New Zealand @ SXSW 2015

March 9th 2015
The South By Southwest Music & Media Festival 2015 will run from March 13th through March 22nd and will see the music and entertainment world descend upon Austin Texas..

The South By Southwest Music & Media Festival 2015 will run from March 13th through March 22nd and will see the music and entertainment world descend upon Austin Texas..

This year will see over 2,200 bands play during the 6 festival days devoted to music in a multitude of venues in and around the world famous 6th street in downtown Austin, Texas. The conference attracts over 27,000 music professionals and fans from all over the world with a passion for music, music business and new technologies.

This year will feature the following New Zealand acts making the trek to Austin:


Mika Haka

"Where Mika leads, the audience follows. Like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland he takes us down into an unknown world, different and strange, frightening but enticing." The Edinburgh Guide (UK)

In an era of cut-and-pasted, sampled and rebooted pop culture, Mika is a rare commodity - a truly original New Zealand Māori artist - an entertainer of decades of eye-poppingly innovative work spanning stage, film, television, fashion and music.

Mika has recorded seven albums in Te Reo Māori and English, has appeared on NZ dance charts and is an APRA Maioha award nominee. Mika has appeared in numerous TV series and specials, namely his own "Te Mika Show TVs series" as well as gaining a documentary award nominated for Mika Haka Kids.

The 21st Century Mika is a modern Māori taonga whose artistic achievements stand proudly alongside his philanthropic work as kaitiaki (guardian) of the Mika Haka Foundation, a charity organisation committed to keeping young New Zealanders active and healthy through physical culture and the performing arts.

"He's mercurial, unpredictable, impulsive, intuitive, capricious, eccentric - and all in a good way" Theatre Review

www.mika.co.nz

Delaney Davidson

"A rattling, twanging celebration" ***** INDEPENDENT (UK)

Three times winner of the NZ Country Music Song of the Year Award, winner of the NZ Country Music Album Of The Year, Nominated for the coveted NZ Apra Silver Scroll Award, Winner of One Man Band Competitions in Zurich, and attracting acclaim for his recorded work, not just for his solo albums but also for his work with Marlon Williams and their "Sad But True" series.

The guitar and harmonica of his simple live show have become his trademark, a small battered suitcase as his props table for the magic show, looping sounds over each other to achieve the full drive of a juke band. Reverbed vocals and the slap back beats he builds capture the sound of Chicago's Chess Records Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.

Generally dealing with the darker side of things, Davidson's lyrical content ranges from classic murder ballads to songs with a deeper insight into the human condition and a sympathy and acceptance of the quirks of life and human foibles. Combining the older style of beerhall musician and the traditions of pantomime and audience involvement his live show is renowned for its dance competitions and sing-alongs.

"Davidson has waited long enough, despite much deserving work, for a real ‘breakthrough' album. If justice prevails, his time has come." No Depression July 2014

"The relish on Davidson's lips however, suggests the Devil ought to be the one running scared" Q Magazine (UK) 4 Stars.

www.delaneydavidson.com


Yumi Zouma

"an effortless cascade of echoing riffs and enchanting harmonies converging into a mirage of dream-pop purity" - Pitchfork

Yumi Zouma began as a project in 2013 between close friends from Christchurch, New Zealand. Their fledgling ideas were never intended to enter the real world, but following an exchange with the Cascine label, the far-flung New Zealanders were encouraged to divulge the creations from their hard drives. The following months were spent readying their debut EP, with little expectation for the band to become a live reality. In January 2014, their debut EP launched to overwhelming acclaim - the music lauded as being undeniably stylish, underplayed and honest. The months that followed saw the band repeatedly climb to #1 on the Hype Machine, sell through two pressings of records and collaborate with longtime musical role models, Air France.

That spring, Yumi Zouma took their once-withdrawn project to sold-out theaters across Australia supporting Chet Faker, to club shows in North America and to festivals throughout Europe. The band was then tapped by Lorde to open for the star on her arena tour of New Zealand.

Yumi Zouma now returns with their much-anticipated second EP, bookending their era of intimate and restrained short-form releases. The new tracks are just as effortless and engaging as expected, but they also tell the story of a band evolving. Lush, electronic productions buoy key tracks and the vocal deliveries are increasingly sophisticated. International tour dates are currently being routed.

"the airy elegance of a discofied Fleetwood Mac tune." -The Guardian
"innocently romantic while packing a breezy, sunlit groove." -SPIN

www.yumizouma.com


Cairo Knife Fight

Cairo Knife Fight is Nick Gaffaney, a man who has drummed his way around the place for many of New Zealand's leading songwriters, and a rotating collective of guest guitarists. Forming as a duo in 2009 Cairo Knife Fight try to redefine what two musicians can create live with Nick combining the responsibilities of playing drums, keyboard bass, creating live loops and lead vocals with seemingly limitless guitar soundscapes and incendiary riffs.

The band's first major live performances were as opening act for American super group Them Crooked Vultures on their 2010 NZ tour. July 2010 saw CKF release their self-titled EP. The EP went on to be nominated in the ‘Best Rock Album' category at the New Zealand Music awards in 2011. 2011 was an extraordinary year for CKF. It began with a NZ tour with NZ's rock hall of famers Shihad in January before Them Crooked Vultures front man Josh Homme once again requested CKF to be the opening act for his Queens of The Stone Age NZ tour in February.

In August the follow up EP ‘II' was released and peaked at #33 on the New Zealand Top 40 Charts. CKF rounded out the year by joining the Foo Fighters onstage at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand in front of 45,000 people for the band's Wasting Light tour. 2012 saw Cairo Knife Fight travel to the USA to perform at SXSW. The band was named as one of Alt Press' ‘Bands to Watch in 2012′ and made several ‘Best of SXSW' lists following several well received performances at the Texas festival.

In Jan 2015 the band announced the upcoming release of an EP titled the Isolator. Released on Jan 29 2015 The Isolator debuted at #13 on the NZ Album chart. Debut full length album The Colossus is scheduled for release May 2015. A must see live act of power and excitement, Cairo Knife Fight are pushing the limits of what two musicians can do on one stage.

www.cairoknifefight.com


New Zealand @ SXSW 2015 Official Party
Wednesday 18th March, 5 - 8pm. Brush Square Park, West tent, corner of 4th street and Trinity street, Austin, Texas.

Line up
5.15pm - Mika Haka
5:30pm - Delaney Davidson
6:15pm - Yumi Zouma
7.00pm - Cairo Knife Fight

Entry is free with a SXSW badge and proud NZ music fans Spy Valley Wines will provide a range of delicious Marlborough wines.

 

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