Two of Australia’s favourite festivals have joined forces again this year to host one of the most epic party line-ups on the SXSW calendar! Splendour In The Grass and The Falls Festival are laying out a smorgasbord of excellent tunes to get your South By pumping.
Laying claim to Sidewinder (formerly Red Eyed Fly) on Wednesday March 16th from 12noon to 6pm, this Secret Sounds Group presented showcase features some of the most exciting emerging artists from both Australia and abroad, including hotter than hot Aussie acts like Vallis Alps, Methyl Ethel, and DZ Deathrays, who will be joining UK artists Matt Woods, Formation and HÆLOS US rockers Beach Slang, Sunflower Bean and PATV, Canadian heroes The Strumbrellas.
Miraculously in the space between Canberra and Seattle electronic duo Vallis Alps emerged in 2015 with a sound that lead them to be one of the most buzzed about electronic acts in years. The duo of Parissa Tosif and David Ansari blend down-tempo, piano-driven melodies and acoustic guitar with 80’s pop synths and gritty trap beats to compliment their half-nostalgic, half-foretelling lyrics.
Brisbane thrash party duo DZ Deathrays recently exploded back on to the scene with their latest single ‘Blood On My Leather’ and are no strangers to a SXSW party. Pack your earplugs for these boys.
Dubbed “NYC’s Coolest Young Band” by Rolling Stone kind of says it all really. Sunflower Bean channel the energy of glam, punk and classic rock into a cacophony that electrifies the senses.
A classically trained chorister from a young age, Matt Woods developed a love for vocal harmony that is clear in his songs like the soul-drenched ‘In The Dark’ and his breakout hit ‘Impression’.
Twin brothers Will and Matt Ritson formed Formation in London in 2013 – playing Bowie-inspired electro punk that captured the attention of big name UK tastemakers. Just try not to dance to their groove-packed pop.
As if it weren’t already firmly established that there’s something in the water over in Perth, psych-rockers Methyl Ethel seem to have pretty much taken the mantle of the most-hyped Australian act in recent months, with songs like ‘Twilight Driving’ and ‘Rogues’ on constant radio rotation, and having just signed to the uber important 4AD.
Beach Slang is a rock band hailing from the city of Brotherly Love. That description might seem bare bones, but considering the insanely impressive music that’s emerged from the Philly scene in the last few years, it’s anything but. These dudes play rock and roll that celebrates being young and carefree and we’re going to cheers loud and hard to that.
PATV (Public Access T.V.) are the quintessential US indie rockers that blew up in the UK before anyone else realised who they were in their home country and now the rest of the world is catching up. Fronted by former Be Your Own Pet member John Eatherly, the trio play bombastic, new wave glam rock with big riffs that T. Rex would worship.
A Nashville-based Americana outfit with a shared love for Petty, Mellencamp, Waylon, and Willie, The Wild Feathers are set to dose up the charm when they take to the Texan stage in Austin.
HÆLOS call to mind the same deserted dawn high streets stalked by the music of Massive Attack, Portishead and the rest of those electronic artists who spent the 90s finding the pain after the rave.
Closing out the night will be Canadian rockers The Strumbrellas, who are set to send the crowd singing along with their poignant lyricism and infectious brand of melody and harmony.
Entry is free. So are the drinks. Dancing is mandatory.
Secret Sounds Group Presents
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS & THE FALLS FESTIVAL AT SXSW
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 2016 – SIDEWINDER (Just a few doors down from Stubbs on Red River)
FREE ENTRY & DRINKS | 12:00 – 6:00pm
715 Red River @ 8th Street, Austin
Must be 21+
SET TIMES:
12:30pm – Vallis Alps (AUS)
1pm – Sunflower Bean (US)
1:30pm – DZ Deathrays (AUS)
2pm – Matt Woods (UK)
2:30pm – Formation (UK)
3pm – Methyl Ethel (AUS)
3:30pm – Beach Slang (US)
4:30pm – The Wild Feathers (US)
5:30pm – The Strumbrellas (CAN)
4pm – PATV (US)
5pm – HÆLOS (UK)
Visit secret-sounds.com.au/sxsw for more