Okayplayer House at Bungalow, 92 Rainey Street
It's official! We're going back to Texas. Yes, Okayplayer is proud to announce our return to SXSW in 2015 with a 3-part series of official SXSW showcases headlined by some of the most exciting new artists currently making music. Period. Produced in conjunction with Okayplayer's channel partners Okayafrica and Okayfuture, and global music syndicate Soulection, the events—taking place on March 19th, 20th & 21st—will showcase the full spectrum of underground music, from Your Old Droog—one of the most talked about rappers in the industry over the past year—to the French-Cuban twin sisters Ibeyi (XL Records), who incorporate the Afro-Cuban traditions of their father (and Buena Vista Social Club member) Miguel "Anga" Diaz into a sound best described as "Yoruba Future Soul."
Other highlights include BADBADNOTGOOD (with surprise special guests! You know how that goes) and Hiatus Kaiyote—two of the foremost ensembles carrying live music into the new millennium. Additionally, IAMNOBODI will be making his fist North American appearance and Goldlink will joined by a full complement of artists representing Soulection, the premier digital label in the global beats scene. All three showcases will take place at the much-loved Bungalow venue, effectively transforming 92 Rainey Street into the Okayplayer House for the annual music conference. The series marks a triumphant return to the Austin after Okayplayer's 15th anniversary celebrations in 2014 (featuring an appearance from DJ Erykah Badu, Mercury Prize-winning group Young Fathers, and the reunion of Aloe Blacc and Exile as Emanon + much more) was the talk of last year's festival.
To celebrate this year's events, Okayplayer and Okayfuture have teamed up with Serato, the world leader in DJ software, in hosting a special giveaway for five (5) lucky winners. Prizes will include the Serato DJ Club Kit, Nick Hook Collage EP Serato Pressing and limited release Coral Pastel Serato Control Vinyl. Winners will be announced during SXSW. Enter to win by joining our email list below.
Here's the calendar of Okayplayer events, just click through to get posters and complete details for each individual event:
Okayplayer House @ Bungalow 92 Rainey Street
Thursday March 19 — Okayfuture SXSW Official Showcase Powered by Serato
Friday March 20 — Soulection & Okayplayer present The Sound of Tomorrow
Saturday March 21 — Okayplayer & Okayafrica SXSW Official Showcase
>>>Click Through For Poster Art + Details For Each Night:
Okayplayer & Okayafrica Present Official SXSW Showcase on Saturday, March 21
On Saturday March 21st, Okayplayer pulls out all the stops for it's live showcase, bringing to the stage BADBADNOTGOOD with surprise special guests (the 'punkjazz' ensemble who first took the world by storm via their collaborations with Odd Future-ists Frank Ocean and Tyler, The Creator--and then confirmed their place as an unstoppable musical force this year with their brand new collaborative LP with Ghostface Killah, titled 'Sour Soul' ). Hiatus Kaiyote (New Zealand); Your Old Droog (NYC); Ibeyi (Paris via Havana) and Seattle's THEESatisfaction round out the field of performers, a who's who of young acts carrying on and redefining the spirit of hip-hop across the globe in 2015. Another highlight is Greighwolfe, a brand new artist who made is online debut via Okayplayer's First Look series--and who is already garnering comparisons to Miguel and D'Angelo. DJs Spoko and Fever Trails bring the sounds of South Africa to the decks between each set.
8:00-8:25 Marc E Bassy
8:35-8:50 Your Old Droog
9:00-9:25 Greighwolfe
9:35-9:50 THEESatisfaction
10:00-10:25 Ibeyi
10:35-11:05 Hiatus Kaiyote
11:15-12:05 Bad Bad Not Good w/SURPRISE Special Guests
12:15-1:00 Redinho
1:10-1:55 Orfeo & Computer Jay
Soulection & Okayplayer Present ‘The Sound of Tomorrow’ Official SXSW Showcase on Friday, March 20
On Friday March 20, the Soulection crew take over the Okayplayer House making SXSW stop #2 on their first ever North American Tour. The showcase sees Berlin-based (and star producer on Soulection) IAMNOBODI making his first U.S. appearance. Also featured are London-based emcee Jay Prince + The DMV's own Goldlink. ESTA will be in the mix fresh off European tour as Abjo. Soulection radio show host, Joe Kay, and crew fixtures Andre Power (Soulection creative director) and The Whooligan (head of global bookings) honing in on Soulection's signature "Sound of Tomorrow" (TSOT).
Soulection has hit over 50+ cities and nearly every continent within the last year and are very excited to celebrate life with their supporters and network in North America this spring. Soulection is a record label, radio show and independent digital platform that increases visibility for good music through globally branded events, official record releases and ongoing cultural education around music.
8:00-9:00 Andre Power & the Whooligan
9:00-9:45 ABJO
9:45-10:30 Jay Prince
10:30-11:15 GoldLink
11:15-12:15 ESTA.
12:15-1:15 IAMNOBODI
1:15-2:00 Joe Kay
Okayfuture SXSW Official Showcase Powered by Serato on Thursday, March 19
Okayfuture and Serato join forces to specially curate a night of future-minded music with their official SXSW showcase on Thursday, March 19th at the Okayplayer House @ Bungalow, with performances by Salva, Brenmar, eSenTRIK, Dave Luxe, ENFERNO, UNiiQU3 and Kittens!
Past Okayfuture Show Artists: ODESZA, Bonobo, Sweater Beats, Booty Fade, Brenmar, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, Falcons, Durkin, Brother In Arms, Nick Hook, Terry Urban, DJ Seko, Deejay Theory, Tony Quattro, Different Sleep, Obey City, Dubbel Dutch, Photay, DJ Big O, AOBeats and more.
Watch last year's recap below, enter to win one of five (5) Serato prize packs using the form above, and see you in Austin!
7:00-8:00pm KITTENS
8:00-9:00pm ENFERNO
9:00-10:00pm Dave Luxe
10:00-11:00pm dJ eSenTRiK
11:00-12:00am BRENMAR
12:00-1:00am SALVA
1:00-2:00 UNiiQU3
