The 2012 South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) will be held March 9-18 in Austin, Texas. Bands interested in performing as an official SXSW band should submit their materials no later than November 4, 2011. Application fees are $30 if received before October 7, and $40 after that date. With over 40,000 top business professionals in attendance at SXSW, this 10-day event brings people together to enhance knowledge of their respective field and promote their product in the interactive, film, and music industries. SXSW is the leading conference and festival of its kind.
In 2011, the Oklahoma Film & Music Office (OF&MO), along with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, The Idea Collective, and numerous statewide sponsors presented Oklahoma’s Buffalo Lounge, which was a four-day, multi-industry official SXSW event held at a highly visible location on Austin’s famed 6th Street. Throughout the week, the Buffalo Lounge hosted thousands of visitors and featured over 20 Oklahoma artists.
Oklahoma bands performing at the 2011 Buffalo Lounge at SXSW included: Brine Webb, Josh Roberts, Ryan Lawson, The SKYS, Jabee, Jacob Abello, Rainbows are Free, DEERPEOPLE, The Non, John Fullbright, Sherree Chamberlain, Emory Grey, Ben Kilgore, Fiawna Forte, Kite Flying Robot, Audra Mae, and Snorlaxx.
SXSW selected six Oklahoma bands to be official 2011 SXSW artists for the first ever Oklahoma Showcase in Austin. OF&MO worked with SXSW to secure Oklahoma City native Graham Colton as a headliner for the showcase, which also featured Broncho, Colourmusic, Pretty Black Chains, OK Sweetheart, and the Boom Bang.
To apply for SXSW, create an account at http://www.sonicbids.com. If you do not already have an account, Sonicbids is offering a free two-week trial for artists applying to SXSW. On the Sonicbids Website, follow the SXSW link under the “Find Gigs” section. An electronic press kit must be completed and questions about label and booking representation must be answered. All bands and artists will be notified by January 27, 2012 of their status.
For more information, please visit http://sxsw.com/music/shows/apply or http://sxsw.com/music/shows/faq.
OF&MO encourages all Oklahoma bands with an interest in the festival to apply to SXSW. Bands that apply to SXSW will be top priority in performing at The Buffalo Lounge events. Information can be found at http://www.sxsw.com/music/shows/apply. If enough Oklahoma bands have official showcases, SXSW will work to place these showcases in the official Oklahoma venue. Please note that the final deadline is November 4.
If you are an Oklahoma band that has applied for SXSW 2012, please let us know! Contact Julie Porter at
For all other inquires and questions, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Abby Kurin at
To read more about the 2011 SXSW events at Oklahoma’s Buffalo Lounge and for a full list of 2011 Buffalo Lounge sponsors, please visit http://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom–article.php?id=200&article–id=1501 As OF&MO prepares for SXSW 2012, please follow the Buffalo Lounge on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/sxswBuffalo and @sxswbuffalo. To view videos of the 2011 performances, please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/SXSWBuffalo and http://sxswbuffalo.tumblr.com/.
The Oklahoma Film & Music Office, a division of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, works to attract film, television, video, and music industries to Oklahoma through an effort to promote and expand these values and interests within the state. The Film & Music Office is committed to providing critical support to filmmakers by assisting them with their production concerns. Additional information can be found at www.oklahomafilm.org.