MUZU.TV Brings You Exlusive Content from British and Irish Bands at SXSW 2012!
There’s an array of British and Irish up and coming talent heading over to SXSW Music Festival this month! SXSW Music and Media Conference have spent 25 years being one of the world’s leading musical showcases, and returns in 2012 to continue the tradition. SXSW showcases roughly 2,000 musical acts from around the globe, representing well over 50 different countries. Each year the finest musical exports from the UK head over to Austin to perform on this platform, showcasing to an international audience of music lovers and industry bods. We’ve compiled a list of the most up and coming and interesting acts making their way across the Atlantic this March, to represent the UK.
British bands performing:
Tango In The Attic – Strongly influenced by The Velvet Underground, The Strokes, The Walkmen, this Scottish five-piece come from a little know town called Glenrothes. Having already played major festival stages such as T In The Park and championed by Scottish industry legend Vic Galloway, they release their second album in 2012.
What Tango In The Attic have to say about SXSW…
“We’ve never been to SXSW so we don’t know what to expect from it apart from lots of bands in lots of venues. We’re playing 8 or 9 shows so we expect it to be hectic. We’ve had a few people get in touch to say they’re excited to see us so that’s always a positive.”
French Wives – Already singed to cult Scottish Indie label Electric Honey, which launched Biffy Clyro, this Scottish five piece born in the incredible Glasgow music scene are set to release their hotly anticipated debut album in 2012. They’ve already graced many a festival stage and their lilting Scottish alternative melodies are one to keep on your radar for 2012.
What French Wives have to say about SXSW…
“I think the Scottish music scene is in great shape at the moment, you only have to look at the likes of Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad and Admiral Fallow to see success stories from the last 5 years, particularly relating to SXSW. It’s good that there’s such a strong group heading over this year too with Woodenbox, Tango in The Attic and Three Blind Wolves amongst others so we’re looking forward to sharing a stage with them. We can’t wait to get over there and feel really privileged to be able to go. It’s a great opportunity for British bands looking to establish themselves in America and we hope that we can take the first steps towards doing that with our trip. Failing that we’re just going to try and consume as much BBQ food and Margaritas as physically possible.”
Clock Opera – This eclectic four piece avant pop group come from the burgeoning music scene that is London and have been described as “Frenetic, bleep-ridden synth-rock.” They’ve been compared to Animal Collective and despite being currently unsigned, are championed by DJ Huw Stephens.
What Clock Opera have to say about SXSW…
“We live dotted about London and we work in our own bubble. Even more so now, people exist in their own computers, and if you form links with people then it’s likely to be through digital connections rather than geographical ones. We went to SXSW last year and it was amazing. Our first gig was about 8 hours after an overnight flight & we didn’t really stop for a week, apart from a few late night swings on the porch of our gracious hosts. We really should have porches over here. Going last year really helped us out a lot back in the UK – Huw Stephens saw us there, started to play us on the radio & it generally helped the word to spread further and wider. It’s not cheap, but my advice would be that if you can get there, do it.”
Spectrals – This 21 year old from Leeds has already had releases on labels such as Moshi Mosh, Wichita, and Captured Tracks. He’s about to go on tour with US indie giants Cults, where his pop tinged rock’n’roll Americana is going to go down a treat.
What Spectrals have to say about SXSW…
“Where I live there is not a lot of music going on, so I have always had to go somewhere else if there was a band I wanted to watch, I think this made me look forward to gigs more. Before I started doing Spectrals, I liked to go to The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, and The Deaf Institute in Manchester, so to play at places like that is ace. SXSW is a thing that people put a lot of emphasis on, in terms of making a name for yourself or putting the word of your band about, but even if you took all that away, getting loads of newer bands playing together in one place can only be a cool thing!”
Django Django – The East London quartet formed at University in Edinburgh. Drawing comparisons to the art rock style and influence of The Beta Band and Metronomy, this bedroom based band have been making waves since 2009. Their latest track “Default” is an addictive number described as “folk disco” and is set to catapult them to indie stardom in 2012.
Dry The River – The London based five piece were nominated for the BBC Sound of 2012 and have been snapped up by Sony. Drawing comparisons to UK folk icons Mumford and Sons, Dry The River are the UK’s version of alt-folk icons The Fleet Foxes.
All The Young – Hailing from Stoke, the four piece are looking to bring back good old fashioned rock’n’roll for 2012. Making the renowned XFM 12 for 2012 list, All The Young have been tipped for the top by The Smith’s very own Morrissey.
The Minutes – With an impressive heritage already under their belt, this three piece from Dublin have already toured with Albert Hammond Jr and Supergrass, showcasing their 50s rock’n’roll sound they pride themselves on.
Slow Club – Formed in 2006 from fragments of another band, this “sacharine folk-pop” duo from Sheffield are signed to indie giant Moshi Moshi, and have already had songs freatured on cult American show Gossip Girl.
We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Edinburgh boys have been picked up by Fat Cat records and championed by the likes of Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad. They’ve opened for Jimmy Eat World and have featured on American TV show One tree Hill, and with fast paced indie rock singalong anthems it’s easy to see why they’ve already making waves.
The Staves – These three sisters from Watford with incredible harmonies and lilting melodies, were picked up by Atlantic Records last year. They’ve sung backing vocals for Tom Jones and have a new EP out in 2012 which will no doubt cement their following in the indie-folk scene, after touring with Michael Kiwanuka, phew!
Future of the Left – These Welsh boys feature fragments of wonderboys McClusky, they’re unashamedly noisy indie rock, and have drawn comparisons to bands such as Slint and Half Man, Half Biscuit. They’re not for the faint of heart!