Sounds Australia’s first showcase at SXSW 2020 was scheduled to take place next Thursday inside Australia House on a bustling Rainey St in downtown Austin. In light of the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the festival no longer going ahead, many artists experienced not only significant financial losses in cancelled travel arrangements and visas, but also lost the invaluable opportunity to connect with global networks and showcase their talent.
Sounds Australia has been producing world-renowned live showcases at conferences and festivals for over ten years. However, we are living in extraordinary times. We have spent the last week working on an alternative way to support and showcase these Australian artists to the world and we are very proud to present our newest and most innovative showcase to date: 3 For The Stream.
Back-to-back performances will be live streamed from Melbourne’s iconic Bakehouse Studios to an international online audience of music industry buyers, media and new fans through Sounds Australia’s Facebook page. It will only be viewable online and the showcase will not be open to the public.
Digital Export Producer Dom Alessio explains, “Ever since I started with Sounds Australia in 2018, we’ve been discussing the idea of creating live streamed showcases as a way to reach an infinite number of music industry representatives and reduce our carbon footprint. The unfortunate cancellation of SXSW provides a unique environment to put this model to the test. We want to ensure that even if Australian artists’ mobility is restricted, their music can still be experienced by industry and fans across the world.”
3 For The Stream will feature 19 acts across three stages, over four hours, promising to be a day that celebrates some of Australia’s finest emerging talent. 3 song sets will be performed by Australian artists who SXSW programmers had selected to showcase in Austin next week.
“Once again, we are proud to see Sounds Australia do what they do: relentlessly help and support Australian artists. Although we’re gutted not to have the chance to see these 19 acts live on stages across Austin this year, we’re pleased to have a chance to experience them in a way as unique as this, from home.” – James Minor, SXSW Head of Music Festival
3 For The Stream
SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVE STREAM:
http://www.facebook.com/soundsaustralia
Thursday 19 March 2020
3pm (Los Angeles, PST), 5pm (Austin, CT), 6pm (New York, EST), 10pm (London, GMT)
Friday 20 March 2020
9am (Melbourne, AEDT)
Featuring SXSW 2020 Artists
Alex the Astronaut
Alice Skye
BATTS
Cable Ties
Carla Geneve
Didirri
Flyying Colours
Gena Rose Bruce
Hachiku
Kota Banks
Luke Howard
MANE
Quivers
River Boy
Sophie Hutchings
Sui Zhen
The Lazy Eyes
The Wonder
Tim Shiel
3 For The Stream would not be possible without support from Art Series Hotel by Accor, Bakehouse Studios, Comes With Fries, Facebook, SXSW, TAG and Young Henry’s.
As more music events, tours, festivals and conference around the world postpone or cancel in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Sounds Australia will continue to find alternative and creative ways to export, support and showcase Australian artists.
Read Millie Millgate, Sounds Australia’s Executive Producer’s full statement on the cancellation of SXSW 2020 here