CD Baby, The largest online retailer and digital distributor of independent music, is throwing a free, open-to-the-public party at SXSW on March 16th at Headhunter’s Outdoor Amphitheater.

Portland, Oregon-based online retailer and digital distributor CD Baby, the largest online retailer of independent music, and a leader in the distribution of digital content, will be throwing a huge party at South by Southwest for their clients, customers, fans, and music lovers alike.

Empowering the independent musician, a handful of bands that were in Austin, Texas already for South by Southwest have been invited to play CD Baby’s party.

The party, happening March 16, 2007, will be free to the public and will be held at Austin’s beloved tiki bar Headhunter’s, located at 720 Red River Street. The show will start at noon and run until 6pm.

The line-up is:

12-12:30 – Jets Overhead
“Seems So Far”

12:50-1:20 – Telephone
“Sugar Coated”

1:40 – 2:10 – The Village Green
“The Way I Want to Be”

2:30 – 3:00 – Michael Dean Damron and Thee Loyal Bastards
“Little Girl Blue”

I’ve talked about the talented Mike Damron ad nauseum over the years. And for a good reason. Okay yeah, he’s my best friend’s brother – but I gotta lotta friend’s brothers who think they are all that – and they ain’t. Mike recently left his former band, I Can Lick Any SOB in the House and has now formed this new project. You can betcher sweet ass I’ll be front and center for this show!

3:20 – 3:50 – Kleveland
“Jonny is a Klepto”

4:10 – 4:40 – Jim Bianco
“Handsome Devil (Reprise)”

My long lost friend Chad “Guitar” Collins turned me on to Jim Bianco back in 2005. In fact, he was so adamant that I’d fall in love with Bianco’s music, his rough, raspy voice and his divine lyrics that he sent me a copy of Handsome Devil. Chad was indeed dead-on. I missed my opportunity to see Jim live the last couple of times he’s hit Dallas, but I shan’t make that mistake at SXSW this year. If you aren’t making the trek to Austin for SXSW, you can still catch Jim Bianco live at Bend Studio on March 18th.

5:10 – 6pm – Presidents of the United States of America
“Ca Plane Pour Moi”

Mmmmmmmm…“Peaches”…

CD Baby, known for looking out for the independent artists and making deals to help level the playing field and narrowing the gap between independent and major recording artists, decided to throw the party as a way to showcase some great bands that, while they may be under the radar (sans CD Baby favorites Presidents of the United States of America, who, despite having a multi-platinum record, were later dropped by their label, decided to go the self-release route, and are happy to call CD Baby home), they still are quite talented and rival any platinum-selling, major label artist in their genre.

About CD Baby:
CD Baby sells and distributes music online for independent artists and labels. Founder and musician Derek Sivers was selling his own CD online in 1997, and he eventually asked a few friends if they’d like to sell their CDs there, too. Friends told friends and now over
161,000 artists sell their music through CD Baby. CD Baby has sold nearly three million CDs to customers worldwide, and paid over $38 million dollars to musicians. CD Baby’s Digital Distribution program has deals with all major digital outlets such as Apple iTunes, Verizon Wireless’ V CAST MUSIC, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, and Sony Connect, making CD Baby one of the leading digital distributors.

http://cdbaby.com <--- the store

http://cdbaby.net <-- musicians' back door

http://cdbaby.org <-- news, opportunities, and more

http://cdbaby.net/banner.htm <-- graphics here

http://www.hostbaby.com <-- web hosting for musicians

http://www.cdbaby.net/dd <– all your digital distribution answers