SpokesBUZZ to Sponsor/Host Colorado Music Party at SXSW
SpokesBUZZ, the Fort Collins-based non-profit that has been doing wonders for a carefully selected group of Colorado bands over the last few years, has once again worked to organize the Colorado Music Party, a showcase of Colorado talent at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX. We got the word from SpokesBUZZ marketing director Julie Sutter about the event and the artists involved.
CMB: What organizations are the main driving force for the Colorado Music Party?
JS: The Colorado Music Party essentially started as a collaborative promotional campaign created in 2013 by nonprofit organization SpokesBUZZ Fort Collins. This year at SXSW 2014, we’ve expanded the campaign to a full-fledged two-day party and showcase presented by SpokesBUZZ, Reverb, and Colorado Public Radio’s OpenAir. We have sponsorship support from the Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Creative Industries and New Belgium Brewing Company. Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Mishawaka Amphitheatre are sponsoring the two stages at The 512 on Sixth. All in all, 20+ partners are collaborating on the two-day event.
Full list of partners here: http://coloradomusicparty.com/partners
CMB: Who are the artists that are part of the CMP? How are they chosen?
JS: I’m attaching a press release that includes 28 of the 30 bands that will play the Colorado Music Party (we have not yet announced the remaining two headliners). Each band is selected and presented by a corresponding showcase partner (for example, SpokesBUZZ, as a presenting partner, has chosen 4 bands: Wasteland Hop, Winchester Holiday, The Yawpers and The Patti Fiasco) to represent Colorado at the showcase. Several of the partners explain why they chose a particular band on the partners page (see link, above). When we decided to go from campaign to showcase this year, we approached a number of the partners that supported the campaign last year (Illegal Pete’s, Yellowbright, Sweetwine Entertainment Group, Mishawaka) to see if they’d like to participate and present performances this year. But in some cases, partners approached us wanting to get involved when they heard about the concept. The collaborative aspect really resonates with people and it’s a great way to rise about the noise at SXSW.
Not all the artists are Colorado bands (though most are) — some are artists represented by the Colorado music industry representatives (like 7s Management) or Colorado festivals such as Telluride Blues & Brews Festival <<presenting Austin artist Shakey Graves, who will play the festival this year.
CMB: How can fans support the artists of the CMP?
JS: SpokesBUZZ is the fiscal agent for the showcase this year, so fans can literally support the efforts of the Colorado Music Party as a whole by donating to the nonprofit (and specifying they’d like to support the showcase if so). Sharing the word about the showcase (especially with friends going to SXSW) is great — but mostly, getting familiar with the Colorado Music Party artists and their music, following them on social media, offering them support and encouragement by buying their music and merch — all help the artists directly.
CMB: Do Colorado Musicians get discovered at SXSW?
JS: Well, hard to say … most of the bands will tell you that they set their expectations appropriately — it’s a terrific experience to go through as a band, an incredible industry networking opportunity, a chance to collaborate to amplify collective promotional efforts, a good place to put yourself in front of the media, and a great time. “Discovery” would be icing on the cake; you really never do know who is in the crowd at a SXSW show!
CMB: What is the impression of the fans, media and others around the Colorado Music Scene?
JS: Well, probably a better question for them — but overall, the people we’ve talked to react in an overwhelmingly positive way to the concept. It’s a smart way to build regional relationships and gain national attention, it gives everyone involved more exposure and a better bang for their buck at an industry festival that can be very expensive for an individual organization, and it’s a very visible demonstration of what being cooperative vs. competitive can do in the music industry. And there is a tremendous amount of Colorado pride — both in our music scene and our state. Choosing to work together can be a revolutionary concept, but it comes very naturally in Colorado.
Online: coloradomusicparty.com
Category: Buzzworthy
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