SOCAN will co-host its annual boat cruise and co-sponsor the Canadian Blast BBQ & Showcase at the 2010 edition of South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, scheduled for March 17-21 in Austin, Texas.

The boat cruise, co-hosted by ASCAP, will welcome conference delegates and SOCAN members for a leisurely tour around Austin’s Town Lake, beginning at 12 noon on Thursday, March 18.

The day before, SOCAN co-sponsors the Canadian Blast BBQ & Showcase, scheduled for 3 p.m. under the “Big Top” at Brush Square, featuring performances by:

• Radio Radio
• Justin Rutledge and The Beauties (ON)
• Hollerado
• You Say Party! We Say Die!
• Born Ruffians
• Plants and Animals

The event is open to all SXSW badge holders. SOCAN’s co-sponsors for the Canadian Blast are CIMA (the Canadian Independent Music Association), FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), OMDC (Ontario Media Development Corporation), SIRIUS Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Province of Ontario.

Canada House, located upstairs at Paradise (6^th St. & Trinity), will host daytime industry showcases open to all SXSW badge holders, and official showcases at night presented by M for Montreal, Canadian Music Week, and POP Montreal. Official showcases at SXSW are open to all SXSW badge holders, wristband holders and the general public.

SOCAN personnel attending the event are account executive Ted Seto (Toronto), education & outreach manager Rodney Murphy (Toronto), education & outreach specialist Stéphanie Falco (Montreal) and Member Services manager Lynn Ross DeViller (Vancouver).

For more info visit the SXSW website or the Canadian Blast website.