Yorkshire Launch Party @ SXSW

Saturday 21st March / Yorkshire Launch Party 12.00 pm to 3:00 pm at the British Music Embassy / Latitude 30 (512 San Jacinto), Austin, Texas

Timeless Music Project and Chocolate Fireguard Records present the FIRST EVER Yorkshire music showcase at SXSW. Featuring Wild Beasts, Paul Marshall, Talk To Angels, Rolo Tomassi and Sky Larkin. Showcasing some of the very best talent from Yorkshire, England!

YORKSHIRE LAUNCH PARTY LINE UP

Wild Beasts - A 4 piece from Leeds, England, debut album 'Limbo, Panto' was released to critical acclaim in the UK and USA on Domino. The song titles alone, Vigil For A Fuddy Duddy, Woebegone Wanderers, Cheerio Chaps, give notice you are entering a highly original environment. One listen will leave you confounded and enchanted www.wild-beasts.co.uk

Sky Larkin (Leeds) - Sky Larkin's ascent has been rapid and invigorating. The trio's pair of pre-album singles 'Fossil, I' and 'Beeline' have swelled interest and love in the band, prior to the release of their debut album, The Golden Spike. Signed to mighty indie Wichita (bloc party, etc) 2009 looks bright. www.weareskylarkin.com

Paul Marshall (Leeds) - Since signing to Bella Union, Paul Marshall has appeared on Guy Garvey's radio show, filmed a session for MTV2 and toured with Bat For Lashes and Jose Gonzalez. Currently recording for his debut 2009 release, Paul will appear at SXSW whilst following up his festival appearances at Bestival, Wireless, End of the Road and Green Man in 2008. www.myspace.com/paulmarshallyeah

Rolo Tomassi (Sheffield) - Hassle Records newest signings, Rolo Tomassi are a fresh-faced bunch straight from the Steel City, playing some of the most frenetic, insane and jaw-dropping tunes around. Combining elements of punk, hardcore, post-rock, electronica, jazz and full on metal, it's an aural assault, but of the hippest, knowing kind, and in frontwoman Eva, they posess the most natural star to emerge from the UK underground in years. Forming in 2005, the band self-released their first demo, and followed this up by a self-titled EP; their debut LP 'Hysterics' was released in September 2008 on Hassle www.myspace.com/rolotomassi

Talk To Angels (Bradford) - They're loud, impassioned, dramatic and barely legal! Run through with big ideas, these guys will give you a live set that will make your hair stand on end. Expect an A & R fest at every performance. Born at the studios that launched Kaiser Chiefs, Embrace and Pigeon Detectives, Talk To Angels return to Austin, the scene of their historic Obama election night show. www.myspace.com/talktoangels

*** Register at www.britishmusic.biz. Line up confirmed at time of going to press.
Please note that line up may change in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
www.chocolatefireguard.co.uk

ABOUT TIMELESS MUSIC PROJECT

Over the last 4 years, award winning Social Enterprise "Timeless Music Project" has been delivering projects aimed at drawing attention to and supporting Yorkshire's talented music industry. Established in 2004, projects include regional showcase CDs, events, festivals, campaigning and conferences. New for 2009 and thanks to Yorkshire Forward sponsorship, Timeless Music Project made the case for and is organising the first ever live Yorkshire Music Showcase event at SXSW Music Conference, Texas on Saturday 21st March (12-3). It will take place at the British Music Embassy venue - just before the slot traditionally held by Liverpool Sound City. Yorkshire will now also be a regional partner in the British Music Stand at the Austin Convention Centre (again for the very first time)
www.timelessmusicproject.com

So why is this so important? SXSW is regarded by many as the most important US based Music Conference relevant to British Music exports - responsible for breaking acts including Amy Winehouse. Along with this year's Timeless Music Project regional CD sampler "Independent Sounds of Yorkshire and the Humber" which will also help to profile some of the best homegrown talent, the Yorkshire showcase will add worth to UK Trade & Investment Yorkshire's forthcoming SXSW Trades Mission for Yorkshire based creative businesses, which along with Sensoria Festival, this vibrant Social Enterprise has been helping to develop: www.y2tx.com

ABOUT YORKSHIRE'S MUSIC SCENE Dave Simpson / The Guardian - from article featured in SXSW British Music Guide

Since Kaiser Chiefs' "Everything's brilliant in Leeds" T-shirt in 2004, music in wider Yorkshire has undergone an enormous resurgence. From the Kaisers to Leeds's Pigeon Detectives and chanteuse Corinne Bailey Rae, to Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys, the northern county houses some of the biggest and most influential acts in the UK. There's no such thing as a "Yorkshire sound", but the diverse acts do share an independent spirit. The Kaisers' Britpop-influenced anthems ignored prevailing fashions. Following the example of Sheffield pioneers the Human League and Pulp, Arctic Monkeys' blend of storytelling and guitars has provided a blueprint for bands around the nation. Although Leeds and Sheffield boast thriving club and jazz scenes, the diversity of sound is shaped by the annual influx of students, many of whom form bands like Dinosaur Pile-Up and Wonderswan, who are trailblazing an unlikely but exciting Yorkshire grungey sound. Sheffield continues to hit the headlines with Mercury-nominated singer/producer Richard Hawley and his Made In Sheffield album union with Tony Christie, another of the city's famous sons. But now, even smaller Yorkshire towns are producing bands: indie rockers the Cribs and Skint And Demoralised from Wakefield and One Night Only, the tiny North Yorkshire village of Helmsley's unlikely pop sensations. Maybe someone should change that slogan to "Everything's brilliant in Yorkshire."

(Dave Simpson, music writer, the Guardian and author of The Fallen: Searching For The Missing Members Of The Fall www.thefallenbook.co.uk)

ABOUT YORKSHIRE'S MUSIC SCENE Interview with Alan Raw of BBC Raw Talent Introducing

"Yorkshire's music scene is blooming marvellously. It's been on the up for over seven years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Four years ago Melvin Benn (Head of Mean Fiddler at the time, now Festival Republic) said in an interview on BBC Raw Talent Introducing; that Yorkshire was the new capital of UK music. Since then the infrastructure and expertise necessary to support this volume of new talent, has moved up from London or been created by local entrepreneurial enterprises. The result is sustained success for the regions artists such as Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, Pigeon Detectives, Corrine Bailey Rae, and a new interested market for the emerging talent in and around Leeds, Hull, York and Sheffield who will be rightly showcased at SXSW this year. Artists like Paul Marshall, Nat Johnson, Awash with Antler, Sky Larkin, Rolo Tomassi, Hungry Ghosts & Talk To Angels, to name a few of the many superb artists and bands that are rising up in Yorkshire this year. The success of the summer events like the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds festival, Scarborough's Beached Festival, Timeless Festival, Huddersfield and the new stages at Beverley Folk Festival have focused media interest on Yorkshire and brought music audiences out to support these bands. The success is now on show and Yorkshire's future looks fantastic"