Ray Benson’s birthday is March 16, and every year he celebrates it the Tuesday before the Music festival at SXSW starts, if that be the right date, or not. This year the 65 year party, a combination of a concert with prominent guests and a fundraiser for HAAM was celebrated at the GSD&M building in Austin. (Photo above: Ray Benson and Carolyn Wonderland)
Tony Visconti is the boy who grew up in Brooklyn, moved to England and become one of pop music’s most famous record producers. The list of artists he has produced or worked with is long and impressive: David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Paul McCartney, Angelique Kidjo, Elejandro Escovedo, The Moody Blues, Manic Street Preachers, Iggy Pop, Thin Lizzy and many others. This year he was the keynote speaker at SXSW.
Michelle Obama was the first keynote speaker for the Music festival at SXSW this year. Some days earlier, her husband President Barack Obama held the keynote for the Interactive festival. While he chose to speak about how entrepreneurs and the tech community should use technology to help expand democracy and fight climate change, the First Lady chose the occasion to talk about her program Let Girls Learn. On stage with her she had Queen Latifa, Sophia Bush, Missy Elliott and Diane Warren
SXSW is on, and the first part of the Film festival plus Interactive have started. This year, as earlier years, I attend Interactive and Music, so these are busy ten days with seminars during the day and clubs and concerts at night. Saturday consisted of an afternoon concert with my big favorite guitarist Redd Volkaert, a concert with another Austin favorite, Guy Forsyth, then the Peterson Brothers and closing it all with a perfect set from Chuck Prophet. Photo above: Guy Forsyth)
As I have written here every year for some years now, the Full Moon Barn Dance that happens on the Sunday after all the SXSW mayhem is over, is my best tradition in Austin. Leeann Atherton arranges it in her garden in South Austin, and all the good people from South Austin, plus a contingent from all over the USA and the world gather for a cool and friendly day with music, BBQ, drinks and just good companionship. Last year the weather was bitterly cold, this year it was perfect. (Photo above: Hanne Kolstoe and Leeann Atherton)
Saturday was a rainy day in Austin, and the Auditorium Shores concerts were cancelled due to the weather. For that reason, I changed my plans, deciding to stay inside at the Continental Club the whole night. Some of the bands there were already on my schedule, so it was an easy choice, instead of getting wet while walking between the clubs at 6th Street and Red River. (Photo above: Clara dancing with Ian Moore’s guitarist.)
Friday night during SXSW in Austin was a wet night. My original plan was to start with the Auditorium Shores outdoor concerts, then go to different showcases around town. But with the rain and generally unfriendly festival weather, I changed plans. So I started at the Auditorium Shores, than went to a special South Austin event instead of running around on 6th Street or Red River. (Picture above: Ryan Bingham)
Thursday night was a busy night at the SXSW. The free concerts at the Auditorium Shores started this day, and my schedule was packed up until well after midnight. The weather forecast didn’t look too good, but the rain kept away, so the Auditorium Shores had a lot of people, and the same with 6th Street and all the clubs. (Picture above: Charles Bradley)
Wednesday night during SXSW is the night for the Austin Music Awards. The readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted for their favorite artists, musicians, venues, and what have you. In earlier years it was held at the Austin Music Hall but moved two years ago to a ballroom at the Convention Center. The show was sold out, and this year it was better and tighter than earlier years, even if the old venue had better atmosphere. After the show, I ran up to the Continental Club to see the end of JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, plus the Waco Brothers. (Picture above, Charlie Sexton, Scrappy Jud Newcombe, Alejandro Escovedo during the Ian McLagan tribute)
Tuesday night was a real treat for us who like hand-played high quality music with good songs and even better playing. The main event for the evening at the Saxon Pub was Asleep At The Wheel. Milk Drive opened the show, and after the Wheels, Carolyn Wonderland played, before Insects vs Robots closed the night. (Picture above: Ray Benson from Asleep At The Wheel)
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