Shore Fire at SXSW

The schedules, dates, gigs, panels et al are coming in for SXSW, and so here's what we've got:

If you're covering SXSW, check out these amazing Shore Fire acts, presenters and speakers. From international stars to local faves, there's a broad range of events from Shore Fire clients.


Ongoing at SXSW

SXSW favorites Martin and Jude Folkman of the Music Resource Group will return to the conference. The Music Resource Group produces the Independent Music Awards (IMA's) and publishes the Musician's Atlas, the most comprehensive and qualified networking directory for independent musicians and music business entrepreneurs. Be sure to stop by to taste their popular "cure for the music business" (Booth F-11, Austin Convention Center).


Wednesday, March 14

TuneCore, the new music delivery and distribution service, is changing the rules and model of the music business with its revolutionary low, flat fee service which does not take rights or revenue from the sale of the music. Here founder and CEO Jeff Price, also the President of SpinArt Records will speak on how independent musicians can use the growing number of web resources to jumpstart their careers as part of the "Working the Web: Resources for Musicians" panel (Austin Convention Center, 3pm). Late that night, TuneCore will join Gothamist.com, Austinist.com and GorillavsBear.net in sponsoring a showcase at the Mohawk, featuring TuneCore's own Loxsly as well as Architecture in Helsinki, Peter and the Wolf, Apes and Androids (Mohawk, 8pm)

Joe Boyd will appear with Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Buck (Convention Center Day Stage, 4pm).

The Cliks, Tommy Boy Entertainment's newest signing for their Silver Label, will bring their volatile, high energy rock to SXSW. Their US debut, 'Snakehouse' comes out April 24 (Brush Square Park, 4:20 pm).

The "sprawling orchestral art rock" (The New Yorker) of Future Clouds & Radar is the latest creation of Robert Harrison, best known as the leader of Austin cult-garage-heroes Cotton Mather. "Magnificent double disc debut," testifies Paste Magazine. "Flaming Lips / 13th Floor Elevators / ELO-inspired psychedelic pop gems. Move over, Robert Pollard." Look for it April 24 on The Star Apple Kingdom label. (Light Bar, 8pm)

Ruthie Foster performs at The Americana Music Association showcase. This Texas native with a powerhouse voice that swings from Aretha Franklin to Janis Joplin "will convert those hungry for some real, hot soul" (Los Angeles Times). Foster's new album 'The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster' gave her her first Billboard chart appearance and critics deemed it phenomenal indeed (The Parish, 11pm).


Thursday, March 15

Future Clouds & Radar (see above for description) will be performing at Headhunters at 1:30pm and opening for Alejandro Escovedo at Austin Music Hall (time tbd).

The Dallas Morning News proclaims Keite Young to be one of the "promising leaders of the new-school soul movement." On his debut album 'The Rise and Fall of Keite Young' (Hidden Beach), the singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist channels the musical passion and adventure of Al Green, Muddy Waters, Sly Stone and the Beatles to artfully create his own singular, dynamic space. He joins Mr. Blake's ("Smooth") SXSW Soul Showcase (Club One 15, 11pm).

Musician and activist Tom Morello's stark new album as The Nightwatchman, 'One Man Revolution,' (April 24, Epic Records) is a dark, urgent portrait of a world in turmoil, 13 songs of "bitterness and revenge." Morello, the Grammy Award-winning guitarist of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, compares war zones in the US and Iraq, proclaims that Jesus was black and pinpoints the sociopolitical struggles of the American leftist underground in the series of self-penned originals, singing and playing acoustic guitar for the first time on record (Hotel Café showcase, The Parish, 12:30 am).

Shangri-Las leader Mary Weiss' groundbreaking, defiant image -- at once tough and vulnerable -- would influence everyone from Deborah Harry to The Donnas, and go on to become one of the 1960s most elusive icons. After a 40-year absence she is back with her solo debut, 'Dangerous Game' (Norton Records). She'll make a rare appearance at the Norton Records showcase (Red Seven, 12:45 am).


