Get your dancing boots on. Striped footware spotted recently at Austin’s hip rooftop lounge Lanai, where we’ll be with Academik Records Friday night. Photo (CC-BY) Cameron Russell.

Next week, as the South by Southwest Music Festival descends on Austin, Texas, I’m pleased CDM gets to be involved in a few terrific independent events. No badges, no cover, free drinks and even free giveaways – if you happen to be in Austin, you can save money and then do what I’ll probably do, spend it all at the awesome Switched On synth boutique.

Here’s the schedule:
Wednesday 3/16: Switched On Meet & Greet, 4-7p
The MeeBlip synth meets local electronic instruments at Austin’s legendary boutique synth and sonic and visual electronic shop, Switched On. We’ll be relaxing, geeking out around synths, and I hear word of some surprises TBD.

Thursday 3/17: Allies Electronic Lounge, 9p-2a
Two Fresh, DJ Vadim (and The Electric), Eskmo, and Mindelixir all play live performances. “Powered by Native Instruments” – expect to see some Maschine virtuosity in honor of the sponsor. CDM is a sponsor, and we’ll be talking to artists about their techniques. More details below.
RSVP: http://www.musicallies.com/electronicalounge/

Friday 3/18: Academik Label Launch Event, 9p-2a
Academik launches a new electronic label on a rooftop lounge in central Austin, with Francis Preve (also a writer for Keyboard), Secret Panda Society, William A, Sentinels, and Shreddward. I’ll play an early set, too, and there are giveaways of the M-Audio Venom, Reason+Record, Korg Legacy Collection, Thingamagoop 2, Ableton t-shirts, and more every hour.
Academik Blog Post

Let me repeat. Everything is free, no cover, no badge. And at some events, you might walk away with free drinks or a synth.

Eskmo, bathed in light. Photo (CC-BY-ND) Katzi.

More below on Allies and Academik…

Thursday with Allies: Free Live Electronic Music, Open Bar

Click for full-sized flyer. RSVP.

Okay, Eskmo, this is pretty darned trippy. Am I going to be out in the desert outside Austin by the end of the week, basically seeing this?


Eskmo: “Cloudlight” Official video

Eskmo | Myspace Music Videos

Friday with Academik: Free Rooftop Beat Lounge, Giveaways

Click for full-sized flyer. Blog post.