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Austin, Texas

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Austin Rallies To Support Local Businesses & Workers In Wake Of SXSW Cancellation

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Local businesses have organized a fundraiser and Austin Community Fund have created a call for support of those most severely impacted by the unprecedented cancellation of this year's festival and conference
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Mar 10, 2020 - 12:22 pm

News of SXSW being cancelled due global health crisis shook the music, tech and entertainment industries last week. Now, Austin's local businesses and officials are encouraging locals and supporters everywhere to pitch in to help those impacted by the cancellation.

A fundraising project called Banding Together ATX, spearheaded by The Red River Cultural District, which represents such local music venues as Cheer Up Charlies, Barracuda, Beerland, Empire, Elysium, Mohawk, Scratchhouse,  Stubb's, Swan Dive and The Venue ATX, aims to raise awareness and support for the "thousands of artists, hospitality and production workers, businesses and organizations that rely on that event to survive."

Banding Together ATX has a growing supporter list of Austin-based businesses and individuals, including promoters Heard Presents, Margin Walker, Austin-based software startup Prism.FM, all committed to sustaining the "Live Music Capitol Of The World" through this hardship.

"Our goal is to keep as many artists as possible coming to Austin. We also want to assist re-homing events that are losing their venues," the fundraising site states. "If your organization had to cancel an event due to health/travel/public relation concerns consider this your opportunity to still make something cool happen in Austin and want to help. We know you still believe in supporting the community in Austin and want to help. Know that this good will charitable donation goes towards the thousands of people here, performing, working, and trying to survive; as well as your corporate karma."

City officials have also made moves to provide aid. With "Stand With Austin," the Austin Community Fund establishes a centralized donation and resource center to support  According to the foundation's site, "This fund was created to receive charitable donations to support nonprofits assisting individuals and small businesses most negatively impacted by the cancellation of SXSW and least able to recover on their own."

These efforts to help everyone affected by the cancellation are a testiment to how Austin's music industry is so intimately intertwined with its service industry. With that in mind, Southern Smoke has created an Austin-specific fund specifically to provide assistance those in the food and beverage industry.

Originally scheduled to take place March 13-22, SXSW has been estimated by city officials to have had a $356 million economic impact on the city of Austin in 2019.

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Going Viral: The Music Industry Grapples With The Worldwide Coronavirus Outbreak

 

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Mark Bowen of Idles at Isle of Wight 2019

Photo: Rob Ball/WireImage

 
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More U.K. 2020 Festival Cancellations: Isle Of Wight, Download, All Points East, Lovebox & Parklife

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With the country on lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis, more major festivals are forced to shut down shop for the year
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Mar 27, 2020 - 5:29 pm

A difficult week for the live music world wraps up with a slew of festival cancellations in the United Kingdom. Newport's Isle of Wight, Manchester’s Parklife, London’s All Points East and Lovebox, and Donington Park's Download all have cancelled their 2020 festivals due to the coronavirus crisis.

These five fests join Glastonbury and the Great Escape, which both had already canceled for 2020 as British officials placed strict limits on public gatherings and the country goes on lockdown.

All Points East Festival, which was set to be held over two weekends in late May with headliners including Tame Impala and Massive Attack, released a statement that said: “Alongside the now enforced period of social isolation, the government has stated that emergency services will not be able to support major events. Furthermore, the projected strain that is being placed on the NHS will push this institution and its staff to levels never seen before. It is therefore inconceivable for us to add any distraction to these organisations.”

As Britain's premiere rock and metal fest, Download Festival was scheduled for June 12-14 at Donington Park with KISS, System Of A Down, Iron Maiden as headliners. Parklife was set for June 13 and 14 in Manchester's Heaton Park and Lovebox was set for June 12-14, both with headliners including Tyler, The Creator, Khalid and Robyn. All of these festivals have shut down shop for 2020.

Isle of Wight 2020, which was slated for June 11-14 with headliners such as Duran Duran, Lionel Ritchie and Snow Patrol, also had to cancel this year's festival.

“This decision hasn't been taken lightly and we have tried our hardest to make it work, but it was unavoidable given the current status,” organizers said in a statement. “The safety of our audience, artists, crew and the Isle of Wight community is paramount and we appreciate your patience whilst we’ve been working through this unprecedented situation.”

Sharing the sentiment of many canncelled festivals this year, Isle of Wight's statement promises to “back stronger than ever in 2021.”

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Governors Ball 2020 Cancelled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

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Betty Who

Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

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SXSW Announces First-Ever Pride Showcase: Betty Who, Capyac, Madame Gandhi & More to Perform

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The showcase with #OUTLOUD will take place on March 17 at the Mohawk in Austin
Onaje McDowelle
GRAMMYs
Feb 27, 2020 - 5:23 pm

As showcase and panel lineups rollout and excitement mounts ahead of the annual South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive festivals in Austin, Texas, the announcement of this year’s #OUTLOUD showcase marks the fest’s first-ever official showcase dedicated to Queer and LGBTQIA+ artists.

Plus, the event will be hosted by former “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” competitor, Morgan McMichaels.

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According to the announcement, #OUTLOUD is set to take place on March 17 at the Mohawk in Austin, seeing performances from artists like Betty Who, Madame Gandhi, Capyac and La Dona across an indoor and outdoor stage from 7 p.m. through 2 a.m. Additional performers, established and up-and-coming alike, Cobra, Flavia, SWSH, Bang Bang Romeo, PineappleCiti, Ariel View, Ryan Cassata and more will round out sets on the night. 

Brought together in collaboration between SXSW and live event and entertainment firm JJ | LA, #OUTLOUD’s community pride partnerships include Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin and Phoenix.

