Public Radio Stations Take On Austin

There were babies in construction-grade earmuffs and adults in face paint. Bloody Marys at eight in the morning and live tunes extending far into the night.

Public radio stations from all across the country joined NPR Music, locals and visitors in Austin last week during the annual South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival. For five days, our public media colleagues spread great music across the beloved host city - presenting showcases, parties and panel discussions of all sorts. They didn't forget about those without decorated leather boots on the ground either.

We've rounded up an index of the live broadcasts, videos, web coverage, dazzling photography and other SXSW-dispatches from KCRW Los Angles, KUTX Austin, KXT Dallas, KUNC Colorado, WFUV New York and WXPN Philadelphia.

If this doesn't satisfy your south x sweet tooth, perhaps you'll find a way to Austin next year.

Public Radio Day Stage: Courtney Barnett, Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear, Best Coast, Ryan Bingham, and Twin Shadow

Together, WFUV, WXPN, KUTX, The Current and KXT brought five hours of live music to the Austin Convention Center, including a headlining performance by Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, who won SXSW's Grulke Prize this year for Developing Non-US Act.

Visit WXPN music blog The Key for photos and recordings from each set (videos courtesy of WFUV):

KUTX

Sarah Montgomery / KUTX

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KUTX

Early-risers had a special series of showcases available to them last week, courtesy of KUTX. The Austin music channel invited fans to the Four Seasons hotel for breakfast tacos and live performances by local acts, including Emily Wolfe, Cilantro Boombox and Max Frost, as well as artists from all over the country, including Ibyie, Twerps, Chuck Prophet, Wolf Alice, The Dodos and many others.

Video and audio from Ibeyi's set is up now at KUTX.org, where more performances from the morning showcases are available now. And if you want to see performances from that same stage last year, visit the KUTX YouTube channel.

Photos
KUTX Live at the Four Seasons 2015Scenes from the SXSW Music Festival

KCRW

KCRW broadcast live from FLOODfest in Austin with hosts Jason Bentley and Anne Litt, during Morning Becomes Eclectic on Friday (3/20), as well as Anne's show on Saturday (3/21).

Dustin Downing / KCRW

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KCRW

The KCRW Music Blog posted daily recap posts, artist previews, as well as dozens of photos from FLOODFest and KCRW's two showcases, which featured James Bay, Laura Marling and Milky Chance during the day and, at night, BØRNS, ODESZA, Delta Spirit, Wolf Alice, Big Data, and Hiatus Kaiyote.

"In recent years, SXSW has reminded me of a Las Vegas buffet," said Jason Bentley, KCRW Music Director and Host of Morning Becomes Eclectic. "Looks good from a distance but, when you get closer, the quality isn't always there. 2015 marked an improved signal to noise ratio, which was a much-needed correction. It makes our participation more important than ever, representing newcomers like Wolf Alice and BØRNS who have great careers ahead of them."

Ivy Augusta / KCRW

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KCRW

WXPN

In addition to videos and audio from the Public Radio Day Stage, The Key blog also has an interview with Courtney Barnett (listen here) and other reports from Austin last week.

Into hip hop? Check out The Key editor John Vettese's review of an Old School Bar party thrown by What Scene? and RECPhilly. Philly hip-hop and R&B musicians came together for hours of what John deemed an "incredible event."

"Here's hoping the Philly-in-the-center-of-the-action showcase becomes a regular thing at SXSW," he said.

KUNC

Colorado Music Party brought together more than 120 bands from the state on Austin's famed Sixth Street. KUNC helped put on the five-day, five-night extravaganza, and chronicled highlights at KUNC.org. Check out all of their coverage here and some sweet guitar contortions in this video:

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