Townshend, Iggy, Stooges set for SXSW

South by Southwest lands Who guitarist as a keynote speaker, while Iggy & the Stooges confirmed plans to perform at the festival.

It's more than three months away, but the buzz around the annual South by Southwest is building.

The 21st annual Austin, Texas, music festival said today that it has landed legendary Who guitarist Pete Townshend as a keynote speaker for the event.

Meanwhile, Iggy Pop's group the Stooges, who are set to release their first album together since 1973, confirmed today that they plan to perform at the festival, slated for March 14 to 17.

Townshend will deliver a keynote address on March 14 in Austin's Convention Center. He'll also pair with regular collaborator Rachel Fuller on March 15 for a live performance of Attic Jam, their collaborative series of performances and webcasts.

Following a reunion tour last year, Iggy & the Stooges have been recording The Weirdness, their first album in more than 30 years. Pop reunited with Stooges members Scott and Ron Asheton for the project and recruited Mike Watt on bass.

The band will perform March 17 at the festival, three days before Weirdness his stores.