STEWART COPELAND

OK, y'all, there's a huge music festival in Austin, TX every March; I just found out I'm going, because Aussie musicians Paul Kelly and the Hoodoo Gurus are going to play in '07. The Hoodoos virtually never play in the U.S. and Hub is a huge, huge fan. Paul Kelly, well, I don't even know where to start. I've been a fan since 1986; I've seen him play seven, eight times, including once in Australia; and I will not miss this festival! Pete Townshend's giving the keynote, I just discovered. It's also got a film showcase and some interactive media forums.

So. Wonder what we'd have to do to encourage Stew and the boys to get on the setlist. I think I might pass out of sheer joy, is the only risk.

More info on the fest:

http://2007.sxsw.com/

This is one of the greatest Festival for people in the music industry like me; I use to go to Popkomm (Berlin) and Midem (Cannes), but SXSW is absolutely way much better because of so many great concerts and events; Midem and Popkomm got them as well, but not so many and so important.

You should come, Gio!! It'll be a ball!

How long was Bonnaroo planned before they did it? I doubt they could, at least one of them would already have something planned by now.

Well, word on the street now is that the Hoodoos are going to play some other dates (and I'm sure PK will as well)...problem is, tix to SXSW are VERY expensive (particularly compared to Bonnaroo) and they don't announce which artists play which dates beforehand - which is a problem for folks needing to take vacation time, make travel arrangements, etc.

So now we're thinking that for less money, we could easily travel to Chicago, Atlanta or New York to see either band, and won't be locked into nonrefundable tickets if we can't make the dates "our" bands are playing.

Sigh. Why are these things always so complicated?