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January 3, 2007 at 12:01:00 PM | more stories by this author
Byrne, Harris, Iggy, and Gilberto Gil to speak; early band list includes Interpol, Lily Allen, Bloc Party, Ozomatli, Cold War Kids, Devin the Dude, and an all-star Stax show.
Pick a few legends, add in some acclaimed veterans, and sprinkle a few of the most buzzed-about bands in music on top, and you have the preliminary lineup for the 2007 South By Southwest festival.
Interpol
The annual music lover's paradise, set for March 14-18, added to its list of speakers today with David Byrne, Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, Gilberto Gil, Terry McBride, Ricki Lee Jones, Booker T, and Joe Boyd joining previously announced speakers Pete Townshend and Iggy Pop.
The festival also unveiled its early list of performers, including Iggy & The Stooges, Interpol, Lily Allen, Bloc Party, Devin the Dude, Hoodoo Gurus, Matt & Kim, Ghostland Observatory, The Watson Twins, Ozomatli, Turbonegro, Cold War Kids, and the Stax 50th Anniversary Soul Review.
Byrne, the former frontman of Talking Heads, acclaimed solo artist, and founder of Luaka Bop Records, heads the list of added speakers. He is set to make a presentation titled, "Record Labels: Who Needs Them?" in which he'll examine the current state of affairs in the music business given that digital technology has changed the way music is recorded, distributed, and promoted.
Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil, who has recorded 52 albums over a career of more than 40 years and has served as his country's Minister of Culture for the past four years, will also be a featured speaker at the event. Gil's new album Gil Luminoso will be released in the US in March in conjunction with a US tour.
Country and bluegrass star Emmylou Harris, whose recent collaboration with Mark Knopfler, All The Roadrunning, garnered a Grammy nomination, will also be on hand for an interview, as well as singer-songwriter Ricki Lee Jones and R&B veteran Booker T of Booker T & the MGs fame.
Pete Townshend
Terry McBride, the CEO of record label and management firm Nettwerk, will speak about ushering his artists, including Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, and Avril Lavigne into the digital age. McBride made headlines last year with his comments about the major record labels and the need to sell music to consumers without DRM restrictions.
Boyd, the founder of Hannibal Records, will discuss his memoir, White Bicycles, which chronicles his efforts to bring such artists as Maria Muldaur, Nick Drake, and Richard and Linda Thompson to audiences worldwide in the 1960s.
Townshend had already signed on to be interviewed at the festival and will also pair with regular collaborator Rachel Fuller on March 15 for a live performance of Attic Jam, their collaborative series of performances and webcasts.
Iggy & the Stooges are set to perform new material from their first new studio album in more than 30 years, while Iggy Pop will also speak at the conference.
More speakers and bands will be announced in the coming weeks.
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