MEDIA RELEASE

A series of meetings with contemporary music bands, labels, managers and music business executives is taking place on four islands from May 20 – June 2 as the Pacific representative for the world’s largest and most prestigious music, film & interactive festivals – South by Southwest for its 25th year in Austin, Texas March 2011 – meets in Kona, Maui, Oahu and Kauai with all venues now confirmed.

Phil Tripp, who has worked with government and industry over the past five years to create a major Hawaiian presence at the event in 2009 & 2010, is scouting for talent to showcase in 2011 as well as delegates to attend the combined music festival, trade fair, exhibition and conference which draws over 15,000 industry professionals from 50 countries.

Free SxSW Meet ‘n’ Greets will be held in:

* KONA: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 20 at Crystal Blue Lounge, Sheraton Keauhou Resort & Spa
* MAUI: 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 21 at Bistro Casanova 33 Lono Ave., Kahului
* KAUAI: 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 31 at Aloha Beach Resort, 3-5920 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa
* OAHU: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 2 atSam Choy’s Breakfast Lunch & Crab, 580 N. Nimitz Hwy.

No reservations are necessary and there is no cost to attend the meetings.

Tripp will also be meeting with industry & government entities at the Na Hoku o Hawaii Festival in Honolulu May 27-30 and at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards May 30.

He’s an ex-American living in Sydney who handles the Australian and New Zealand contingents, but is also experienced in the Hawai’i music scene from his first time stage managing the Kool Pacific Festival in 1976 at the Waikiki Shell, through 50 trips here since liaising with local artists, labels and businesses.

In 2009, John Cruz, Anuhea, David Tamaoka, Pimpbot and One Right Turn played a series of showcases while in 2010, Anuhea and Pimpbot returned with Kona, Tavana, Sabrina and Yahiowa 13.

There was also a major stand presence in the conference exhibition area and more than 30 Hawaiian professionals attended.

The presence has been supported over the past two years by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), Roy’s Restaurant (where extra nightly shows were held) and World Sound / One Hawaii, which organized and ran the trade fair stand over the two years.

As Tripp outlines, “We’ve been excited with the contemporary music artists of Hawaii who have applied and succeeded in getting traction in the mainland and overseas markets by playing SxSW.

The music styles best suited for this event are rock, indie, singer/songwriter, pop and more modern, louder styles than slack key, traditional or hula which are more suited to world music festivals.
There is a wealth of innovative modern artists who combine their culture with new beats breaking out of the islands to the mainland and overseas.”

South by Southwest Music & Media Festival in March 2010 attracted more than 13,000 music conference participants from 49 countries which included 2,300 music media attendees. Close to 2,000 artists from 49 countries played showcase in 89 venues across Austin in the five nights.

Contact Phil Tripp at tripp@sxsw.com

— Find out more:
www.sxsw.com/music
www.themusic.com.au/sxsw