As you may know, one of the biggest music events of the year for hardcore music fans is just around the corner, so I’m going to be taking a look during the upcoming month at some of the more interesting acts to be showing up this year. I’m talking about South By Southwest, every March in Austin, Texas.

Now, there are lots of music blogs out there already dedicated to the festival. And I’m certainly not out to take the place of any of those, but I have an inkling that most of them aren’t exactly keeping an eye on the same bands as we are over here in our little corner. And also as far as I know none of them have the full scoop on the big UK showcases this year.

So, before we go into the previews of some of the bands playing this year’s festival, here’s a little dish on who’s going to be there in the showcases for BBC’s 6 Music, Radio 2, and Radio 1.

BBC Radio 2 showcase - 16 March 2006 @ Austin Music Hall
Morrissey, Goldfrapp, The Zutons, Corinne Bailey Rae and Richard Hawley.

BBC 6 Music showcase - 17 March 2006 @ Blender Bar
KT Tunstall, Editors, Jim Noir, The Feeling and Brakes.

BBC Radio 1 showcase - TBA
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Guillemots, Boy Kill Boy, Dirty Pretty Things and a special guest. The performances will be recorded for future Zane Lowe shows and a Lamacq Live Special on Monday 20 March 2006.

Quite a few of these bands will be discussed here in the coming weeks, so keep checking back. Beginning February 15th, the BBC will be launching their site for SXSW at http://www.bbc.co.uk/southbysouthwest with photos, video, and audio content. You can get further information on the British bands at SXSW from the Suk on This website, going live February 20th.

Sources:
BPI: UK at SXSW group announce showcase line-up : 9:2:2006
BBC Press Office: BBC Radio @ SXSW 2006 - Morrissey headlines BBC Radio showcase