• Critical Sun Recordings is heading from Seattle to South by Southwest 2012. Several of our artists will be performing in and around Austin, TX, from March 13th through the 19th. Our artists have also teamed up to put together an unofficial SXSW showcase on Austin’s famed Sixth Street during the festival, as well as a second music event in Georgetown, TX that weekend. In addition to showcasing Critical Sun artists, each event will also serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

   

  On Wednesday, March 14th at The Jackalope (404 E 6th St.) in Austin, we’re pleased to announce “Critical Sun @ SXSW 2012,” a five-hour showcase featuring six of our artists: Darrius Willrich, Furniture Girls, Sightseer, In Cahoots, The Januariez and Rob Marcus. Then, on Sunday, March 18th, we’re taking over Hardtails Bar & Grill (1515 N IH 35) in Georgetown, TX, to present “Critical Sun at Hardtails,” an all-day, outdoor event featuring the artists above, plus special guests Seeing Blind. No festival badge is required for entry to the Jackalope showcase.

   

  We’re very excited for the opportunity to introduce our talented roster of Seattle musicians and songwriters to a national audience. We’ll be there because we believe that being a part of one of the largest music events in the country should be about something more than self-promotion. We’ll be there because we believe in putting our talents to work for a great cause. And we’ll be there because Critical Sun artists are working together to make it happen.

   

  See you at SXSW!

   

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  About Critical Sun Recordings

  Critical Sun Recordings was founded in Seattle by a team of multi-talented artists whose mission is to empower musicians with the tools and resources to produce and deliver their music on their own terms. We’re also a social network, where musicians and songwriters can meet, collaborate, record and share their work; it’s a growing collective of artists who value and support each other’s projects as fervently as they do their own. In August 2011, we lent our support to the youngest members of our music community by creating the first annual Critical Sun Band Crawl, a benefit event that raised funds for Music Aid Northwest, a nonprofit organization that funds public school music programs throughout Washington State.

   

  About Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

  Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is an open-admission animal shelter that takes in animals from most of Williamson County. In the past year, they have consistently saved 90% of the animals that enter the shelter. Donations to the shelter to pay for Veterinarian care as well as other items contribute to the high save rate. We want to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal; to save all dogs and cats that are medically treatable and/or can be behaviorally rehabilitated. We are an advocate for the unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets in our region and our goal is to provide a humane, safe environment for the housing of these animals. We want to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal; to save all dogs and cats that are medically treatable and/or can be behaviorally rehabilitated. We are an advocate for the unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets in our region and our goal is to provide a humane, safe environment for the housing of these animals.

I'm excited to announce I was asked for an interview for the September issue of the magazine/online zine Courageous Creativity!

"Walking into the Ballard Loft at 11AM on a Saturday morning kind of makes one reflect on priorities. I had to question why I was attending a “Band Crawl” beginning at 11AM anyway, but all reservations immediately swept themselves under the theoretical rug when I witnessed Mr. Rob Marcus and crew sound checking. His presence held weight, and his demeanor was sincere. His guitar, a Takamine; I play a Takamine. I liked this guy from the start. As Rob began to play, he thanked the lookiloos and passersby for coming in, he knew he was the Genesis and what was to become a day filled with firsts. Mr. Marcus revealed himself to be quite a proficient and technical artist. With Matt Nathanson’esque feel, Rob hooked you in with feel good tones and heartbreak lyrics. By the time he had finished, I was ready for the mid set conversation, but...band crawl, the artists were allotted only half an hour at each venue, thus packing up and moving on to the next, but not before he and his band belted out “Marie”, his Swan song to his set at Ballard Loft, and off they went. I caught a ride, I was literally William Miller and getting on the bus for a journey I would never forget."

This is and excerpt from the review of the 2011 Critical Sun Recordings Band Crawl benefitting Music Aid Northwest written by Thomas Starks, the music director for Seattle Night Out Radio.  Please see the article in it's entirety here. 

What a turnout at Fremont's White Rabbit!  The place was packed, people were dancing, this is the stuff musicians thrive on.  Thank you all for making it such a wonderful night including stellar performances from Sightseer and Jackie Rome. 

The all new White Rabbit will be hosting us along with Sightseer and Jackie Rome Friday, July 15th.  Hope to see you there with your dancing shoes on!

I've just added new footage from the University District Street Fair show.  We we're honored to kick of the longest running street fair in the states!  Check out a video of the performance here and photos here.