Chirkutt going to SXSW

Chirkutt has been in the country's music scene for nearly a decade and a half now, although their rise to fame has come much later. In the last few years, the band has been growing from strength to strength, and aside from their studio work and live shows in the country, has taken their music at festivals beyond Bangladesh's borders. Now, the band is all set to embark on their biggest musical endeavour yet, having been invited to take part in the monumental South by Southwest Festival at Austin, Texas (USA).

The South by Southwest Festival (shortened to SXSW) is a festival of festivals -- of music, films and interactive media. Held every year in mid-March at Austin, the SXSW Music festival has grown to be the biggest of its kind. Last year, a staggering 2,200+ acts from 62 countries performed at 100 stages of the festival. In previous years, the biggest stars of world music – Coldplay, 50 Cents, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Megadeth, Dave Grohl, Stevie Nicks, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop to name a few – have performed.

Chirkutt made the announcement via a video on their official Facebook page yesterday, where the members spoke of their feelings and anticipation for the festival. The band will play at the International Stage on March 16 and have their main performance will be at the Russian House stage the next day. The band also confirmed dates for the other shows on their US tour, starting with a March 12 performance at Dallas, Texas on March 12, and will travel to Florida, New York and Atlanta after the festival to perform.

It's not just the music, though; apart from the festivals, SXSW also has three conferences – on educational innovation, environmental issues and on innovative startups. This year, US President Barack Obama will be a part of the SXSW Interactive keynote, while first lady Michelle Obama will present the opening keynote at SXSW Music.