With a month until SXSW begins and tens of thousands of visitors make their pilgrimage to Austin for the city’s most vital week and a half, buzz is starting to heat up around announcements of shows unofficial and official. Although you can be sure that SXSW is within days of unveiling all the official announcements of showcases and times for bands, a shroud of mystery surrounds most details for the time being. A few details about some showcases have leaked out, and so, today, we bring you the top five official SXSW shows so far. In no particular order, they are:
5. FILTER Magazine’s Block Party on Rainey Street
This event took place last year and is slated to return in 2013. The event will dominate several bars in the Rainey Street district as well as Cedar Street on 4th and span the four days of SXSW Music, March 13-16. Thursday looks to be especially enticing as we have evidence that Local Natives, Wild Belle, Surfer Blood, and Generationals will all be playing.
4. KCRW’s Day Stage Showcase at the Convention Center
This isn’t always a location that’s hot, but something surprising caught my eye; Devendra Banhart will play a set during the day on Wednesday March 13. Banhart has a new album out soon on Nonesuch, and it has been a good while since Austin has seen the likes of him. I’m surprised we haven’t heard more buzz about this or seen his name come up in more posts regarding the 2013 festival. Below is a stream of “Never Seen Such Good Things” from Banhart’s new album.
3. The Daptone Records Super Soul Revue – Showcase Evening of March 14th
Daptone has stalwartly fostered modern day soul with increasing popularity over the past few years. This isn’t just a novelty. Two years ago, Sharon Jones’ show at Stubb’s was hands down one of the best performance I saw at the festival all year. Likewise, Charles Bradley’s performances always garner wide praise from fans and critics alike. This will be a good one.
Doesn’t the title say it all? Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be performing one single solitary show (or so they say) at SXSW 2013, and this is it. And it’s with Nick Cave. Don’t feel too bad if you can’t make it, because this official showcase is going to be televised live! SXSW has really been taking to the next level with their on-air performances. Last year, NPR broadcast excellent sets from Magnetic Fields and Lower Dens over the radio, and this year they’ll one-up themselves. Below you can watch a super weird trailer from Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ new album Mosquito, which drops on April 16th.
1. The Warner Sound Official Showcase featuring Flaming Lips and Surfer Blood – Evening of March 14th
The Flaming Lips are the best live show in music. And they will play. At the Belmont. On March 14th. I know where I will be. They’ll also be supported by indie rock outfit Surfer Blood and electronic indie pop group Atlas Genius. That Belmont stage seems a little tight for a Lips show, and we’re hoping desperately that they don’t scale back the full spectacle one bit.
