Jared Cortese is putting together the dopest party at SXSW, hosting a Seattle showcase – the only one of its kind this year at the giant music festival – at The Local Pub & Patio in Austin on March 21st. We had a chance to talk to Jared about the production, the bands, and his hopes for this soon-to-be-recurring showcase. 

What’s your hope for an outcome from the Seattle by Southwest Showcase you put together?

Well my goal from the beginning has been a humble one. In the past years I have attended the festival and I’ve always enjoyed running into other Seattleites. It’s almost as if you run into people you have been meaning to hang out with but it’s always a bad time, and you see each other thousands of miles from home and you finally get the chance to have a conversation. My hope is that I can get a bunch of people together in a common space just hanging out, enjoying some great music, and having a blast. This is not an original idea, but I noticed last year there wasn’t a Seattle Showcase so I thought it would be a chance for me to do something cool.

What was the process like booking the bands and who are they?

Super easy! Every one is looking for as many shows as possible when they go to SX so it was probably the easiest booking experience I’ve ever had! I’m just glad to be able to help my fellow Seattleites get the exposure they deserve! We have some established acts and some up and coming artists including The Hoot Hoots, The West, Whitney Monge, Ayron Jones and The Way, Joel Myers (Abraham/The Great Um), Tangerine, The Country Lips, The Fraides, Red Heart Alarm, and I’m going to get in on the fun and play a set with my band The Jesus Rehab.

What’s the set up going to be like? What’s the venue? How many days?

It’s pretty low key. The venue is a local bar next to UT Austin called The Local Pub and Patio and the stage is at the front of the bar so anyone walking in will be instantly met with a serenade from one of these awesome bands. The stage is also next to a giant window that opens into the street and people always crowd up to see who is playing. It’s a really chill bar with good drink specials, and a fun atmosphere. Perfect for what we’re trying to do! It’s just going to be one epic day on March 21st from 2pm – 12:00pm. Whitney Monge is opening the showcase with a solo set, and it ramps up from there with the Country Lips closing the night. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate band to play with the drinks flowing late night at a bar in Austin, TX. It’s gonna be great!

And there’s a Portland showcase the night before too, right? Are you going to that?

Yeah! I am going to definitely check it out as well as a bunch of other shows on Friday!

Which ones? 

I’m not sure exactly what shows yet, but a lot of the bands in the Seattle showcase as well as some other friends have shows during the week and I am hoping to get to those as well as discover a bunch of new bands! I am really looking forward to seeing La Luz because they have a lot of new material they are working on. 

Lastly, can you give me one sentence per band that’s playing Seattle By Southwest about why you dig them?

The Hoot Hoots – They have the best choruses in town, so catchy!

Tangerine – They have this awesome tropical sound, and Toby is one of my favorite guitar players in the world.

The West – They can take one catchy line and turn it into five minutes of ecstasy….’the clock is ticking.”

Red Heart Alarm – My favorite “I don’t give a fuck, we do what we do and you’re gonna like it” rock band in town.

Country Lips – My favorite “I don’t give a fuck, we do what we do and you’re going to like it” country band in town.

Joel Myers – I love Joel’s song writing and he’s an amazing lyricist and all around great musician!

Ayron Jones And The Way – He’s got a lot of cred in Seattle for being one of the best guitarist in town….. on record he has a really soulful style that I can’t wait to see in person for the first time.

OK Sweetheart - I could listen to her songs at the end of the best or worst day of my life, they really dig deep, not to mention she’s got a killer voice!

The Jesus Rehab – Jake Uitti’s favorite band… need I say anymore?

Here is the official lineup:

Ok Sweetheart – 2:00pm
Red Heart Alarm – 3:00pm
Joel Myers (Abraham/The Great Um) – 4:00pm
Tangerine – 5:00pm
The Fraides – 6:00pm
The Hoot Hoots – 7:00pm
The Jesus Rehab – 8:00pm
The West – 9:00pm
Ayron Jones And The Way – 10:00pm
Country Lips – 11:00pm