Sounds like a
party! 
$1:
Updated Thu. Mar. 16 2006 7:09 AM ET
Canadian Press
TORONTO — There's a Canadian invasion happening this week in Austin, Texas, as more than 75 artists - including Sarah Harmer, Gordie Sampson, Shout Out Out Out Out, Corb Lund, K-os and Matt Mays and El Torpedo - hit the streets hoping to catch the eyes and ears of tastemakers gathered for the South By Southwest Music Festival.
"Canadian musicians are currently producing some of the most consistently interesting, stylistically diverse sounds in the world. This from a nation of 32 million," said Brent Grulke, the festival's creative director.
SXSW organizers received applications from about 400 Canadian bands this year.
"Are all Canadians talented musicians? Sometimes it seems like it," added Grulke.
In addition to the musicians, about 300 industry folk will be pounding the pavement looking for foreign record deals, press coverage and concert booking agents.
This year, the Canadian contingent has the backing of a federal government and music industry campaign called Canadian Blast.
Now in its 20th year, SXSW has a built a solid reputation for showcasing the next wave of breakout bands.
A good review from SXSW can propel a group into the mainstream, as bands like Broken Social Scene can attest. The Toronto outfit garnered rave reviews in hipster publications and made foreign label and concert deals following their 2003 appearance at the festival.
But there's lots of competition for the ears of the 10,000 registrants and hundreds of locals who will attend the Texas music bash. About 1,400 artists from all over the world - in all genres - will be showcased this year.
Industry types are hoping to capitalize on Canada's red-hot music status - created by breakout bands like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene - by handing out CD compilations, flyers and guidebooks marketed under the Canadian Blast banner.
"Those two bands have set the bar pretty high for what's next. Who's going to be able to top those two - that's the question everyone's asking," said Trevor Larocque, co-owner of Toronto-based indie label Paper Bag Records. He'll spend the week looking for booking agents for several of his acts, including Magnetta Lane and Controller.Controller.
Despite the excitement, some acts attending SXSW are a bit weary of the buzz status currently granted to Canada.
"We don't even really know what it's all about," said Lexi Valentine, who fronts the three-piece, female rock band Magnetta Lane.
"What does hype mean? It sounds nice but hype is scary because you don't want to know that your career is fleeting. You want to know that you're going to be there for awhile."
Todd Clark of the Toronto band Pilate admits he's a bit skeptical of large festivals.
"I always think festivals sell bands on the mystique that you're going to get into the festival and there's going to be all these people out to see you. Really, I don't think that's the case," he said.
"I don't have high expectations because I find you have about 100 or 200 bands playing on any one night. How to do you expect everyone to be at your show when across the road you've got Morrissey playing?"
But Clark admits the Canadian fever is helpful if it gets even 10 people to see his band, which is looking to secure foreign label representation. And being accepted to SXSW brings lots of hipster cache.
"Most of the work is done just by having your name on the list," he said.
SXSW runs through Sunday.
I like a lot of Corb Lunds stuff, havn't got a clue who most of those acts are...
http://2006.sxsw.com/
CKA Super Elite 
