For the next week, it will be possible to go on a global musical journey without leaving Austin. We teamed with Michael Crockett, host of “Horizontes” on KUTX (7 to 10 p.m. Sundays), to put together a selection of Latin and World music picks at South by Southwest. Explore more world music picks here and follow live fest coverage on this blog and at kutx.org.
Listen to a playlist of our favorite world music acts on Spotify.
Matzka (Taitung, Taiwan) Reggae/rock singer Matzka is a descendent of the aboriginal peoples of Taiwan, which is now 98 percent Chinese. He sings in Mandarin as well as his native Paiwanese. (10 p.m. at Elysium) — Michael Crockett
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Gina Chavez performs at the Austin Music Awards at SXSW on Wednesday March 18, 2015. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Gina Chavez (Austin, USA) Although homegrown in Austin, the Gina Chavez band sound embraces the Americas. The band’s pan-Latin grooves have taken them around the world as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. State Department. (9:20 p.m. at Maggie Mae’s) — Nancy Flores
I-Taweh (Kingston, Jamaica) Jamaican roots-reggae singer/guitarist started as a session player, eventually leading Sugar Minott’s band. He began a solo career in 2009 and has a hit on reggae radio called “Not Far Away.” (11 p.m. at Flamingo Cantina) — M.C.
Mora Lucay (Valparaíso, Chile) Chile’s pop music scene continues to flourish with bands like Mora Lucay. The indie pop quartet infuses their whimsical, danceable music with Latin American rhythms such as bolero and cumbia. (8 p.m. at Friends) — N.F.
Cilantro Boombox (Austin, USA) The band has just released their new album “Shine,” which is an explosive bilingual mix of Latin salsa, Afrobeat, funk and hip-hop. (1:10 a.m. at Maggie Mae’s) — M.C.
