The Obamas Do SXSW
SXSW made what may be the biggest announcement of its entire 30-year run yesterday, stating that President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama will be delivering keynotes at this year’s event. There’s been presidential buzz surrounding the festival for a couple of weeks now, as the Obamas announced holding a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee on the first day of SXSW. President Obama will be part of a keynote conversation during the Interactive portion of SXSW on Friday March 11th, and First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the opening keynote for SXSW Music on Wednesday, March 16th. This is the first time in SXSW history that a sitting president and first lady will speak at the festival.
Susan Antone Named First Winner of Margaret Moser Award
Susan Antone, , was named the first recipient of the Margaret Moser Award this week. The matron of Austin’s legendary Home of Blues was the obvious and undisputed first choice for an award honoring women who make lasting contributions to Austin’s music community. Antone will be presented with the honor at the Austin Music Awards, hosted by KUTX’s Laurie Gallardo and Rick McNulty, on March 16. The award will culminate with an Antone’s tribute led by Jimmie Vaughan.
New Waves Made Towards Reviving Local Music Scene
The Austin Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution. What. Is. That? It’s mayor Steve Adler’s 20-point list of music-specific objectives to reinvigorate the local music scene. The list includes simple gestures like adding a line for band gratuity to your bar tab to more complicated endeavors like streamlining the permitting process for new venues. Another large-scale initiative under the Resolution is the creation of “hubs,” spaces where musicians can have access to all necessary resources needed to create and promote their music. Everything from a recording or rehearsal space to offices to a vinyl press. In fact, Mosaic Sound Collective has just secured property for one of these hubs near the intersection of MLK and 183, and plans to have the 25,000-square-foot-campus-style building up and running by July.
–Taylor Wallace
