SpokesBUZZ sends local bands to SXSW in Austin

In an effort to raise Fort Collins’ national visibility as an incubator and destination spot for arts and culture, community stakeholders have recently invested in a project aimed at local musicians.

SpokesBUZZ Fort Collins will be hosting a showcase of local bands at the famous South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, TX in March. The showcase will not only feature some of Fort Collins’ finest musicians, but attendees will also experience a sampling of other elements that make our community buzz, like bikes, locally brewed beer, and green living.

Spearheaded by local event promoter and philanthropist Dani Grant, SpokesBUZZ is an idea born after she attend SXSW last year.

“I went to multiple city showcases and thought that our city had such a great story to tell. Our arts and culture programs and our progressive green city are exemplary, and I thought we should be represented at the SXSW Festival,” Grant said.

“Presenting with other city and industry showcases at SXSW garners Fort Collins credibility as the music city it is and provides a national platform to promote our incredible local talent,” Grant believes.

An idea like this doesn’t just happen, though. Grant presented her brainchild to several people in the community who jumped onboard, offering their talents, resources and support. The result: Six local bands will travel to Austin and perform 45-minute sets throughout the day at The Wave, a venue in the heart of the festival.

In addition to performing, musicians will attend seminars, panel discussions, and other educational events presented by industry leaders including Quincy Jones. They’ll learn the tools of their trade and return to Fort Collins to pass along their knowledge and experiences at SpokesBUZZ post-events, contributing to the success and growth of the local music scene as a whole.

“SXSW is the world’s biggest independent music festival, so naturally it is very important for us to be a part of it. It’s a meeting of the minds, so to speak,” said Ian Haygood, who plays guitar and sings in the band Wire Faces, a 3-piece rock band that has been described as an unapologetic throwback to dance.
Gearing up to release their debut full-length album this spring, Wire Faces understands that participating in SXSW is an awesome opportunity.

“You get to hear all the newest music, perform to people that have never heard you before and meet all of the wonderful, like-minded individuals who are also down there to have a great time,” Haygood said. “We are proud of where we come from, so we intend on representing Fort Collins the best way we know how to, Rock N’ Roll!”

Pep Squad, an electro-dance-punk band that has not played outside of Colorado, is also really excited to be a part of SpokesBUZZ and not just to play in the showcase.

“We also want to represent the amazing and diverse music scene we have in Fort Collins. We see this as a great opportunity to get exposure for our own band, as well as the scene as a whole,” said Brett Schreiber, bassist and singer. “We hope we can bring some diversity to the mix, since some of the other bands are guitar driven and some lean toward a more mainstream sound. I think it’s good to show that we do have that kind of diversity here.”

Dani Grant is very enthusiastic about the event. She’s an avid music fan who has promoted concerts and managed events locally, including Bohemian Nights in 2008. She provides a venue for local musicians at Chipper’s Lanes, which she owns with her husband. She’s also a founding board member of Kids Create the Music Foundation, a non-profit that is trying to fund house rock bands as clubs at middle schools in Northern Colorado with the assistance of Clear Channel’s Kiss FM,96.1.

Inspired by local movers and shakers like Kate Hoffner, an advocate for sustainability and green policy, and philanthropist Pat Stryker, founder of the Bohemian Foundation, Grant uses her skills and inspiration to promote local talent and the community in hopes of increasing Fort Collin’s notoriety and stimulating its economic growth.

“The skills I have to offer to the movement are project management and experience in event production, so I set my mind to make the SXSW showcase happen,” Grant said. “My heart is in this!”

Many others have invested their passion as well. Sponsorships are coming from Chipper’s Lanes, A-Train Marketing, Fort Collins Music Association, New Belgium Brewery, Zero Hero, Caddis Technologies, Scene Magazine, SceneSavvant Blog, Channel 14 Media, Colorado Music Lounge and Coyote Gold Margaritas. Additional collaboration comes from many agencies and businesses in Fort Collins that are supporting and endorsing the project, including GenGreen, Fort Collins Visitors Center, The International Foundation of Arts, Articulate City, Green Air Lawn Care, Savvant Music,  and The Art Lab.

“The artists themselves should be considered sponsors of the event as well because they are incurring expenses associated with this project, including travel and housing,” Grant said. “If we are able to secure more funds, we will be able to offer more assistance to the musicians. At this point they are gaining benefit from the promotion and opportunity, and there is a sense of community and pride in representing Fort Collins at an international event.”

“The energy around this project is incredible and we have many volunteers coming to Austin to assist in the event production on their own dime,” Grant said.

She’s honest and humble about her involvement withSpokesBUZZ.

“It’s a community grassroots effort. I have been spearheading it but the ideas and efforts come from many companies, the bands involved and people that I have talked to and gained insight from. This project would not happen without the incredible efforts of [everyone involved].”

Band Performance Schedule:
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Wave, 408 East 6th Street, Austin, TX

Pep*Squad 11:30
Wire Faces 12:30
Fierce Bad Rabbit 1:30
The Northern Way 2:30
Motorhome 3:30
Candy Claws 4:30