South by Southwest (SXSW) is a well-respected name in the industry. Be it for music, film or technology, an invitation to be a part of the set of festivals and conferences is, to put it lightly, a big deal.
As the largest music festival in the world of its kind, SXSW Music has grown every year and invited artists from many different countries to showcase their talent. Many artists have signings and interviews on top of performances.
With the growing awareness of K-pop and Korean music as a whole, more and more Korean artists are invited to participate every year. Last year, quite a few Korean artists were invited, including famously f(x), and this year the Korean line-up has expanded.
With the third round of bands just announced, the line-up has rounded out to include the following artists:
Jay Park
Hyuna
Nell
Glen Check
YB
Love X Stereo
Big Phony
Crying Nut
Galaxy Express
Jambinai
Kiha & The Faces
No Brain
Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio
Hollow Jan
Idiotape
Most of these artists are indie artists, some of whom we have covered on our K-Pop Indie Gem Segment, though others are not. I am still a bit stumped on Hyuna’s attendance. Perhaps we can lend it to her viral hit “Bubble Pop” paired with her feature in Psy‘s “Gangnam Style.”
Some of these artists are returning, such as No Brain and Galaxy Express who both performed last year, while for others this will be their first time experiencing the festival and trade show. Regardless if this is their first or second time attending SXSW, it’s exciting news to hear that so many Korean artists will be showcasing. I am particularly excited to see Nell, Glen Check and Love X Stereo on the list.
This year’s SXSW will be in Austin, TX, as usual from March 8-17. The Music portion of the event will be from March 12-17.
Do you have any plans to attend SXSW? Who are you excited to see?
