Washington, DC, had a huge presence in Austin this week as Events DC presented the official SXSW Music Showcase, including some of the legendary talent to come out of the nation’s capital.
Hosted at Austin City Limits’ Moody Theatre, the packed Events DC concert, headlined by Wu-Tang Clan, was the most RSVP'd event at SXSW and the first completely sold-out performance they've ever hosted. Not even Green Day, Bruce Springsteen or Kendrick Lamar pulled those numbers.
The District’s thriving cultural and entertainment scene was represented by the colossal names to come out of DC, including Thievery Corporation, with their classic hypnotic notes, backed by their longtime collaborators Austinites Natalia Clavier and Echocentrics.
The Grammy-nominated artist dubbed “the first lady of neo soul,” DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown aka Erykah Badu, also hit the stage with a 15-minute set early in the evening.
From the world’s first sounds of Go-Go to its historical influence in jazz, DC music has played a vital role in popular music. It continues to be the breeding ground for the next generation in innovative composition, like that of homegrown Wale and Rare Essence, expressing their own admiration for each other on stage.
More than 1,700 eager SXSW attendees and Austin locals waited in line and were unable to get in after the venue reached maximum capacity. Of course, our favorite was performance by Magic Giant, Austin Bisnow's band. We have to agree with Forbes touting DC as the "Coolest City" in the U.S.!
Travis Holler, Alfredo Flores and Heather Mahoney contributed to this issue.
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