Manitoba Returns to SXSW with Perennial Pop Faves

Posted on February 28, 2013

Manitoba musicians will be shedding their parkas, packing their vans, and heading due south for SXSW next month. Six local acts will hit the massive Texas music fest, which runs March 12-17 in Austin, including a Manitoba showcase and other official showcase spots.

Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music have teamed up to present a stellar showcase of prairie talent on March 14 at Canada House. The Manitoba team has a long history at SXSW, going back to popular networking events at Caswell House and packed showcases in 2011 and 2012.

This year’s showcase features four SXSW favourites: explosive indie soul popsters Imaginary Cities, a favourite of influential U.S. tastemaker Paste Magazine; inventive indie outfit Royal Canoe, which wowed the crowds and critics at CMJ in October; the charming and powerful Juno Award-winning soul/pop quintet, Chic Gamine, one of NPR’s top four SXSW picks last year; and noise pop act Boats, fresh from the release of its Kill Rock Stars full-length debut, A Fairway Full of Miners. Juno Award-winning noisecore trio KEN mode and roots darling Ruth Moody will also be in Austin for official SXSW showcases.