All eyes will focus on the "live music capital of the world" for the annual South by Southwest Music and Media Conference March 17‒22 in Austin, Texas. The week-long affair will include a keynote address by GRAMMY-nominated rapper Snoop Dogg as well as panels and showcases featuring GRAMMY winners and nominees such as Asleep At The Wheel, Gary Clark Jr., BJ The Chicago Kid, Clean Bandit, Kirk Franklin, Wynonna Judd, Hiatus Kaiyote, Nas, and Plain White T's, among others.
The GRAMMYs will be in town, offering an array of must-attend events in between bites of good old-fashioned Texas barbeque, of course. If you're headed to Austin for SXSW these are the Recording Academy events you surely do not want to miss.
GRAMMY Amplifier Showcase
Date: March 17
Location: Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
Time: Noon‒4:00 p.m.; 8‒Midnight
The Rundown: Three winners of the third annual GRAMMY Amplifier — selected by program curators the Band Perry, Ziggy Marley and Allen Stone — will be announced and perform. Additional performers include Best Coast, Tove Lo and TV On The Radio, among others.
Sinatra: An American Icon
Date: March 18
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB
Time: 3:30‒4:30 p.m.
The Rundown: In celebration of Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday, the GRAMMY Museum will host a panel discussion focusing on the GRAMMY winner's life and legacy. Speakers include Sinatra archivist Charles Pignone, GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, Frank Sinatra Jr., and GRAMMY winner Steven Van Zandt.
The Who At 50
Date: March 19
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB
Time: 2‒3 p.m.
The Rundown: The GRAMMY Museum will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Who with a panel examining how the British rockers changed the course of rock and roll. Panelists include Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone (the Zombies), drummer Clem Burke (Blondie), music journalist Holly George-Warren, singer/songwriter Chuck Prophet, Santelli, and Van Zandt.
GRAMMY Producers On The Record
Date: March 19
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB
Time: 3:30‒4:30 p.m.
The Rundown: GRAMMY-winning producer Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel, Willie Nelson) and GRAMMY-nominated producers Alex Da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna) and John Alagia (Dave Matthews, John Mayer) will share stories about their greatest hits. The event will also include never-before-heard demos of popular recordings.
Homegrown: Los Angeles
Date: March 19
Location: The Velveeta Room
Time: 8 p.m.‒1:40 a.m.
The Rundown: A GRAMMY Museum showcase highlighting Los Angeles-based artists, including Death Valley Girls, Dylan Gardner, Milo Greene, Holychild, the Lonely Wild, and Wardell.
Americana — Future, Present, Past
Date: March 20
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB
Time: 11 a.m.‒noon
The Rundown: The GRAMMY Foundation's Scott Goldman will moderate a panel on Americana's ascent from tiny clubs to major festivals and recognition by The Recording Academy. Panelists include Austin American-Statesman writer Peter Blackstock, Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay of Jamestown Revival, and Jamestown Revival manager Marc Friedenberg.
Celebrities And Addiction
Date: March 20
Location: Gibson Guitar Showroom
Time: Noon‒1 p.m.
The Rundown: The Recording Academy's MusiCares Foundation will host a panel discussion on the unique challenges facing celebrities on the road to recovery. Speakers include guitarist Wayne Kramer and television/radio host Matt Pinfield.
MusiCares Hearing Clinics
Date: March 20‒21
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 5AB
Time: 2‒5 p.m. (March 19); Noon‒5:00 p.m. (March 21)
The Rundown: MusiCares will offer one-on-one hearing consultations, screenings and impressions for free earplugs to qualifying musicians. Appointments will be made on-site.
