Pete Townshend to deliver SXSW keynote speech

The Who's Pete Townshend has signed on to be the keynote speaker at this year's South By Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas, which takes place in mid-March during a break in the Who's next North American tour. Townshend will be interviewed by music journalist Bill Flanagan on March 14th, the day before he and girlfriend Rachel Fuller and some special guests present one of their Attic Jam concerts as part of the festival. The Who performs on March 13th in Tampa, Florida, and then picks up again on March 17th in Mexico City.

In a statement, SXSW director Roland Swenson made it clear that the Who will not be performing at this year's festival.

Flanagan said that he's looking forward to the chance to host the public chat with Townshend: "Pete Townshend has the deserved reputation as the most fascinating, articulate speaker in the music business,"

This year's SXSW takes place March 14th to 18th in Austin. Previous keynote speakers have included Neil Young, Robert Plant, the Kinks' Ray Davies, the late Johnny Cash, Little Richard, and U2 producer Daniel Lanois.
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