Kevin Russell, frontman of The Gourds,
is Shinyribs
(Courtesy of Davis McLarty Agency)

According to Shinyribs’ website, Kevin Russell, also frontman of The Gourds, started Shinyribs “to stretch out as a performer and band leader.” Russell’s solo project has come a long way since it formed in 2008. He just released his second full-length album under the name Shinyribs, Gulf Coast Museum, this past April 16. KUT states that the album is a tour through Russell’s “unique universe, featuring folk ballads, soul struts” and more. Shinyribs is currently on tour in the US and will be performing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival this fall.

Image from The Chair courtesy Marker 96 Films

One of Australia's most prestigious film events, St Kilda Film Festival celebrates 30 years this year, and we're delighted to report that SXSW Film will be part of the festivities.

Short Film Programmer Claudette Godfrey will be heading to Australia to present 4 programs containing a selection of shorts culled from the last 5 years of SXSW.

Photo Courtesy of Steve Case

Steve Case, one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs and philanthropists, and a pioneer in making the Internet part of everyday life, will deliver the Tuesday, August 13 Keynote for SXSW V2V.

Recently called "one of the nation's greatest entrepreneurs" by CNBC, Steve Case is Chairman and CEO of Revolution, Co-Founder of America Online and Chairman of The Case Foundation.

Steve co-founded America Online (AOL) in 1985, when the Internet was in its infancy. Under Steve’s leadership, AOL became the world’s largest and most valuable Internet company, and helped drive the worldwide adoption of a medium that has transformed business and society. AOL’s early focus on ease of use and social media set the stage for its rapid growth, and at its peak nearly half of Internet users in the United States used AOL. In 1992, AOL became the first Internet company to go public, and was the best performing stock of the 1990s, with a 11,616% return. Steve then negotiated what remains the largest merger in business history, bringing together AOL and Time Warner in a transaction that gave AOL shareholders a majority stake in the combined company. To facilitate the merger, Steve agreed to step down as CEO when the merger closed.