SXSW Hosts First Hungarian Showcase On March 16, 2018

Beats sparkle like light on water. Fiddles roar like tipsy partygoers, crying out that mysterious Magyar mood of “bitter revelry.” Pop finesse flows through perfectly executed polyglot songs. The wild variety is what Hungary is all about, boasting a music scene with a centuries-long pedigree, a history of fantastic folk and trained musicianship, and a location where East meets Western Europe.

SXSW 2018 will see the first official Hungary showcase, supported by Music Export Budapest. To represent the country’s broad palette of sounds, these four groups highlight the best of Hungary’s many worlds, from chic cosmopolitan singer-songwriter to upbeat club music to wild and crazy freak folk.

“The bands all represent different genres, the common ground is their ambition to be seen on an international level – and SXSW is a perfect forum,” explains Aron Romhanyi, Artistic Director, Music Export Budapest. “This year five bands got selected from Hungary, and the official “Sounds from Hungary” showcase on the 16th of March will be the first ever Hungarian showcase at SXSW, and we’re hoping it will put Hungary on everyone’s sonic map.”

SOUNDS FROM HUNGARY
PALM DOOR ON SABINE | Friday, March 16, 2018 | 8PM – 2AM
$10 (free with SXSW badge/wristband)

About the Sounds from Hungary performers:

Belau: Belau’s buoyant beats chronicles the audio-visual duo’s many travels. Optimistic and exploratory, Belau have performed at key European festivals like Reeperbahn and are debuting in the US at SXSW.

Bohemian Betyars: Named for the Robin Hood-like bandits of the 19th century, this speed punk freak folk crew has hints of Gogol Bordello but loads of Hungarian folk chops and lightning-speed Romani stylings, goofy and delightfully melancholy.

Boggie: With all the warm grace of Patricia Kaas and the intensity of Adele, Boggie writes and sings in French, English, and Hungarian, drawing on the best song traditions of all three. After her debut album reached #3 on the US Billboard chart in 2013, she performed across Europe and North America, represented Hungary at the Eurovision Contest, and shared the stage with luminaries like Placido Domingo.

The Qualitons: Soul with a Hungarian heartbeat.

Rackajam: A wildly popular Magyar remix of urban folk, rock, and blues.

“We would like to thank SXSW for hosting the Sounds from Hungary showcase, and Music Export Budapest, the Hungarian National Trading House, the National Cultural Fund (NKA), the Embassy of Hungary in Washington and the Hungarian Cultural Center in NY for their support,” says Romhanyi. “These efforts require a lot of collaboration, and we’re thrilled to get the support of all our partners.”

Source: Rock Paper Scissors