A record 55 Australian acts have confirmed contracts to play at the mammoth South by Southwest 2014 in Austin, Texas. According to the festival’s Australian representative Phil Tripp, the record number represents the “most Australian artists in the US at any one time in history.”
Among the confirmed acts is Sydney’s indie kings Boy And Bear, moody Melburnians Oh Mercy, Flume side project What So Not, Touch Sensitive, Melburnian songstress Gossling, dirty rockers The Delta Riggs and Vance Joy.
“We have so many bands because Australian music is performance-based live at the crash barriers, not cloned in auto-tune studio cubicles,” said Trip. “SXSW has been the catalyst for this Australian invasion of talent for over a decade of momentum and we’re ready to explode in 2014.”
The record number could rise to 61 soon, with six Aussie acts from a field of 80 still to be confirmed. The number of Australian delegates at this year’s event is expected to exceed 750, almost 100 more than last year’s count.
Trip says Australia has come a long way since 2002, when our SXSW contingent was comprised of just five bands and 20 delegates. “Despite recessions, currency fluctuations and rising travel costs, Australian have created their own music, film and interactive brands at SXSW,” he said.
The annual festival takes place in Austin, Texas between 11th and 16th March this year, so you better get those passports renewed asap. But first, check out the full list of SXSW compatriots below.
Australia Acts Confirmed For SXSW 2014
Angus and Julia Stone
Boy and Bear
Chela
Cooper
Dirty South
Dog Trumpet
Dub Fx
DUNE RAT
DZ Deathrays
Favored Nations
GANG OF YOUTHS
George Maple
Glass Towers
Gossling
High Highs
HIGH TENSION
Indian Summer
Jonti
Josef Salvat
Jungle Giants
Kid Mac
King Parrot
Kirin J Callinan
KLP
Lime Cordiale
Mia Dyson
Miami Horror
Money For Rope
Mt Warning
Oh Mercy
Owl Eyes
Panama
Peking Duk
People of Letters
REPTILES
RÜFÜS DU SOL
Seekae
Sheppard
Strange Talk
The Chevelles
The Creases
The Delta Riggs
The Griswolds
The Growl
The John Steel Singers
The Kite String Tangle
The Preatures
The Swiss
Thief
Touch Sensitive
Vance Joy
Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Wave Racer
Wax Motif
What So Not
