SXSW Music Announces Interviews and Panels for 2007 Conference

Press release
Source: SXSW

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, scheduled to take place March 14 - 18, 2007 in Austin, Texas, is pleased to announce interviews with Gilberto Gil, Emmylou Harris, David Byrne, Terry McBride, Ricki Lee Jones, Booker T and Joe Boyd. These sessions join the previously announced keynote by Pete Townshend.

SXSW Interview: Gilberto Gil. Mr. Gil was born in Bahia, Brazil in 1942. In the 1960s, with fellow musician Caetano Veloso, he led the musical and political movement Tropicalia, Brazil's most significant cultural movement since bossa nova. Gil was exiled to England in 1969 by Brazil's military dictatorship and there he absorbed diverse elements of international pop culture which he translated to his own music. He has recorded 52 albums, including a tribute to Bob Marley titled Kaya na Gandaya which was released in 2002. For the last four years, Gil has served as Brazil's Minister of Culture. "Once I was the stone-thrower," he says, referring to his opposition to the dictatorship whose power came to an end in 1980s, "now I am the glass." Gil's new album Gil Luminoso will be released in the US in March, 2007, in conjunction with a US tour.

SXSW Interview: Emmylou Harris. Ms. Harris' voice and performances are always memorable, from the incomparable harmonies on Gram Parsons' albums through her notable Warners records of the 70s and 80s to her recent genre-defying records such as Wrecking Ball and Stumble Into Grace. Her most recent collaboration with Mark Knopfler, All The Roadrunning garnered a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album. Rhino will release a five-disc box of rarities, "Songbird," in Spring of 2007. The SXSW Interview will include special acoustic performances and recollections from a singular life in music.

SXSW Interview: David Byrne. Mr. Byrne returns to SXSW in 2007 with a special presentation. "Record Labels: Who Needs Them?" examines the current state of affairs among purveyors of recorded music. From his unique perspective as artist, label owner and musical enthusiast, Byrne will discuss the options available to artists in an age where retail and radio infrastructure is shrinking, and digital technology has changed how music is recorded, distributed and promoted. Mr. Byrne's manager, David Whitehead, will also speak and facilitate the session.

SXSW Interview: Terry McBride, CEO/Co-Founder of Nettwerk. Mr. McBride's unique approach to the music business in the digital age has garnered much attention recently. McBride has guided the careers of artists like Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies and Avril Lavigne. McBride and Nettwerk are innovators tailoring distinctive campaigns incorporating digital and traditional approaches.

SXSW Interview: Ricki Lee Jones. Ms. Jones is among the most acclaimed and talented singer-songwriters of her generation. From her stunning debut in 1979 through her current recordings and concerts, she has created music with a wide range of influences and her singular voice. In advance of her first album for New West Records, Ms Jones will sit down for an interview to discuss her work.

SXSW Interview: Booker T. Booker is perhaps best known for the million-selling instrumental, "Green Onions," recorded by Booker T and the MGs. He has recorded with a who's who of artists, including Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Barbara Streisand. He produced Willie Nelson's Stardust. He's performed with Neil Young, Eric Clapton and George Harrison. Booker will be recording this fall and winter for the first time since 1994, with tours to follow.

SXSW Interview: Joe Boyd. Mr. Boyd's life in music includes a remarkable number of "right place at the right time" moments. Boyd founded Hannibal Records, bringing the Fairport Convention, Maria Muldaur, Nick Drake, and Richard and Linda Thompson to audiences worldwide. Boyd's new book White Bicycles - Making Music in the 1960s recounts his journey.

The informative panels supply music professionals up-to-date information on industry happenings. Panel titles for this 21st anniversary of SXSW include China's Emerging Music Market, Idiots Unite! Reconstructing the Music Biz, Rock and Roll Is For Kids, and Breaking AAA Careers in a Multi-Platform Environment. The panels, interviews, demo listening sessions and Crash Courses along with the expansive trade show exhibition take place at the Austin Convention Center.

Daytime events flow into the world-renowned music festival, which showcases over 1000 acts on stages throughout downtown Austin. Highlights of artists scheduled to perform this year include The Stooges, Interpol, Lily Allen, Bloc Party, Devin the Dude, Hoodoo Gurus, Matt & Kim, Ghostland Observatory, the Watson Twins, Stax 50th Anniversary Soul Review, Ozomatli, Turbonegro, and Cold War Kids.

For more information on SXSW or to register for the conference, please access the website at www.sxsw.com or e-mail sxsw@sxsw.com.

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