SXSW

Lessons From SXSW Music 2013: Take the Middle Road

Ann Powers — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:58:50 +0000

That guy Prince has a sense of humor.

SXSW Film: These Finnish Rockers Have 'The Punk Syndrome' (Update)

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:17:47 +0000

Update: "The Punk Syndrome" won the SXGlobal Audience Award. See pictures from the Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät concert, below.

Original Story (March 15, 6:01 a.m.): A punk band from Finland is the focus of a film that’s showing at South by Southwest this week. The band is also playing a gig in the SXSW Music festival.

Photos: Zac Effron's 'At Any Price,' Ellen Page's 'The East' Wrap SXSW

KUT Staff — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:00:01 +0000

On the last day of SXSW Film, Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron and Ellen Page were some of the stars at the Paramount for screenings of "At Any Price" and "The East."

"At Any Price," starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron as father and son, examined a family farming business struggling with an unexpected crisis. The drama directed by Ramin Bahrani gets a wide release April 26.

Map: SXSW 2013 Street Closures and Transportation Options

Filipa Rodrigues — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:40:26 +0000

Update: South by Southwest Film and Music continue through the weekend.

Original Story (March 7, 4:10 p.m.): Austin’s just 24 hours away from South by Southwest’s annual Film and Interactive conferences – meaning thousands of people are arriving this moment.

SXSW Film: It's (Almost) A Wrap

KUT Staff — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:31:00 +0000

The South by Southwest Film Festival is drawing to a close this weekend. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Terrence Henry sat down to talk about some trends at the festival this year, what moviegoers are buzzing about, and which films truly stood out.

"One thing that really struck me this year is that everything visually just looks better," Henry said.

Three Days of Free SXSW Music at Auditorium Shores Starts Tonight

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:45:41 +0000

Free concerts at Auditorium Shores, a South by Southwest tradition, start this evening.

They get going at 5 p.m. with Jovanotti, followed by Bajofondo, Molotov, and then Café Tacuba at 8 p.m., all presented by NPR Music.

Photos: Dave Grohl Delivers SXSW Music's Keynote Address

David Brown — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:26:26 +0000

At Austin’s South by Southwest Music conference this morning, Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl gave the annual keynote address.

Dismissing any state-of-the-industry somberness, Grohl offered his life story as a blueprint for kids who want to grow up playing music.

From Doritos to Playtex to the Fader Fort, the SXSW Question Is: What Brand Are You? (Update)

Andrew Weber — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:47:15 +0000

Update: With South by Southwest Music in full swing, throngs of music fans have descended upon Austin. And that gives marketers more crowds to pitch their products and experiences to.

"The whole experience is more like social media,” says GSD&M’s Matthew Childs. "It’s not to actually sell something. It’s to get people talking about you, to position your brand with the Venturi effect of the community at South By. If you’re inauthentic to the community, you’re going to get called out pretty quickly."

Companies attempting to ingratiate themselves to the SXSW community have been on display all week: everything from the edgy (like HBO’s Game of Thrones pedicabs) to the decidedly less so (brands like Oreo and Cap’n Crunch advertising at SXSW Interactive).

SXSW: Documentary Traces Russian Feminist Punks' Trials

Cathy Byrd — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:35:11 +0000

After winning an award at the Sundance Film Festival this January, “Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer” has wowed audiences at South by Southwest.

The documentary tells the incredible story of three young performance artists: Nadia, Masha and Katia, members of Russian feminist art collective Pussy Riot.

Photos: Rockers at the Paramount for Dave Grohl's 'Sound City'

Filipa Rodrigues — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:09:22 +0000

Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was at the Paramount Theater yesterday for the South by Southwest screening of his new film "Sound City".

The documentary features the famed LA studios of the same name, where Nirvana, Queens of the Age, Rage Against the Machine and hundred of other bands recorded albums.

The Lead: UT Opposes Campus Carry, TxDOT’s Toll Waiver

KUT Staff — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:51:58 +0000

Good morning. The National Weather Service says Austin’s in for a sunny and mild day, with highs in the upper 70s.

Lead Story: The head of the University of Texas System is reiterating his opposition to allowing concealed firearms on college campuses.

Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry yesterday saying more guns on campus would likely increase the risk of injury or death, rather than increase safety.

SXSW: A 71-Year-Old Guitarist Makes A Belated Debut

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:30:30 +0000

This week, about 2,000 bands from around the world are performing at various venues throughout Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest music festival. Many of the musicians are young and have had plenty of experience performing in public.

And then there's guitarist Harry Taussig, who is nearly 72 years old. On Thursday, he'll be performing live for the first time ever.

Taussig never really meant to be a musician. He majored in physics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Over SXSW, 'Street Treats' Snack Carts Put Homeless to Work

Joy Diaz, KUT News — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:23:00 +0000

Can homeless people pedal their way into a home? An Austin nonprofit certainly hopes so.

SXSW Interactive: 99% Invisible's Roman Mars on Podcasting

Cathy Byrd — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:56:19 +0000

Roman Mars, the host and producer of 99% Invisible, is a superhero in the field of contemporary podcasting. That’s according to his co-panelists at a South by Southwest Interactive panel: Answer Me This host Helen Zaltzman, and Bullseye host and producer Jesse Thorn.

SXSW Film: One Maiden's Fantastic Voyage

Terrence Henry, KUT News — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:28:26 +0000

A word of warning: if you're going to see “Maidentrip” at SXSW Film this week (and by all means, you should), you may want to secure a large line of credit beforehand, as afterwards you'll likely have the inclination to go out, buy a boat, and set off to circumnavigate the globe.