March 6, 2012

Contact: Emerson Brown, NPR

NPR MUSIC LIVE BROADCASTS DAVE GROHL'S SXSW KEYNOTE
WATCH: THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 11AM (CT)

PUBLIC RADIO HOSTS AND CRITICS INTERVIEW MUSICIANS
FROM CONVENTION CENTER STAGE:
ANN POWERS TALKS TO STEVIE NICKS;
KCRW'S JASON BENTLEY SPEAKS WITH DEPECHE MODE

Adding to its schedule of can't-miss coverage and events, NPR Music will present conversations with some of the biggest names in popular music during the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival. Public radio will partner with South By Southwest to offer a live worldwide broadcast of the music keynote by Dave Grohl. All week from the Austin Convention Center stage, public radio hosts and critics will also interview popular artists - including Stevie Nicks and Depeche Mode - in front of SXSW attendees.

NPR Music will broadcast Dave Grohl's SXSW Keynote address, bringing this exclusive speaking engagement from the Foo Fighters leader, Nirvana drummer and director of the documentary Sound City (whose companion album Sound City: Real to Reel is streaming now as an NPR Music First Listen) to audiences worldwide. The entire event will be available at the NPR Music site, via the NPR Music mobile apps and at SXSW.com. NPR Music critic Ann Powers will host a live blog during the keynote and take comments and questions from the online audience.

NPR Music will present more great music conversation during SXSW by hosting interviews with high-profile musicians. Depeche Mode, making its first appearance at SXSW, sits down with KCRW's Jason Bentley, Stevie Nicks chats with NPR Music critic Ann Powers and The Zombies will talk with All Songs Considered host Boilen. Photos and transcriptions will be posted at NPR Music at a later date.

Schedule for keynote and interviews:

Dave Grohl's SXSW Keynote
Thursday, March 14 at 11AM (CT)
*SXSW Badge Required*
Remarks from Grohl will be available for all to watch via NPR Music.

NPR Music SXSW Interviews at the Austin Convention Center
*SXSW Badge or Artist Wristband Required*

Wednesday, March 13, 5PM (CT)
Depeche Mode will discuss its new album with KCRW's Jason Bentley

Thursday, March 14, 5PM (CT)
Stevie Nicks will talk about her storied career with NPR Music critic Ann Powers

Friday, March 15, 12:30PM (CT)
The Zombies in conversation with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen

As previously announced, NPR Music will also live broadcast its official SXSW showcase at Stubb's on March 13 featuring Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Café Tacvba, Alt-J, Youth Lagoon and more. For a full list of NPR Music events at SXSW and complete coverage, visit npr.org/sxsw.

About NPR Music At SXSW:
Since 2008, NPR Music and stations have broadcast and webcast a slew of concerts from SXSW, presenting Fiona Apple's return to the national spotlight and the Magnetic Fields' first SXSW appearance last year, as well as premiering new albums from The Decemberists and Broken Bells and introducing audiences to Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells, K'Naan, Bon Iver and many others. All past concerts, along with artist interviews and live audio and video performance sessions, are archived at: npr.org/sxsw. The free, Emmy Award-winning multimedia site and its iPad and iPhone apps offer constant new features and an extensive archive, in collaboration with NPR's newsmagazines, public radio Member Stations and the passionate NPR community.