SOCAN cruise entertains at SXSW

SOCAN entertained about 60 members and other delegates at the 18^th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference in Austin, Texas, with an early-afternoon boat cruise on Thursday, March 18. Guests dined heartily on quesadillas, and enjoyed a cold beer or two in the gentle breeze. In a draw for SOCAN merchandise - including shirts, baseball caps, CDs and golf towels - the winners were Sam Baardman (Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association), J.P. Ellson (Western Canadian Music Alliance), Carolina Hoyos (En Pointe), Sean Litteljohn (Two Three Five Films), Michael McCarty (EMI Music Publishing), and Chris Taylor (Sanderson-Taylor, Last Gang Records).

The hospitality boat rides, held throughout the afternoon, were co-sponsored by ASCAP, IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organization), and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). SOCAN member Andy Stochansky played a charming solo acoustic set on one of the cruises.

More than 40 Canadian acts played at SXSW this year - the majority of whom received funding from The SOCAN Foundation to help cover the cost of traveling from Canada to Texas. At the North by Northeast (NXNE) Canadian showcase at MoMo's on Saturday, March 20, Death From Above, Metric, Sam Roberts, All Systems Go, The Salads and Despistado played to an enthusiastic crowd of international music industry professionals and fans. Broken Social Scene, who broke through at last year's SXSW festival, were warmly received in their performance this year, on Friday, March 19 at Stubb's.

Other SOCAN members playing the festival included Tangiers, Ron Sexsmith, Oh Susannah, The High Dials, Sarah Harmer, Stars, Nathan, The Constantines and The Buttless Chaps.