With the year-end holidays looming let SXSW help you take care of a few items on your To Do list. Register today for SXSW 2012, request your hotel accommodations, and if your hotel is on the Hotel Shuttle route, get your hotel shuttle passes in advance too. Cross these SXSW 2012 planning items off your list so you can relax and celebrate the seasons.

If you have any questions send us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We look forward to seeing you in March!

Photo courtesy of Embassy Suites Central

In a way, you can thank a Thanksgiving jam from the '70s for the existence of the band Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, who return to SXSW in 2012. While a student at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York, drummer Matt Burr was inspired by The Band's Scorsese-directed concert masterpiece, "The Last Waltz." "Levon Helm’s eternal onstage joy was instantly infectious," says Matt, "and the overall band chemistry was mind altering." He met a freshman folk singer named Grace Potter and convinced her to start a band with him. They would soon be joined by guitarist Scott Tournet, and a few years later by bassist Catherine Popper and guitarist Benny Yurco.

The young band that first established itself in the New England music scene would have fit right in with the Woodstock-era stars who joined The Band at the Wonderland Ballroom in '76. But as Nylon's Liza Darwin writes, "despite the 60's and 70's-inspired bluesy rock beats, these melodies are still undeniably current." At SXSW 2010, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals introduced songs from their self-titled 3rd album on Hollywood Records, an artistic and commercial breakthrough that raised the band's national profile considerably. Grace also cut a hit duet with country superstar Kenny Chesney, "You and Tequila,"and the band will support Chesney and Tim McGraw on their "Brothers of the Sun" major stadium tour next summer. GPN is in the early stages of work on their next album and Grace says, “I’m really excited about how things are progressing...We’re all chomping at the bit to make a KILLER record.” This means the band will be bringing new songs to perform at SXSW 2012, and for that we are thankful. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and register now to join us here in Austin in March.
Photo courtesy of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Frontpage Image: 

BUILT is a series of short talks by DIY creators which launched at SXSW 2011, and Bikehugger is bringing it back to SXSW 2012 for their biggest event of the year. This attendee favorite delivers ten 5-minute presentations by diverse speakers on rapid fire topics surrounding the idea of re-purposing: taking the ordinary and creating the extraordinary. Come witness the future of creativity at BUILT 2012 on Next Stage.

BUILT: Giving New Purpose to the Ordinary Mon. March 12th at 12:00pm. Next Stage in Exhibit Hall 4.

BUILT is now open for submissions. For more info click here.

• Occupy Musicians launches site
  Story from The Guardian.
• Subscription services explain artist payments
  Story from Fast Company.
• New Orleans art project turns house into instrument
  Story from NY Times.
• Greil Marcus on The Doors
  Review from LA Times.
• Julie Delpy to direct Joe Strummer film
  Story from The Telegraph.
• Leonard Cohen reveals album details
  Story from Pitchfork.
• Lefty Frizzell's brother looks to change singer's wild reputation
  Story from Billboard.

• UMG sues Grooveshark
  Post from CNET.
• SOPA opponents speak out
  Story from CNN.
• Spotify says it's headed in a 'new direction'
  Post from All Things D.
• Springsteen announces new album, world tour
  Item from Rolling Stone.
• American Music Awards recapped
  Story from AP.
• Music Row spent $4 million on lobbying in 3 months
  Story from The Tennessean.
• Ted Leo and Titus Andronicus play to benefit #OWS
  Item from Pitchfork.
• South American Lollapaloozas announce lineups
  Story from Billboard.biz.

• Music groups fault broadcasters in letter to supercommittee
  Post from The Hill.
• Distributor withdraws from Spotify
  Story from Wired.
• Rihanna's videos push buttons
  Story from LA Times.
• "Song to the Siren" - an unlikely path for a classic song
  Story from The Guardian.
• News flash - indie musicians use online resources
  Story from Business Week.
• Knowles to launch girl group with reality show
  Story from Pollstar.
• Independent publishing deal with YouTube is ready to be implemented
  Story from Billboard.biz.