The Brits have landed in Houston, bringing their distinctive styles of Englishness and British indie/folk music where they will be performing and hobnobbing alongside numerous other global musicians, singer/songwriters, actors and more at SXSW®. And more than likely, stealing the show everywhere they perform. What Brits am I talking about specifically? None other than my favorites: Bobby Long, Lee MacDougall, and Flipron, who are all managed by Phil Taylor of Up At All Night Music.
The South by Southwest (SXSW®) Music and Media Conference is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year in Austin, Texas, and the lineup is more amazing than ever before. With 2,000 music acts, it is by far the biggest and most anticipated convergence of all things music. Everything is featured at SXSW®– musicians, movies, actors/actresses, posters for upcoming films, workshops, special events – everything. As one industry insider put it, “It's like Mardi Gras for film and music – people coming together for the same likes and dislikes and enjoying each other's company, great times.” SXSW® is one of the most revered music events each year – second only to Bonnaroo, which is held in Manchester, Tennessee.
This year, England’s Bobby Long, who performed at SXSW® last year, will take several stages again. For the first time, Flipron and Lee MacDougall, will descend upon stages and perform at SXSW®. With these supremely talented British musicians performing, this is sure to be one of the most intense, explosive and wonderful musical events of the year.
British singer-songwriter Lee MacDougall, who was born and raised in Grimsby, a small historical town on the east coast of England, famous for its fishing industry, honed his skills in open-mike nights in London and has steadily grown his fan base by opening for the likes of Starsailor, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. Lee says that his newest song called "Stay" is “probably the most haunting ballad that I've written so far and I think that it would be perfect for a movie.”Lee released an EP on iTunes during July 2010 and sold 2,000 copies in the first 2 weeks with no press or promo - purely through an online fan base. His new EP, “If Walls Could Talk,” features 11 of his best songs and is available on his U.S. Tour, along with a commemorative poster, which Lee is more than happy to sign. The CD includes the standout tracks "TheStar Hotel" and "Joanna," among others. Lee has been touring the U.S. beginning in New York. While on tour, he has tweeted that he is “totally confused by the American use of the word biscuit…Biscuits are hob nobs or digestives.” (In the U.K., scones resemble America’s biscuits).
Lee will play at the Hideaway on Dunvale tonight, Wednesday, March 16, 11th. Lee MacDougall plays an official showcase at SXSW® at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17th, at Creekside at the Hilton Garden Inn. Since this will also be St. Patrick’s Day, expect plenty of green beer and free Irish kisses bandying about. Everyone has already fallen in love with Lee’s voice and music. Girls line up after his shows to take photos and chat a bit with the darling. So, just be ready for an amazing show, an amazing experience, and meeting one of the sweetest and most talented guys ever to cross the pond.
With zany, surreal imagination at the very core of their songs, and with an unmistakably English sound that’s a bit medieval, harmonical, and mysterious, Flipron is the band hailed in the UK press as “the most original band in the UK.” Members of Flipron are Joe Atkinson - organ, piano, backing vocals, Jesse Budd (a young Paul McCartney lookalike) - vocals, guitar, mandolin, lap steel, accordion, Mike Chitty – drum kit, John Thompson - electric bass. The delightful Flipron is performing a free show at the SXSW® Festival at the Hideout Backstage Theater in Austin, Texas on March 17th, then will head over to 512 Bar, 6th St. for a performance on Friday, March 18th. Girls and guys, don’t miss this. Flipron’s music is ethereal and “rockin’!” A bit spooky. I always feel as though I’m in a Tim Burton movie when I watch them perform. The energy and harmonies literally bounce off the rafters…and the fact that they’re performing on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th)…well, anything can happen. Beware, be forewarned, and be excited!
And finally, last but not least, there’s Bobby Long. Bobby’s raspy, raw voice has an edge to it that’s reminiscent of the greats: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Delta Blues. Bobby has been taking the world by storm, with a great start to 2011. His new album, “A Winter Tale” (ATO Records) debuted in February and next, he appeared on the Jay Leno Show on NBC-TV, in addition to touring everywhere in the U.S. and abroad. On Thursday, March 17th at 7:30 a.m. (Central Standard time) – Yawn! Don’t’ forget your coffee – Bobby will be performing on the KGSR Stage at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. This performance will simulcast live. Further details are listed on www.musicbobbylong.com and Bobby’s official site at: www.bobbylonginfo.com. And, he’ll be one of several performers at the Ballroom on the 17th, performing at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, March 18th, WXPN 88.5 will be streaming a live broadcast from the SXSW® Festival, and Bobby Long will be part of the Radio Day Stage event. The broadcast will be streaming live from 4:00pm-7:00pm est. The broadcast that day will start with the Felice Brothers, J. Mascis, Bobby Long and more.
Following are more details concerning Bobby Long’s schedule:
Date
Time
Event
Location
Thurs. Mar 17
7:30 am
SWSX, Ballroom, KGSR performance
Four Seasons Hotel, Austin, TX
Thurs. Mar 17
6:30 pm
SWSX, Treehouse Diddly Party
Cheers Shot Bar - Roof Deck, Austin, TX
Thurs. Mar 17
9:00 pm
SXSW, Bug Music Showcase
Dirty Dog Bar,
Austin, TX
Friday
Mar 18
9:00 am
SXSW KUT performance
The Hilton, Austin, TX
Friday
Mar 18
1:00 pm
SXSW Front Gate Tickets Morning After Party
Front Gate Parking Lot, Austin, TX
Friday
Mar 18
3:50 pm
SXSW Radio Day Stage
Radio Day Stage Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
Friday
Mar 18
11:45 pm
Hotel Cafe at SXSW
The Ale House, Austin, TX
According to the SXSW® website, during the day, thousands of conference registrants network in the halls of the Austin Convention Center on their way to do business in the SXSW® Trade Show, sit in on informative panel discussions featuring some of the industry's key players, gain insight from legendary keynote speakers or plan out their abundant party schedules. At night, the festival showcases hundreds upon hundreds of musical acts from around the globe on over eighty stages in downtown Austin. All this and so much more, combine to make this festival one of the most revered music events, year after year. But, none of this really matters. What matters most is that you find the venues where Bobby Long, Lee MacDougall and Flipron are performing. You couldn’t ask for a better time.
For details on these artists’ tours, please see www.flipron.co.uk, www.bobbylonginfo.com, and www.facebook.com/leemacdougall, or visit their MySpace pages.
Note: If you have any reviews or comments about any of these performances (or others) at the SXSW® Festival, please leave comments and/or email me at dpeerce@comcast.net and I will publish your story.
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