PREVIEW: SXSW - It's A Van Fest - God Is In The TV

Looking Back on Five Eras of SXSW

︎1987-1993 Thinking Big Almost 40 years ago, enterprising UT undergrad Roland Swenson approached Austin Chronicle co-founders Louis Black and Nick Barbaro with an idea to bring music industry professionals together in Texas’ capital city. With some input from local promoter Louis Jay Meyers (who became one of the venture’s first directors), the inaugural South by Southwest was held in March 1987. The gathering consisted of panels, workshops, spe…

Chinese Singer-Songwriter Tia Ray To Headline SXSW Festival

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival has announced Tia Ray as one of the headliners for its upcoming event this March 11 as part of International Nights at Rivian Park, Texas. As the only artist hailing from Mainland China in the lineup, she will close the show and deliver a grand finale performance alongside internationally renowned talents like British musician Sam Ryder and French electronic duo KAP BAMBINO. Tia Ray stands out as one of the…

PREVIEW: SXSW - It's A Van Fest - God Is In The TV

There is so much more to Austin during SXSW than the official showcases. The unofficial and unaffiliated gigs have grown exponentially since the festival started in 1987. Arguably this gives an opportunity to get a more intimate experience in unusual and quirky venues. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and as the pandemic took hold casting a shadow over the world of live music David Castro faced the challenge head-on. His respo…