Berklee Rocks SXSW

Check out photos from the college's fourth annual party in Austin.
By
Margot Edwards

Dave Smith, Joe Spinella, and Dan Goddard of the Volunteers

Photo by Magen Tracy

Student Alexandra Spalding and Annie Lynch '08 of Annie Lynch and the Beekeepers

Photo by Magen Tracy

Student David Khoshtinat of SuperVolcano

Photo by Valerie Fremin

The Motion Sick get the audience moving with a video-game–inspired dance-along. Left to right: Matthew Girard, Mike Epstein, Patrick Mussari '06.

Photo by Magen Tracy

Ma'ayan Castel '02 and Leo Mellace '92

Photo by Magen Tracy

Student Maddie Herec and Evan Brock of the Hollow Sound

Photo by Magen Tracy

Melissa Ferrick '90

Photo by Magen Tracy

Dan Ellis '06 of Kid:Nap:Kin

Photo by Magen Tracy

Sarah Sharp '95 MC'd the party.

Photo by Magen Tracy

Aaron Sinclair '99

Photo by Valerie Fremin

Berklee was well represented at the 23rd annual SXSW Music and Media Conference, an event that completely devours Austin for the better part of a week each March. More than 30 bands featuring students and alumni were among the artists playing official and unofficial showcases. Nine of those bands were on hand to perform at Berklee's fourth annual official SXSW Party at Friends Bar on Sixth Street, in the heart of the action downtown.

The audience included alumni, students, SXSW badge and wristband holders, and passersby who, upon hearing kickass music blasting from the club's open front windows, came inside to hear more.

While they listened to varied music by Melissa Ferrick, Kid:Nap:Kin, Annie Lynch and the Beekeepers, the Volunteers, the Hollow Sound, Aaron Sinclair, SuperVolcano, the Motion Sick, and Ma'ayan Castel, partygoers mixed, mingled, and were treated to free Dorm Sessions 6 CDs—the latest compilation by Berklee's student-run label Heavy Rotation Records—and the chance to win a Berkleemusic.com course and SanDisk Sansa MP3 players. Read more about the show from the new Berklee on Tour blog.

Click the photo to see an album of the performers.