This week is almost certainly the biggest week of the year for Scottish international gigs. 14 Scottish bands are heading to the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas and Vic will be there too. Here is his preview together with a listing of more than 80 Scottish gigs around the world this week:

South by Southwest 2010 Preview

Ah yes, all you lovely listeners out there will no doubt have heard me mention this little sojourn every now and again on my weekly radio shows. I absolutely love it and cannot talk more highly about this incredible event! This year will be my 8th visit to Austin, Texas and the largest and most exciting music happening on the planet.

Over 2000 acts play over 5 days under the sun, showcasing music from across Europe, Asia and of course the UK. It was originally set up in the 1980’s as an alternative site to the dominant forces of New York and Los Angeles, to showcase and find new music. It benefitted and helped the underground and under-the-radar labels and artists, and continues to do so… although it is now massive and occasionally corporate in places!

Over the last few years, Scotland’s presence at the event has grown with afternoon parties happening until last year when we actually had afternoon AND evening gigs, with names such as Primal Scream, Glasvegas, The Proclaimers, Found, Pictish Trail and Dananananaykroyd all appearing. This year, we continue with 2 shows, and I’ll be host and MC at them both. Try and make it down to either or both of them if you’re in Austin…

Evening showcase at The Parish on Wednesday 17th from 8pm – 2am – Hudson Mohawke, Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Codeine Velvet Club, Unicorn Kid & Tommy Reilly.

Afternoon showcase at Latitude 30 on Friday 19th from 1pm – 6pm – Broken Records, Twin Atlantic, Young Fathers, St Deluxe, Fangs & The Law.

FOR UPDATED FREE PARTY LISTS CLICK HERE

Also on tour this week: The Cinematics, Copy Haho, Alex Smoke, Biffy Clyro, Colin MacIntyre (also at SXSW), Trembling Bells (also at SXSW), Franz Ferdinand, Eddi Reader, Camera Obscura, The Average White Band and The Waterboys. See all dates below.

Vic

Follow Vic at SXSW on Twitter @VicGallloway

Check out Vic on BBC Radio every week:

Monday Night 8.05pm-10pm, BBC Radio Scotland
Vic has a Homegame Live Music

Wednesday Night Midnight-2am, BBC Radio 1 in Scotland
Vic will be at SXSW

More Vic at www.myspace.com/vicgallowayr1

Scotland on Tour this week

[scotlandontour_thisweek startdate=”20100315″ enddate=”20100320″]

SXSW Timelapse

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrEYMP2rb3c