Thursday, March 08, 2012

Today's #MPFreebie - Music from SxSW

Most "technology folks" think of South by Southwest (SxSW) as a media/technology conference, but it began its long-lived run as a music festival.  It has stayed true to its founding ever since, even as it has grown to include SxSW Film and SxSW Interactive.  Given its massive attendance (over 12000 registrants last year) and incredible performances (over 2000 artists/groups at over 90 venues), it seems a safe bet to name SxSW as one of the largest music festivals in the US, if not the world.

As one might imagine, SxSW has become a MAJOR focal point for independent artists and record labels.  Each year, indie labels (and/or collectives of multiple labels) create MP3 samplers of the artists bound for SxSW.  In addition, they take a laissez-faire attitude toward third-party collections and playlists; it's all about the music.  Needless to say, this gives the digital collector a fine chance to add variety and "new sounds" to their collection.  As far as I'm concerned, this is a great source for music/artists I'd otherwise miss (sitting in Central Kentucky - hardly a hotbed for touring groups)...

I've provided links to several SxSW MP3 samplers below - enjoy!

 

Canadian Blast: Canadian Blast SXSW 2012 Digital Sampler

SxSW 2012 Music Sampler from SxSWBABY

IODA at SxSW Opening Day Bash 2012

Don't Mess with Texas: SxSW 2012 New Music Sampler

 

 

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