Musicians bound for SXSW blow Covid cobwebs out of US ambassador’s residence

It was a very fancy send-off for nine Irish bands headed to the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas, in “an áit álainn seo” as Minister for Arts Catherine Martin described it.

That “áit álainn” was the gracious rooms of the US ambassador’s Deerfield residence in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Ambassador Claire Cronin has barely been in Ireland for a wet weekend, having presented her credentials to President Michael D Higgins last month, but she happily opened her doors to some 150 guests from the arts, civil society, academia and women’s rights organisations to her new home to mark International Women’s Day.

The performances were by two Irish music acts off to SXSW, NewDad and Pillow Queens, two female-led bands on the cusp, ready to rock on to a new stage as the world unfurls post-Covid. They’re performing this week in Austin, at the world’s biggest showcase of new music, as part of the Music From Ireland showcase on March 17th, along with Sprints, CMAT, Just Mustard and MELTS.

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The other Irish bands performing at SXSW during the week are Fears, Sinead O’ Brien, Cherym, Dani Larkin, The Clockworks, Beauty Sleep and Wood Burning Savages. This is the first proper international SXSW festival since 2019, as it was cancelled in March 2020 when the pandemic hit.

This was Ms Cronin’s first event at the residence, which had been quiet over the past couple of years due to Covid-19.

“It has been far too long since we welcomed guests here,” she said. “But now that these doors have opened, the sky is the limit. Even better, we kick things off on International Women’s Day with a woman ambassador, a woman Minister, and some women-powered rock ‘n’ roll. This is a good start.”

Both bands kicked up a storm, enough to blow away any lingering cobwebs or sense of isolation from the lockdowns.

There was no headbanging in the ambassador’s residence for Pillow Queens or NewDad, but there were cheers and whoops and a multitude of good vibes. There was also undoubtedly a feeling of relief and release, both characteristic of the great return to life and normality.

Ms Cronin spoke about Ukraine and how “Ireland is a good and strong partner in our fight to help the people of Ukraine, and especially on Irish Women’s Day, for the women of Ukraine”.

‘Equality in every walk of life’

The new ambassador was warm and open, beaming a welcome as she moved easily around the guests afterwards. From Brockton, Massachusetts, she’s a former member of that state’s House of Representatives and served as house majority leader.

The Minister for Arts welcomed the ambassador to Ireland, on an evening that “signals a continuity of the US interest and support for Irish arts”.

Ms Martin said “we need female voices now more than ever”.

“We must amplify our voices. But it’s not about females working in isolation, but working with males to get gender equality in every walk of life.”

She talked about the toll of the pandemic on performing artists, “whether new artists about to break into their careers, or legendary artists deprived of what they loved all their lives”. She welcomed both, saying: “The new will become the legendary.”

The event also featured an interview with Angela Dorgan, chief executive of First Contact Music, to mark the return of the embassy’s long-standing Creative Minds series, the brainchild of previous ambassador Kevin O’Malley.

Ms Cronin said: “Looking at this year’s Irish delegation for South By, the prominence of women is notable. Not only are they represented, they make up the majority of the artists. It’s a welcome progression, and something we should continue to strive for.”