VideoFest' takes music trip through South by Southwest
Austin American Statesman; Austin, Tex.; Mar 12, 1989

VideoFest '89 complements Austin's regional South by Southwest '89 Music and Media Conference with nightly live highlights, local club listings and a collection of the best of music videos. VideoFest '89 producer Tim Hamblin said the quantity, quality and diversity of the programming in the five-day television marathon surpasses last year's showcase, with more than 80 shows scheduled. Each evening features concert footage, new and vintage video clips and an eclectic mix of music documentaries. The showcase airs Wednesday through March 19 on Austin Access Channel 33.

At 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, The SXSW Live Show continues last year's nightly live cablecasts with co-hosts Joe Nick Patoski, Texas Monthly writer, and Bill Crawford, KUT radio announcer. This year they'll conduct interviews with prominent conference guests, such as Mojo Nixon, conference keynote speaker, and Texas legend Doug Sahm, from conference headquarters at the Marriott at the Capitol. Another new feature is the 8 p.m. Club Calendar. Local video producer Hank Sinatra will preview each evening's SXSW showcase bands and will air videos from many musicians who will not be seen at the showcase events.

"This project has been marked by a great deal of excitement and participation from the entire video community and with enthusiastic support from Austin CableVision," said Hamblin. Special `best of' editions of popular local public-access music programs are featured throughout the festival, including Dull-A-Vision, Green Fungus, Groovy Gravy, Hank Sinatra Presents, Life from Austin, Tejas, Rockline TV, Texas Music and VidEot's Choice.

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Wednesday's shows present highlights to be seen throughout VideoFest '89 on The Best of Splash One, the live music series produced by Austin CableVision. The 5 p.m. show features new footage of the Wild Seeds, Ronnie Lane, The Make Believers and Dash Rip Rock. At 6 p.m., Art Fein's Los Angeles-based Li'l Arts Poker Party, a rock 'n' roll talk show, features Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakum and the Paladins.

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At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Arizona-based producer Ray Frieders combines modern-day and vintage Byrds footage with clips by artists who were influenced by the Byrds - REM and The Long Ryders - on The Byrds: Retrospective and Influence. At 7 p.m. Austin City Limits producer Terry Lickona presents the Willie Nelson special featuring Ray Charles. Snub TV presents an all-reggae show at 8:30 p.m. A Question of Taste or the First Amendment, a compilation of controversial music clips including Neil Young and Schoolly D, plays at 2 a.m. Thursday.

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Highlights of past years' Austin Chronicle Music Awards feature performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds at 6 p.m. Thursday. A collection of rare clips and interviews from Austin-based Timbuk 3 plays at 9 p.m. on Greetings from Eden Alley. Blues great Albert Collins, Lonnie Mack and the late Roy Buchanan are featured on Further On Down The Road, produced by John Ware, at 10 p.m.

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Joe Ely Live From Texas plays at 9 p.m. Friday and Desert Rocks, a compilation tape of recent Arizona bands produced by Tuscon's Ray Frieders, plays at 10 p.m. Philmore Video features a performance by Glass Eye at midnight. Snub TV's political special plays in its uncensored form at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

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A compilation of videos featuring 27 Austin Acts, a tape produced by Tim Hamblin for the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the 1987 New Music Seminar in New York, plays at 11 a.m. Saturday. Music at the Shores features Delbert McClinton, Beto y los Fairlanes and Joe "King" Carrasco at 1 p.m. Saturday. Ronnie Lane tells the story of Rod Stewart and The Faces on The Many Faces of Ronnie Lane (produced by Kent Benjamin) at 4 p.m. Saturday. Le Bon Ton Roule features some of Louisiana's best Cajun music at 6:30 p.m. Philmore Productions presents Sonic Youth, recorded by Kevin Roberts, at 12:30 a.m. March 19. Skinny Puppy's 70-minute film Ain't it Dead Yet? airs at 5 p.m.

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At noon March 19 is The Rock That Doesn't Roll, produced by Karen Wolfe, about the controversy surrounding Christian punk bands, and a Waylon Jennings Special, featuring Robert Duvall at 11 p.m.

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Other musical highlights this week include the premiere of Radio Man: Elmer Akins and Gospel Train at 7 p.m. Monday on Austin Access Channel 33. The show chronicles the contributions of gospel music promotor and longtime radio announcer Elmer Akins. The show was produced by Paula Manley, Jim Cullers and Bruce Blackwell.

Shot at Chameleons Lounge, The Magic Outlaw Band, at 6 p.m. today on Austin Access Channel 33, presents country and western and rhythm and blues written by Jeff Englert.

The David John Kurtz Band performs original music at 10:30 tonight on Austin Access Channel 33. The show was produced by Jack Zelensky and repeats at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday.

On Location with Perry Parris, at 4 p.m. Saturday on Austin Access Channel 10, covers music and show business stars.

Austin Access Channels 10, 32, and 33 are Austin's public access channels. Austin Access is a project of the City of Austin managed by Austin Community Television (ACTV). For information, call ACTV at 478-8600 or 495-9678.