NX35

*All images from North by 35 (NX35) festival site, though I wish I had taken (most of) them.


Denton, Texas. When I say those words in Hong Kong, I get a blank stare but when anyone hears the music from the wonderfully quirky town they say "who are these guys? They're great!" Denton is hosting a festival and conferette (don't fret Denton Arts & Jazz Fest!) and it's going to be the best thing since Bruce Lee. In synergy with (but no direct connection to) the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival, North by 35 (NX35) is hosting their "first-year music conference programming over 130 acts, multiple panels, Q&As, and a trade show in the heart of Denton, Texas — the other, smaller, music town in Texas." Take a look at the cheeky band portraits to get a feel for the fun in store.








It may be smaller, but it's juicier. Don't let anybody tell you that "juicy" is not a way to describe good music.

Grupo Fantasma

Before I start writing almost completely about the Hong Kong media and arts scene, let's do a blog post or two back in my home country of Texas. Grupo Fantasma in the past few months was nominated for a Grammy, and made a new music video. No Grammy, and by the music video they "ain't got no money" neither. But that doesn't stop them from continuing to tour throughout the US and on to the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) on March 21. If you still haven't heard them yet, open your ears and prepare to be browned out!


Grupo Fantasma - "Gimme Some" from API Productions on Vimeo.