Warm Your Winter Blues With Thoughts of SXSW

Image: sxsw.com

With northern U.S. temperatures dropping to record-low numbers, I know that my thoughts are drifting towards warmer climates. I’ve been daydreaming of Austin, Texas, specifically, a city that will soon play host to one of the largest festivals in the country. South By Southwest (SXSW) was founded in 1987, and has grown in popularity and range of offerings each year since, becoming one of the most beloved of the annual music festivals.

"SXSW’s original goal was to create an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas,” explain the event’s founders. “That continues to be the goal today whether it is music, film, or interactive technologies,” the other components to this massive gathering. Austin has long lived in the literal center of the east and west coast music scenes, and has acted as the perfect meeting place for bands, musicians, artists, filmmakers, and technology innovators from around the world.

Say the SXSW organizers, “The classic problem facing Austin musicians was being isolated from the rest of the world here in the middle of Texas. SXSW was a way to reach out to the rest of the world, and bring them here to do business.” Even back in 1987, when Austin hadn’t yet gained its popularity among both seasoned artists and musical up-and-comers, it became a place that was universally embraced, with an immediate global response. From “cosmic cowboy” to punk, to blues, and experimental, Austin’s is known for embracing all kinds of musical creativity, an attitude that out-of-towners adopt when flocking to the area for SXSW.

Yet another layer of new musical acts has been announced recently, adding to the initial lineup that was revealed in November. Some of the newly released lineup includes: Action Bronson, Charli XCX, Dum Dum Girls, Ryan Hemsworth, Small Black, King Louie, Big Freedia, Twin Shadow, and hundreds more.

For more information about SXSW and the massive lineup of shows and events, visit the official festival website.