on behalf of the Saskatchewan music industry and participating in industry “Matchmaking Sessions” presented by A2IM (American Association of Independent Music), AIM (Association of Independent Music- UK),CIMA, and Reeperbahn Festival, and speed meetings presented by the British Music Embassy, Sounds Australia, CIMA, Music from Ireland, and the New Zealand Music Commission.
Official Showcase Times
Merv xx Gotti
Mar 13, 2024, 12:50pm at Swan Dive (Inside stage)
Presented by SaskMusic and Canada House Partners
Mar 14, 2024, 9:15-9:55pm at Swan Dive Patio
Presented by BreakOut West
Grimelda
Mar 13, 2024, 2:30pm at Swan Dive (Inside Stage)
Presented by SaskMusic and Canada House Partners
March 14, 2024, 8-840pm at Chess Club
Presented by Range Magazine with support from SaskMusic
Marissa Burwell
Mar 14, 2024, 1:15pm at Swan Dive Patio
Presented by SaskMusic and Canada House Partners
Mar 14, 2024, 10:15-10:55pm at Swan Dive Patio
Presented by BreakOut West
Mar 15, 2024, 6pm at The Liberty
Mar 16, 2024, 10pm at Windsor Park Music Series at Knomad Bar
How are the artists selected?
Artists apply for showcases through SXSW’s annual call for submissions. SXSW then selects artists for official showcases through their own curation process – often in collaboration with record labels, booking agencies, management and PR firms, export offices, publishers, media outlets, lifestyle brands, festivals, and more.
After official showcase artists are selected by SXSW, numerous showcase presenters (including independent labels, radio stations, and export offices representing many different countries) will create their own branded/boutique events, to further promote these selected artists. SaskMusic works with SXSW and select partners to secure the best possible performance spots for Sask artists who have been selected, and maximize opportunities for them during the event. This year, our partners are CIMA/Canada House and Range Magazine. As part of our participation in these partnerships, SaskMusic contributes towards presentation costs.
SaskMusic does not run intakes for, jury, select, nor provide grant funding to artists participating in SXSW showcases. We support the Sask artists who have been selected.
SaskMusic sustains an international export market presence by representing and showcasing Saskatchewan talent at a number of highly respected music industry events annually, including Americanafest (Nashville, TN), The Great Escape (Brighton UK), Reeperbahn (Hamburg DE), and M for Montreal (Montreal, QC) among others. We are grateful for the support of our export program through Creative Saskatchewan and the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings.
ABOUT OUR PARTNERS
Canada House: Presented by CIMA with partners Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, Music BC, MusicOntario, SaskMusic, Spotify & the City of Toronto.
Canada House is a longstanding fixture at SXSW. Held this year at Swan Dive (615 Red River Street), it includes two days of showcases March 13 and 14, presenting 24 acts from across the country. Showcases kick off at noon on both days, with SXSW delegates invited to join beforehand for BBQ and the opportunity to mingle with the Canadians. Showcases run 12-5:30PM.
The 24 Canada House artists this year: Altameda // Babe Corner // Field Guide // Grimelda // Hot Garbage // Hotel Mira // Housewife // Ila Barker // Indian Giver // JJ Shiplett // La Sécurité // Le Couleur // Lev Snowe // Living Hour // Marissa Burwell // MAUVEY // Merv xx Gotti // NYSSA // Shaina Hayes // So Sus // Sunnsetter // Super Duty Tough Work // WAKE // Zoon
CIMA will also be organizing business events for Canadian delegates throughout the week, with companies having an opportunity to participate in the Country Connections speed meetings on March 16 at the British Music Embassy.
RANGE: RANGE Magazine (readrange.com) is Canada’s fastest growing arts & culture publication dedicated to amplifying new voices in music in print and online. March 14, RANGE presents a punk rock showcase at Chess Club featuring six diverse and amazing punk, hardcore, and metal bands from Canada, with partners Brixton, SaskMusic, Music Calgary, Alberta Music, Clubcard, and Take Aim Media. On March 17, RANGE presents a lineup featuring six of Canada's most notable hip-hop and R&B exports, Charmaine, Lex Leosis, Sylo, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, 80Purrppp, and Chiiild.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Grimelda is a really really really good band who plays songs that take rock and/or roll to uncharted depths. While their "New Daft Punk" EP (2021, Transistor 66) highlighted collaboration and genre-bending like the world had never seen, "It's So Feeling When You Rock" (2023, Transistor 66) was a collection of absurd classics inspired by the need to claw your way through the dumpster fire in search of F U N. This year, they will elevate beyond earthly terms like "what a cool beat" and "great energy, man." Instead, the art-damaged punk duo plans to present a No Rules effort by bringing numerous co-conspirators to the writing table.
Wow! Just wow. Is this the future of music? Could these two skids from the Canadian prairies be transcending sound? Does this auditory enigma exist outside of our mortal plane? Or are we all simply regressing into hell? Never find out by catching this ineffable aural monster in every single town on Earth for the rest of eternity.
Marissa Burwell makes music that is part back-seat-of-the-minivan crooner, part blow-out-the-speakers indie-rock.
Hailing from the city of Regina, Saskatchewan, Marissa Burwell made her remarkable debut with a self-titled EP in 2019. The overwhelmingly positive response to her EP opened doors to international opportunities. In 2022 Marissa proudly unveiled her debut full-length album, "Bittersweet," which showcased her warm, summery voice and wry wit beneath its indie-folk exterior. She has graced the stage at renowned events like Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival, the New Colossus Festival in NYC, and multiple Canadian festivals including Breakout West, NXNE, and Pop Montreal.
Burwell’s latest EP Either Way, released via DevilDuck Records in September 2023, features the clearest synthesis of Burwell’s spectrum of musical sensibilities yet with moments of warm musical tones featuring thick harmonies wrapped around guitars and gentle drum beats while other moments showcase cathartic bursts of alternative rock, erupting in dizzying crescendos of hammering pianos.
Merv xx Gotti is the award-winning Canadian multi-genre artist behind the solo singer-songwriter dream-pop project, "Guitar Songs.” He is also the singer of the hip-hop/R&B duo, Samurai Champs, as well as the indie-emo band, GHOSTFORM. Additionally, he is the Founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning Canadian DJ & artist collective, Trifecta Sound Co.
His latest project, "Guitar Songs," explores a more minimal sound, emphasizing androgynous, dreamy vocals to deliver vulnerable, sincere songwriting. The first single from the project, “Jiujitsu,” was the biggest syndication pick-up in the past 5 years for a Saskatchewan artist as it was played by 21 CBC stations across the country. Online, singles from “Guitar Songs” have already amassed over 50,000 streams on Spotify and been picked up on multiple influencer playlists.
The debut EP release for "Guitar Songs" is scheduled for Spring 2024.
