More than 20,000 are presumed dead or missing in Japan after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11. In response, the music community has been actively trying to raise relief money to send the small island nation.
Your SXSW Primer: What Acts Are Poised to Break this Year in Austin?
Next week, I'm heading west. (South by South)west. The music part of the annual Austin, Texas, festival (which has digital and film concentrations as well) is running this year from March 16 through the 20th. SXSW is important because it gives thousands of young acts the chance to be seen by those from all sides of the music industry and the media--in addition to the swarms of fans who attend every year to enjoy some new rock, pop, rap, and more. In previous years, I was introduced to Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Rye Rye, The Antlers, VV Brown, Fitz & the Tantrums, The Lonely Forest, The Temper Trap, Dawes, Local Natives, and even, seriously, Katy Perry--she played to a room of about 100 in 2008--through SXSW.
Today in Tweet-Beat: Jordan Dunn, peep-toe shoes, shirtless dudes and SXSW announce the arrival of Spring!