David Byrne, Nile Rodgers added to list of featured speakers at 2019 South by Southwest Festival

Dan Weir

6 years ago

Jody Rogac; Jill Furmanovsky

Jody Rogac; Jill FurmanovskyA pair of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees — ex-Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and Chic‘s Nile Rodgers — have joined the lineup of featured speakers at the 2019 South by Southwest Festival, which runs from March 8 to March 17 in Austin, Texas.

Byrne’s speech, which is scheduled for March 13 at 12:30 p.m. CT, will be a presentation of his ongoing Reasons to Be Cheerful series. The multimedia event focuses on positive current music, writings, news stories, concepts and other happenings in the world, with a goal of encouraging people to act locally for the good of their communities.

As for Rodgers, he will appear with music manager and record executive Merck Mercuriadis on March 14 at 12:30 p.m. CT. According to SXSW.com, the two “will discuss the enduring power of the song and the deep hidden meaning of songwriting.”

As previously reported, David Crosby also will be a featured speaker at the South by Southwest Festival. The folk-rock legend, along with filmmaker and rock journalist Cameron Crowe, will be on hand to chat about the new documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name on March 13 at 2 p.m. CT.

Visit SXSW.com for full details about the festival.