Our annual pilgrimage to Austin for the SXSW Music Conference is always an exciting adventure for us and this year we have a few of our favorite bands in tow for our showcases – a few longtime favorites and fresh up and comers!
Below is our lineup!
Join us if you will be in Austin and stay tuned for special programming from the fest, including live performances from the bands below!
(Check out our Spotify Sampler at the bottom)
KCRW Showcases at SXSW
Wednesday, March 12 – DAY
2-5pm – Convention Center (Radio Day Stage)
Moses Sumney ** The Preatures** Tennis
Wednesday, March 12 – NIGHT
8pm-2am – Haven
Future Islands * Sam Smith * Bear Hands
Jamestown Revival * KINS * Glass Animals
**These are official showcases open to anyone with a festival badge or wristband.**
On Wed, March 12, KCRW takes over the Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center, which has some of the best sound in the city, from 2-5pm.
MOSES SUMNEY
Moses Sumney is a stunning singer who will stop you in your tracks. When I first heard him perform live, Jeff Buckley came to mind immediately. The way he controls his voice – and the emotion it conveys – is something to behold and we’re thrilled to present this LA artist – a UCLA grad in fact! – in Austin.
THE PREATURES
The Preatures are set to be the next pop band to break out of Australia, a land of MANY great pop bands!
The Sydney-based group has a killer single (hear below) and two fantastic vocalists — Isabella Manfredi, who you can’t take your eyes off of in live shows, and Gideon Benson, who slays on guitar. They are tight and ready to take over!
TENNIS
Husband-wife duo Tennis recently spent some time in the studio with The Black Keys’ drummer Patrick Carney, who produced their last full length, and are hitting the road with Haim this Spring.
Their sweet pop, with a dash of R&B, is a KCRW and they treated us to live versions of their new songs on their recent visit to our studios!
On Wednesday night, we return to Haven for a night of KCRW favorites, including the SXSW debut of Baltimore trio Future Islands.
FUTURE ISLANDS
Future Islands‘ new album, forthcoming on lauded label 4AD, is called “Singles” and they are holding nothing back.
Singer Samuel T Herring has a truly unique, raw approach (his influences are Danzig AND 70’s soul singers) and commands any stage he stands on. Theatrical yet completely sincere, he lets loose on topics like love and loss. If the first single is any indication, we’re in for something great.
(The band also played “One Day”, a worldwide radio premiere during their recent visit to the station!)
SAM SMITH
UK singer Sam Smith made a splash as a guest on Disclosure’s debut and will showcase songs from his own highly anticipated solo effort at SXSW. He’s already huge in his native country and this appearance is part of his inevitable U.S. invasion!
Sam won BOTH the 2014 BRIT Critics’ Choice Award but also the BBC’s Sound of 2014 – the first and only male to win both awards.
KCRW DJ Anne Litt even goes so far to compare him to Adele in his honesty and intensity.
JAMESTOWN REVIVAL
The LA public radio station’s hometown is represented by Jamestown Revival, an incredible live band bursting with energy and the undeniably catchy single “California (Cast Iron Soul)”. The band – fronted by two friends who grew up together in Texas before relocating to the West Coast — released their debut full length “Utah” last week.
Stream this excellent live version of “Golden Age” recorded on Morning Becomes Eclectic! (Download no longer available)
BEAR HANDS
Brooklyn quartet Bear Hands’ new album “Distraction” features some supremely poppy moments, coupled with a good dose of punk and riveting rock. A press release calls the 11 songs “perfectly twisted pop nuggets” which is a great description. Full of hooks and a few surprise punches. They’re also playing Coachella!
KINS
Brighton (via Melbourne) trio KINS bring their wistful guitar pop sounds to the streets of Austin. We’ve been pretty partial to “Mockasin’s” but they’ve given us an unreleased track called “‘Untitled #1” to debut!
GLASS ANIMALS
Young British lads in Glass Animals, with the guidance of super producer Paul Epworth (Adele/Foster the People), have crafted a series of dreamy, synthy, surreal songs that are worthy of attention. They’re debut is due in late Spring and they recently released the sultry track “Gooey”. Can’t wait to hear more.
RR