"We are proud to partner with SXSW and provide a stage to help raise these creative voices even higher… #OUTLOUD and its community partners are focused on promoting love, acceptance, inclusiveness, identity and support by bringing all people together in this colorful celebration of community,” said JJ | LA CEO Jeff Conseletti in a statement discussing the event.

The sprawling film, music and interactive media festival is set to take place in Austin on March 13 – 22. For more information on festival admission and badges, programming and more, visit SXSW here.

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Edie Brickell 010919

Edie Brickell

Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images

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SXSW 2019 Adds Third Wave Of Artists, Including Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Yung Lean, Priests & More

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The 33rd annual event, which also announced Molly Burch, Bush Tetras, Angie McMahon and more artists, will take place Mar. 11 through Mar. 17 in downtown Austin, Texas
Rachel Brodsky
GRAMMYs
Jan 9, 2019 - 12:56 pm

On Jan. 9, the SXSW Music Festival added a third wave of showcasing artists, including Angie McMahon, Bush Tetras, Charlotte OC, Austin's very own Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, and more. Now on its 33rd year, the Austin, Texas fest will run from March 11–17, 2019. Brickell famously won the Best American Roots Song GRAMMY in 2013 for "Love Has Come For You."

Additional just-announced names include: Yung Lean, Priests, Georgia, Hilary Woods, J.S. Ondara, Jvcki Wai, Kamaal Williams, Kevin George, KOKOKO!, Molly Burch, My Brightest Diamond, and plenty more. Check out SXSW's website for a full rundown. 

2019 Music Festival Preview

SXSW also announced a series of first-time showcase lineups from Spacebomb Records, YEAR0001, Playtime Festival Mongolia, Don't Come to LA, She Shreds, Verve Label Group, and Mahogany, as well as returning showcases from Communion, Gorilla vs. Bear + Luminelle and BBC.

SXSW will also be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bloodshot Records and hosting a tenth-year anniversary showcase for Sounds from Columbia. Lineup details and venue locations will be released in the coming weeks along with additional artists and showcases.

The beloved Austin music fest announced its second wave of artists, including Mr. Eazi, Jerry Paper and Nadine Shahon on Nov. 28. 

Starting on Jan. 17, a weekly compilation of artists will be added to the SXSW schedule each Thursday. Check SXSW's website for more, including hotel and ticketing information.

SXSW Announces First Wave Of Artists For Music Festival In Spring 2019

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Keith Urban, K-Pop, Women In Music: Go Behind The Scenes At SXSW 2018

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Check out our daily SXSW Recording Academy updates from on the ground in Austin, Texas
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2018 - 4:38 pm

Monday, March 19

  • What's SXSW all about for the artists who perform at the festival? We're glad you asked because that's exactly the question we posed to 11 artists at this year's festival. From Dorothy to Brandy Clark and Grupo Fantasma, find out what they had to say.
     
  • Post-SXSW syndrome getting you down? From Keith Urban and T.I.'s standout sets to Rubén Blades' documentary and much more, we've rounded up seven of the festival's top moments.

Sunday, March 18

  • "I do it so women can know anything a man can do, we can do just as well, if not 10 times better," said GRAMMY-nominated rapper Rapsody during SXSW. From standout showcases to thought-provoking panels, and spanning artists from Rapsody to Pussy Riot, we rounded up five ways how the Austin, Texas, festival put women in music front and center.
     
  • There was a ton of amazing music filling Austin this weekend at SXSW. From innovative electronic pop sounds to soulful blues and one-of-a-kind voices, we rouned up 7 on-the-rise artists we heard at SXSW who you should keep on your radar. 
     
  • When you need a little vintage charm, take a stroll through Austin, Texas' South Congress neighborhood, "old downtown." Nestled just south of Lady Bird Lake, the area boasts boutiques, eateries, galleries, and music venues that will take you back in time. We captured South Congress in action during SXSW 2018, giving you just a taste of the best Austin has to offer.

    Austin's South Congress Boasts Vintage Charm

Saturday, March 17

  • It's "a lot different" according to some natives. Get a taste of what makes Rainey Street a consistent top attraction in Austin, Texas, not only at SXSW but year-round.

    Austin's Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street

  • There was a fresh breeze of kindness at SXSW this year, and four-piece female band the Mrs was a big reason why. We had a front-row seat for the group's Kindnesspalooza Music Fest and learned how drummer Andra Liemandt and her bandmates are all about playing music, being kind and giving back to the world.
     
  • Millions of viewers tune into singing competition shows such as "The Voice, "America's Got Talent" and "American Idol." But what is life really like after the cameras turn off and the show moves on to the next season, especially if a contestant doesn't win? We got a little insight thanks to the panel Now What? Life After Reality TV Singing Shows, featuring former singing compeition contestants Blake Lewis, Cas Haley and Nakia. 

    About to kick off our What Now? SXSW Panel. #lifeaftertv #sxsw #sxsw2018

    A post shared by BLAKE LEWIS (@blakelewis) on

Friday, March 16

  • Talk about an amazing conversation! Go inside Keith Urban's SXSW keynote discussion during which the GRAMMY winner touched upon his musical upbringing, sobriety to his new album, Graffiti U.

     

  • At SXSW 2018, 6th Street once again shines as the "classic" epicenter of the city's incomparable live music offerings, coming alive with street performances, makeshift stages, packed venues, bustling bars, and music of all genres. Get a closer look at what makes 6th Street a destination for musicians and music fans alike.

Austin's 6th Street Comes Alive At SXSW

Thursday, March 15

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