SXSW 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the grass roots to large scale festival. Tony Visconti, who was the mastermind behind some of fallen legend David Bowie's most lasting albums, including his last, Blackstar, has just been confirmed as opening keynote speaker.
Perhaps partly in honor of Bowie, Visconti is slated to deliver to deliver the opening address on the music portion of the festival, which stretches a week for the festival's 30th anniversary.
According to Billboard, Visconti's work with Bowie stretches back to his album David Bowie, released in 1969, as well as the "Berlin Trilogy," which includes albums Low, Heroes and Lodger. He also produced Bowie's unexpected album, The Next Day, which was released in 2013. Perhaps one of his most important contributions was his work on Blackstar, which was released just a few days before Bowie died.
Aside from his work with Bowie, Visconti has also worked with Thin Lizzy, U2, Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding and Daphne Guiness.
It's fitting that Visconti has been chosen to deliver the opening address since it was just discovered that SXSW co-founder Roland Swenson, along with Austin's Wicked Signs owner Jason Carter placed a "David Bowie" sticker over Bowie St. in downtown Austin. Before the culprits were discovered, Austin publications were sent a .GIF in an email that captured two unknown men switching the sign, although no one came forward immediately.
"After Bowie passed away this week, I thought to myself, 'We'll never have Bowie at SXSW, but we can still have David Bowie Street," Swenson said in a statement.
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