South by Southwest 2013

Posted by on March 9, 2013

Next week, Fresh New Tracks will take on South By Southwest, the self-proclaimed “premier destination for all discovery” that sets the trends of music for the next year to come. SXSW is a film, music, and interactive festival that takes over the city of Austin for 10 outrageous straight days. The music festival is comprised of official and unofficial (usually free) shows, rooftop parties, party boats and buses and no to mention the most interesting collection of people you will ever see.

Allow us to give you a little taste of what went down last year…

Stayed tuned for Sev and Mimada’s Complete What-To-Do and How-To-Do-It guide after the break.

WHO TO SEE: 

Artists in high demand:
Baauer (fittingly), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, Flosstradamus, Disclosure, Toro y Moi, Shiny Toy Guns and Ryan Hemsworth. Also, check out this helpful infographic by Sonicbids with 13 emerging bands to see at SXSW (including FNT favorite G-Eazy).

Mimada’s must-see:

There are my favorites, like Wolfgang Gartner, Mord Fustang and anything that has to do with the Mad Decent and Fool’s Gold crew. Then there are the artists I have yet to experience live, like RL Grime, Alt-J, Carnage, Katie Got Bandz and Monsta. Also reallylooking forward to the deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin “Talk. Techno. Technology.” lecture. But I’m stepping out of my comfort zone here (seriously) and planning on just going with the flow for the most part. Not saying I’m trying to end up in some random warehouse in the wee hours of the morning with some bangin’ artists and a ridiculously rowdy crowd one night but I’m also not entirely opposed to the idea.

Sev’s must-see:

I felt like the only way I could make this festival count was by seeing as many artist I could see that I hadn’t already seen. Besides the big names that I just have to see like Knife Party, Alvin Risk, Zedd, Baauer, Pete Tong, Kill Paris etc., I’ll be looking forward to the smaller intimate shows. My concern isn’t going to be so much based on who’s playing, but what they are playing and how well the crowd is reacting with them.

PLACES TO BE:

So, if you’re not a badgeholder or don’t happen to know anyone that can get you on “the list,” your best bet is to RSVP for your life and plan on arriving pretty early to the shows you want to see the most. Here are a handful of our suggestions of where you might want to end up.

AM Only Showcase:
March 13-15, just about everyone will be playing at this one. Krewella, Zedd, Alvin Risk, 12th Planet, Baauer, Wolfgang Gartner, I could go on. Oh and this will be at La Zona Rosa, since the location isn’t noted.

Austin Party Weekend:
March 14-16, featuring the “Check Yo Ponytail Mad Decent Fool’s Gold Super Party” at Emo’s East

Blazer Tag: South by Spring Break Edition:
March 14, with very special guest Truth (yes, this is happening)

Electric Lounge:
March 14-16, featuring Datsik, Keys N Krates, Flume, and Viceroy

SPIN at Stubb’s:
March 15, with Kendrick Lamar, Trinidad Jame$ and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Good music AND delicious bbq? What more could you ask for…

Viceland:
March 12-16, with everyone from Snoop Lion and Major Lazer to Dada Life and Kendrick Lamar. This is a must!

Warpath Group SXSW Party:
March 15, featuring Crizzly, At Dawn We Rage, Lucky Date and Mantis

For the other thousand gatherings we forget to mention, see Live 105’s top 10 list (with updates) and RSVPster’s Free Parties to Watch. 

 

WORDS OF WISDOM:

1) Be on your Twitter game. Not only will you get the most up to date info about events and artists but there are accounts for free food, free shows, and anything awesome you might be missing at any given time.

2) RSVP to everything! Even if you don’t think you’ll go see a certain show it’s always good to have a fall back plan.

3) Take the following with you: cash, an extra phone battery or charger, chapstik, ear plugs, and a flask.

4) Wear comfortable shoes and your favorite FNT tank.

5) ENJOY IT! There will be so much to see, eat, drink, and Instagram that you couldn’t possibly go wrong (fingers crossed here). Ride it like a wave, man.

“It is near-impossible to describe the chaotic, cacophonic spirit of South By Southwest, the music business festival in Austin, Texas. Thousands of bands, singer-songwriters and hiphop crews dreaming of pop stardom … ply their wares for managers, record companies, agents, PRs, hustlers, journalists and fans, all searching for that something special, pop’s holy grail, the very future of music.”
The Daily Telegraph (UK), March 20, 2012

AND IF YOU ENDED UP JUST GOING HOME FOR SPRING BREAK:

Have no fear! You can follow the all the major SXSW updates on Twitter and partake in the live stream in addition to the SXSWfm blog here. We will also be posting lots of updates on our twitter as well, so keep posted.

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