A veteran of the original South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, gives his verdict on the first year of the festival’s Sydney offshoot.
SXSW Sydney debuted this past week, the first time the well-known – and down-home – music, film and tech fest from Austin, Texas, has lent its name to another endeavour.It hurts your head to think of the logistics that went into putting together dozens of panels and events and big names – Nicole Kidman! Chance the Rapper! – with so many other strong guests from around the world. The daytime events, on a vast array of topics from activism to AI, were packed.
I should note that there can’t be too many Sydneysiders for whom the four letters SXSW resonate as strongly as they do in me. I was a music critic and an arts editor back when the fest started, in the late 1980s, and I went to the first 10 or 12. This was in music-loving Austin, a town full of crack musicians, where just about any block of nightlife boasts at least one band that can convince you that that band, that night, was everything a bar band could be.
SXSW wasn’t fazed. “When you arrive at the airport,” that year’s program said, “we’re happy to help you down off your high horse.” The fest was soon on its way to becoming a music, film and tech behemoth, with its soul intact.Brendon Thorne/Getty ImagesSydney’s version was sprawling. Among myriad panels were sessions devoted to business , design, tech, gaming and AI.
Technologically, the fest gets a C. I dutifully signed up online, replying to a multitude of prying questions, including my age . Then, at the registration centre, I had to dutifully fill it all in again. I heard similar stories from others.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A SXSW veteran gives his verdict on Sydney’s first attemptA veteran of the original South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, gives his verdict on the first year of the festival’s Sydney offshoot.
Read more »
Western Sydney musicians get the recognition they deserve at first Australian SXSW festivalThe Texan festival has come to Australia for the first time and is thrusting young artists from Western Sydney into the spotlight.
Read more »
Robot dogs, tech bros and virtual Geisha girls: when SXSW came to SydneyThe famous Austin festival picked the Harbour City for its first foray overseas, bringing an eclectic mix of AI, celebrities and cutting edge ideas
Read more »
Russian, South African and US athletes get rushed Australian citizenships ahead of 2024 OlympicsExclusive: Government fast-tracked applications of canoeist, wrestler and water polo player backed by AOC
Read more »
England fans descend on Paris with South Africa favourites for semi-finalSteve Borthwick’s team have not captured the imagination in the World Cup while the Springboks have just beaten France
Read more »