Coach Party: International Showcase Fund (SXSW 2024)
SXSW 2024, Austin, Texas
Becoming “Coach Party” in 2019, and more recently self-dubbing as “the other band from the Isle of Wight”, Jess, Steph, Joe & Guy have been relentlessly tortoise-ing their way through the world of touring & record making (as in the audio-type; though they MAY have instigated the world record for the most people simultaneously exhaling vape steam (is it steam?) at a festival that they struggle to remember the name or location of. Which, whilst this makes it slightly difficult to register as an official record, it’s somewhat of a perfect metaphor for the constant landmarks and achievements of a band who are always moving forward; focused on making their next step one to remember. At least, in more detail than the vape thing).
Their 2023 debut album “Killjoy” has been the band’s biggest statement of intent to date, achieving critical acclaim across their touring mainstays of UK & Europe, whilst also boasting their first major flurry of reaction from the US media, opening the door to a new fanbase and a new journey. In 2024, The International Showcase Fund is making it possible for Coach Party to finally make their way over to The States for a multitude of appearances at SXSW, along with headline shows in LA & NYC. At this stage in a career, such things simply wouldn’t be possible without help coming from somewhere. The PRS Foundation is such an important and integral part of UK music for making otherwise.