More about: WeezerSouth By South West (SXSW)

With 2011 artists performing of which 565 are international from 62 countries outside of North America it is perhaps unfathomable to some how this event takes place as a continuing growing success each year.

To really get the picture, one must visit the main drags and sultry side streets of downtown Austin, not a super huge place in itself, to understand the true attraction of this event. Forget the tedious debate about too few or too many corporate brands at South By - put all that one side - walk those streets and attend the day events and keg parties. Meet travellers from far and wide with the common bond of liking all music from all places. Eat tacos and buy a “Bigger in Texas" teeshirt - and if you are really serious then attend the official showcases intended for the multitude of worldwide industry bods who travel from all areas of the business and fly in to see that hotly-tipped band, or meet that certain executive, and to nail that deal. Then you start to get not only the magnitude, but also why it works. It is all things to all people. Yes it is at times a corporate hell hole - something the festival is trying to change this year - but mainly it is a divergence of people and cultures. A massive street festival that rises above and beyond its originally intended purpose. And indeed every performing artist is excellent.

Gigwise has with a fine tooth comb worked through the banks of talent on offer and between us have come up with 12 selections from across the board we think might just go on to do even greater things..

Desert Mountain Tribe

Hotly-tipped by Austin KGSR tastemaker Chris Mosser, and with the likes of producer Youth doing a new mix of current single 'Enos in Space', DMT is a band that over the last year or so has been stealthily taking no prisoners as it troops the dimly lit circuits of UK, Europe and indeed north America. Psych rock has become a bit of misnomer for the band as it is clear there is so much more to them. And Gigwise understands this it’s a tag the band is trying to free itself from. Alt-rock or psych rock? Whatever the case, when you see them you immediately know where the future of stadium rock is, and that is for sure.

Alex Cameron

Snake-like champion of the underling, the loser and the low-life this Aussie music man will slide into Austin to deliver his vivid electronic tales of the downtrodden and the downright ugly. Recent album Jumping the Shark is something quite special. And Gigwise is optimistic that Cameron’s stage show in Austin will be too.

The Black Angels

Austin locals and legendary overlords of the current ‘psychedelic rock’ scene, not to mention lynchpin act of the original Austin Psych Festival, will congregate in their own spiritual back yard. In recent years, the band has moved away from their formative Velvet Underground influence and developed a more straight to the floor garage mentality. No less, the band remains sonically majestic and for sure something to look forward to this year.

Catholic Action

Glasgow based, pop-rock, school of art, all round do-gooders it seems do not stop to impress all-comers. Led by musical all-rounder, engineer/producer and primary Glasgow DIY scenester Chris McCrory, and with new releases scheduled curious eyes will be out to check out an act whose fast rising reputation does some what precede them.

Sorne

Currently working on a graphic novel with actor, poet and musician Saul Williams, and a new series of albums and recently finished a European tour with CocoRosie, Morgan Sorne is ever the interesting proposition in Austin. Second showing in three years at the event, the LA multi-disciplinarian is for sure worth another look.

Weezer

The enigmatic LA band recently received much heaped critical praise for harking back to their original sound with 2014's Everything Will Be Alright in the End, and this year's White Album. The band has always balanced on a fine knife-edge between masterful purveyors of art rock and cavorting goofball clowns. None the less, an up close SxSW show is a must see.

Saint Leonard’s Horses

After a spell away from London engaged in some soul searching in South America and West Hollywood, solo artist Kieran Leonard has re-emerged, and reimagined as altogether bigger beast, or in this case beasts. Saint Leonard's Horses is a far more unique set up, and the new album ‘Good Luck Everybody’ is a standout - as in depth as it is original!

Vic Jun and The Philharmonik

One of the young producers responsible for the new Sacramento sound, Vic Jun by all accounts presents the next level of bass and chill. Fully loaded with sunshine soaked dreamscapes, EDM production has never sounded so vibed. Californian urban comes home.

Whethan

A so-called “Child Prodigy”, Whethan currently has a handful of originals and remixes that have undisputedly topped the Hype Machine charts and profited millions of plays across the board on Spotify, Youtube or Soundcloud. An incredible electronic artist whi at such a young age still has so much more to bring.

Womps

Another great sound born out of the current and very classy DIY scene in Glasgow. Recent releases were recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago as well as tracks recorded by Glasgow based producer Chris Marshall. The band have already toured Europe, UK and the east coast of the US including performances at SXSW, CMJ, London Calling, Radio One’s Big Weekend festivals. Imagine Slaves with a Killing Joke sensibility and the songwriting charisma of the Cure.

Daddy Long Legs

It's all too easy to write off the blues as a passe musical genre - not least thanks to the tedious plankspankers and technicians clogging up the pubs and bars the world over - but Daddy Long Legs are no ordinary proposition. Hailing from New York City, the trio have been leaving a trail of devastated venues in their wake on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to explosive live shows that fuse a testifying drive with a punk rock fury. As evidenced by their two albums - Evil Eye On You and Blood From A Stone - Daddy Long Legs are dragging the blues into the 21st century. Miss 'em at your peril.

Thee MVPs

Swan-diving into rock’n’roll’s primordial swamp and emerging gasping and spitting out slimy ooze, London’s thoroughly demented and utterly brilliant garage rockers Thee MVPs are set to blow through SXSW with all the gusto of a Viking raiding party. Blasting out shards of fuzzed-up noise and snot-nosed attitude, the quartet brings much needed levels of overdriven excitement to a frequently moribund rock scene.

Issue Four of the Gigwise Print magazine is on pre-order now! Order here.

More about: WeezerSouth By South West (SXSW)