SXSW 2015 Preview: British Music Embassy

SXSW 2015 is taking place March 17–22, 2015. We love this time of the year, as many bands heading down to Austin will likely stop in Minneapolis before or after the event. Keep up with more SXSW coverage at sxsw.weheartmusic.com.

Read More British Music Embassy SXSW is the greatest festival in the world! Just met Steve Lamacq outside the British embassy! Having the time of my life. ....

BRITISH MUSIC EMBASSY
thebritishmusicembassy.com

We're big British music fans, so every year at SXSW we always stop over at the British Music Embassy.

For its eighth year at Latitude 30, The British Music Embassy is pleased to announce their first official showcase, hosted by BBC Introducing and PRS for Music Foundation.

The whole goal of The Embassy is to introduce new UK talent to US fans, often promoting a variety of genres from brand new baby bands to more established breaking acts.

This year, the BBC Introducing showcase will be Wednesday, March 18th, and will feature these six acts from the UK:

Spring King

SOAK

Blossoms

Gengahr

Little Simz

Jack Garratt

All the bands were chosen by a panel including the PRS for Music Foundation, Radio 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq and Radio 1 DJ and BBC Introducing champion, Huw Stephens.

Read More Alt-J A giant watermelon slice, killer clowns, panda bears, and astronauts- alt-J sure attracts some strange looking fans… Okay, it may have had something to do with the fact that it was Halloween ....

GENGAHR
facebook.com/gengahrband

Breakthrough 2014 London band Gengahr will be one of the British Music Embassy at SXSW this year. The band is out promoting their forthcoming EP She's A Witch, set for release March 10th via Transgressive Records.

If you live in the UK, the band can be seen touring with Alt-J.

Look for Gengahr's album in May 2015.

Tour Dates:

01/23 KOKO, London, UK w/ Juce
01/24 The O2, London, UK *
01/27 PIAS Nites @ Village Underground, London
02/03 Forest National Club, Brussels, Belgium *
02/04 Zenith, Paris, France *
02/05 Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam *
02/07 Stadhalle, Offenbach Am Main, Germany *
02/08 Palladium, Cologne, Germany *
02/09 Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany *
02/11 Columbianhalle, Berlin, Germany *
02/13 Eishalle Deutweg, Winterhur *
02/14 Forum, Milan, Italy *
02/16 Gasometer, Vienna, Austria *
02/17 Zenith, Munich, Germany *
02/19 Tap1, Copenhage, Denmark *
02/20 Munchen Brewery, Stockholm *
02/21 Spektrum, Oslo, Norway *
02/25 The Eagle Inn, Manchester, UK **
02/26 The Waiting Room, London, UK **
03/17-03/22 – Austin, TX - SXSW

* with alt-J and Wolf Alice
** UK Headline Shows

Read More Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso have sold out. The band was recently in Minneapolis at the second annual 10 Thousand Sounds Music Festival, which we caught the "up-and-coming dreamy indie-folk duo" last year, when they only had a handful of songs.…

JACK GARRATT
musicglue.com/jackgarratt

British singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Jack Garratt recently released a new song called "The Love You're Given" to all digital retailers. The song sampled the voice of acclaimed vocalist Lisa Fischer (20 Feet From Stardom).

Since his debut Remnants EP, he's racked over a million plays and sold out several London shows, thanks to support from Radio 1's influential DJ Zane Lowe, who called Garratt one of his "Future 15 of 2015" artists.

Garratt can be seen touring with Sylvan Esso, heading to SXSW 2015 this year.

Tour dates:

02/16 Lille, FR - La Peniche
02/17 Paris, FR - Trabendo (Firefly Festival)
02/18 Strasbourg, FR - Laiterie
02/19 Lyon, FR - Epicerie Moderne
02/21 Berlin, DE - Prince Charles
02/22 Munich, DE - Milla
02/23 Frankfurt, DE - Zoom
02/24 Cologne, DE - Gebaude 9
02/26 London, UK - Scala
02/28 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Noord
03/02 Hamburg, DE - Mojo
03/03 Copenhagen, DK - Lille Vega
03/04 Oslo, NO - By:Larm
03/17-03/22 – Austin, TX - SXSW

Read More Laura Marling Laura Marling just started her U.S. Summer 2013 tour for her latest album Once I Was An Eagle last night at the sold-out Assembly at the Woman's Club show in Minneapolis. ....

SOAK
soakmusic.co.uk

Irish kid Soak (aka Bridie Monds-Watson and not to be confused with Texas band Soak) has been drawing comparisons to Cat Power to Laura Marling to Beach House, thanks to her sensitive vocal style and stripped down music.

Since signing to Rough Trade Records she's released the B A NoBody single in November 2014, the followup to her Blud single on Chvrches' label Goodbye Records.

She recently announced some tour dates:

02/10 - D10 Skatepark, Dublin
02/11 - SS20 Skateshop, Oxford
02/12 - Campus Skatepark, Bristol
02/13 - Bournemouth, Prevail Skate House
02/14 - Weymouth, Front Skate Park
02/17 - London, Parlour Skate Shop
02/19 - Halifax, Orangebox
02/20 - Dumbarton, Unit 23 Skate Park
02/21 - Sheffield, The House Skate Park
03/17-03/22 – Austin, TX - SXSW

NOTE: Soaks' "SK9" shows are free, but capacity is limited and tickets do not guarantee entry. We recommend arriving early.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic