SXSW live review: UK acts including buzz band SPRINTS thrilled at Music For Listeners party
Lazarus Brewing Company hosted the annual Music For Listeners showcase again this year, and, as should be expected, it did not disappoint. The Cosmic Clash was on hand to witness the third of five days of live music on March 14 at the East Austin Brewery that featured SXSW buzz band SPRINTS from Ireland along with a slate of primarily UK acts.
The live music kicked off at noon, with Native Harrow, of Sussex, UK; followed by Colatura, of Brooklyn who went on at 1 p.m. Colatura also performed at the Psychedelic Plants Clash hosted by The Cosmic Clash and Play to the Plants earlier in the week on March 12 at The 13th Floor.
At 2 p.m., indie-rock four-piece, Neon Waltz, from Scotland, put on a welcoming performance that surely tallied a few new fans to their base.
Their latest album, Honey Now, was released in September of last year, and came to Austin on the heels of their UK and Ireland tour.
The humid, cloudy, warm afternoon was accompanied with a nice breeze and flowing beers brewed in-house at the East Sixth venue.
The R&B-inspired, funk four-piece from Oslo, Norway’s Fieh, brought a jubilant, playful vibe which spiraled through music clearly inspired by 80’s rhythm and blues. The band included “Telephone Girl,” the lead single from their 2021 LP In the Sun in the Rain. The neo-soul group released their latest studio LP, III, this past November, and do not appear to have any shows scheduled for a few months.
English band, Coach Party, went on at 4 p.m.. The Isle of Wight-rooted quartet brought heavier, post-punk sounds to the party. KILLJOY, their latest LP, hit streaming services and shelves on February 16. The band has a European tour planned beginning in May.
Punk-inspired, indie-pop group, The Lottery Winners, of Leigh, just outside of Manchester, England kept things moving with humorous banter and crowd-engaging hype. Lead vocalist Thom Rylance shared anecdotes and stories with the audience between uplifting musical numbers largely inspired by dealing with lifelong trauma. The group is touring the UK over the coming months, and their latest album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy, will see the one-year anniversary of its release on April 28.
Belfast electronic punk trio, Chalk, would not make it for their 6 p.m. set. This opened the door for the evening’s headliner, up-and-coming Dublin garage-punk band, SPRINTS, to take stage an hour early, which caught some fans off guard. The group was certainly a draw to the event after dropping official shows from their schedule leaving only two performances during Sx that fans could catch the buzz-worthy act. The Dublin rock band was slated for a series of official shows, but was one of dozens of artists to drop their official sets due to concerns regarding military sponsors of SXSW. The band’s set at Lazarus for an unofficial Music for Listeners showcase would be their only show of the week, at least up to that point.
SPRINTS has gained much traction over the past few months with the January release of their debut album, Letter to Self. The album release and subsequent critical acclaim made them one of the more highly-anticipated, buzzed-about bands of this year’s festival. The performance did not disappoint with lead singer Karla Chubb ingratiating herself with the audience with grit and forays into the crowd during the show.
Every year, Lazarus Brewing Company hosts the Music For Listeners showcase that never lets down, but always impresses. One can rest assured that they can enjoy the live bands from around the US, UK and much of Europe, in an intimate setting, while relaxing on the patio with good beer and food. The showcase has become one of the more entertaining, low-stress series of the week.
All photos by Brian Hillsman
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