From Afar

March 15, 2017 by Vasanth

One of the joys of SXSW is the influx of international talent. Large music festivals always attract a ton of overseas acts who probably don’t have any other international tours dates in the works. Some of the world’s coolest up-and-coming bands are performing at this year’s Jumpstart 10 party, kicking off at noon on Friday March 17th at The Side Bar. And we couldn’t be more excited to give them a classic Austin welcome.

WOMPS (@weareWOMPS)

Opening up our inside stage is Scottish indie duo, WOMPS. Hailing from Glasgow, WOMPS mixes the beats and bass of Owen Wicksted with the vocals and guitar of Ewan Grant, to form an angsty, heavy-hitting pop-rock sound. Their first full-length album, Our Fertile Forever, was released in June 2016 to great reviews, and they’re currently riding high on the success of their week-old single, Darling. Catch them at 12 pm.

Thigh Master

Directly following WOMPS on our inside stage is a band that teased their debut album for almost 3 years. Brisbane-based Thigh Master has been releasing snippets of their music since forming in 2012. Their first full-length album, Early Times, was mostly completed in 2013, but was tweaked and changed over the next three years before being released this past October. Thigh Master’s self-deprecating cynicism balances their abrasively-catchy punk pop vibe, and just toes the line of complete chaos. Thigh Master has a new 7″ coming out on Austin based 12XU. This is their first ever tour of America – come show ’em what makes America great!

Hockey Dad (@hockeydadband)

Our last international act will be closing the inside tent when they take the stage at 5 pm. Hockey Dad is surf-pop duo, coming to Austin all they way from New South Wales in Australia. Band members Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming attribute their beachy suburban sound to their parent’s record collections, including 60’s garage, 80’s Australian punk and 90’s punk. Boronia, named for the street these childhood friends grew up on, was inspired by growing up together, partying, love, and friendship, and is sure to be an amazing closer for our JUMPSTART PARTY.