Celebrating two decades at SXSW Austin
A rare pre-show moment of calm with Crispin.
Austin, 2024
As SXSW launch in London next year, British Underground celebrate twenty years of showcasing exceptional, emerging UK talent across live music and technology at SXSW in Austin.
In 2024, British Underground are a team of four with a rich alumni, but our journey began decades ago with our founder and CEO, Crispin. “Being part of SXSW in Austin has been an amazing journey for British Underground”, he shares.
“In 2002 we worked with the BPI and Metropolis Music to produce the first official UK Showcase at SXSW (Austin) featuring Elbow and Oxide and Neutrino, and since then we’ve presented showcases every year including break-out performances from The Darkness, Amy Winehouse, Stormzy and Ezra Collective”.
“From The Bootleg BBQ to The British Music Embassy we’ve introduced some ground-breaking stages into Austin and Future Art and Culture, our art and technology programme with ACE and British Council, has been an award-winning highlight in recent years. With all this in mind, we welcome SXSW London to our home town and look forward to some local creative adventures”.
One of the best parts about the work we do is seeing the magic of our combined skills, creativity and bold thinking come to life through the success of the people we work with. So, as the excitement builds and the world heads to London next year for SXSW, we look forward to sharing what the British Underground team has up our sleeves soon…
Image guide:
Crispin and Sway (2006)
The first official UK showcase at SXSW guide created by BU (2002)
Crispin, Dan and David Fricke from Rolling Stone Magazine (2005)
Steph, Almass, Crispin & Dan (2023)
Stormzy at the SBTV showcase produced by BU (2016) Image: BBC
Crispin with Laura Whitticase (2022)
Ezra Collective at the Jazz re:freshed showcase produced by BU (2019) Image: David Brendan Hall
Amy Winehouse: UK SXSW opening party at Brush Square, co-produced by BU, BBC, BPI and Metropolis Music in 2007 (Image: © Daniel Boud / Retna Ltd)
Porij - “Selector presents with Sian Eleri” showcase produced by BU (2023)
Crispin featuring in Nick Kwek ‘s BBC documentary “Click”, raising awareness for access to technology that helps people like Eli Crossley, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), keep their artistry alive (2023)
The Jazz re:freshed Outernational SXSW showcase (2017)