Friday, March 16

Joe Boyd, whose short list of credits include stage-managing Dylan at Newport, producing Pink Floyd's first single and installing them in his UFO Club (the heart of psychedelic London in 1967), discovering/producing Nick Drake and arranging the brief but intense marriage between pop music and British folk by way of Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band, is that rare producer/avatar who commands an artist's loyalty. He will read and talk about his memoir, White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s. The book is a best-seller in the UK and will be released in the US in April (Convention Center Theater, 1:45pm).

Tom Morello will take part in a panel discussion with Britt Daniel (Spoon), Matt Hales (Aqualung), Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Corey Rusk (Touch & Go Records), Lynn Barstow (KROX) and Karen Glauber (HITS Magazine). This lively, informative panel will train the light on some of the music world's most innovative artists, label owners and radio programmers, and how they've reinvented their careers to succeed in this brave new world (Austin Convention Center, Room 12, 2pm).

In addition to her television and film projects, Nellie McKay has been active in get out the vote efforts, the campaign to close Columbia University's primate laboratories and the attempt to ban carriage horses throughout the country. She recently won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum in the Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera and her recently released second album, 'Pretty Little Head,' has been praised for its "panoramic vision" (Los Angeles Times) and "dazzling range" (Entertainment Weekly). (7:45 pm, Exodus)

Take the distorted cry of a 1940s lap steel guitar paired with the hauntingly sweet voice and lyrics of Megan Hickey, and a revolving cast of crack backing musicians and you get The Last Town Chorus. The Brooklyn-based collective will perform songs off their new album 'Wire Waltz' (HackTone Records) (Parish II, 8pm).

SoundExchange the first digital performance rights organization designated by the U.S. government to collect royalties on behalf of recording artists and record labels, co-hosts a showcase with Paste Magazine at the Austin Music Hall Ballroom with performances by Danny Flowers, Brandi Carlile, Pigeon John, moe, and The Polyphonic Spree (Austin Convention Center, 8pm-2am). SoundExchange also throws a cocktail reception from 7-8pm at the Waller Creek Terrace Room in the Austin Convention Center (Waller Creek Terrace Room, 7pm).

The prolific singer/songwriter Emerson Hart will preview songs from his sublime solo debut 'Cigarettes and Gasoline' (due out June 19 on Manhattan Records) during the Back Porch Records SXSW Showcase (Cedar Street Courtyard, 11:30pm).

The Woggles signed to Little Steven Van Zandt' Wicked Cool Records label in November, 2006 and their Wicked Cool debut, 'Rock And Roll Backlash' is due out soon. A staple of the nationally syndicated radio show Little Steven's Underground Garage, The Woggles combine a splash of surf, a pinch of rhythm and blues, a few fistfuls of soul, a whole lotta 60's-inspired rock n' roll (Habana Calle 6, 1am).


Saturday, March 17

Joe Boyd - see above for description, A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake panel discussion (Convention Center Theater, 11am).

eMusic, the world's largest retailer of independent music, will be at SXSW with editor-in-chief Michael Azerrad taking part in the "Covering Music in New Media" panel, which also includes Shore Fire's own Nick Baily, on Saturday from Noon to 1:15pm, while VP of label relations Rob Wetstone will join the "Selling Music Digitally" panel, also on Saturday from 1:30 to 2:45pm. (Austin Convention Center).

Future Clouds & Radar - see above for description (Café Mundi, 3pm).

The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello) - see above for description (Central Presbyterian Church, 10pm).

The Cliks - see above for description, NXNE showcase (Momo's, 10:30 pm).

The Tragically Hip, one of Canada's most acclaimed rock bands for over two decades, are experiencing a renaissance with the phenomenal success of their outstanding new CD 'World Container' (out March 6 on Universal Fontana in the US). 'World Container' has generated an explosion of press acclaim, album sales and sold-out arena shows for its new direction and sound. The band is coming to SXSW during its already sold-out US headlining tour, which kicks off March 8 (Antone's, 12:45am).