Audio Video News

In the wake of last week’s decision to cancel the popular South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference, London’s Production Park is hosting a series of live-streamed performances today.

Porridge radio (shown in photo), King Nun, Daniel Casimir and Tess Hirst, Theon Cross, Noya Rao, ELOÏSE mp3, and Superbird will play 30-minute sets, each of which will be live streamed in high definition video for an “immersive experience” with audio captured in 24-bit/96-kHz MQA.

Here’s the performance schedule (GMT times have been converted to ET):

10:40-11:10am: Porridge Radio
11:30am-12:00pm: King Nun
12:20- 12:50pm: Daniel Casimir & Tess Hirst
1:10- 1:40pm: Theon Cross
2:00- 2:30pm: Noya Rao
2:50- 3:20pm: ELOÏSE mp3
3:40- 4:10pm: Superbird

Experience the sessions here.

MQA will make high-definition videos of the performances with MQA audio available a later date at mqa.co.uk/mqa-live.

Performers were selected by the U.K.-based music site diymag.com. The sessions are supported by the British Music Embassy, Jazz re:freshed Outernational, and cSquared LDN.

“We’d like to thank all of the British Music Embassy partners for organizing the SXSW sessions from London,” said MQA CEO Mike Jbara. “MQA is committed to enabling artists to provide the best audio to their fans in all listening environments: we launched our ‘audio+video’ solution last year and are very pleased to provide this support during these challenging times. When high quality video is matched with MQA audio, our partners believe the experience is the next best thing to being there.”

Charlotte Caleb of cSquaredLDN added: “I would like to say a special thank you to Ant Forbes of Production Park who has gone above and beyond to secure this opportunity for these artists. When we were told that SXSW was cancelled we were absolutely devastated. Our musicians had spent thousands of pounds to make their journey to Austin and it was heartbreaking. However, in light of the progression of what is happening globally it is clear we must quickly adjust, continue to reinvent the way we do business in this industry and once again evolve to survive.”

Yvette Griffith, executive director at Jazz re:freshed, said: “Our Outernational initiative — which is Arts Council-funded and a partnership with British Underground — exists to create a springboard to international career opportunities for world-class artists in UK Jazz, including the likes of Shabaka Hutchings and Moses Boyd. After SXSW’s cancellation, finding a mechanism to create an international platform for this year’s artists was our highest priority, while considering the current health crisis. The opportunity created by British Music Embassy’s closed studio format has ensured associated bands have the platform, while our partner MQA introduces the global reach element with high quality sound and production.”