Portland vs Austin: Is MFNW the next SXSW?

Although it still gets a good lineup and attendance, we all know that SXSW jumped the shark a few years ago.  Don’t get us wrong, there’s incredible music and of course plenty of not-to-be-missed interactive sessions at South-by… where else are you going to attend panels on vampires, douchebags and the Grateful Dead?! However, it’s time to head northwest… more specifically, it’s time to head to Portland’s MusicFestNW (MFNW)!

Get your beauty sleep now because there won’t be time once you hit the ground in P-Town. With 150 bands at 16 venues, this is the biggest year yet for MusicFestNW! Headliners include:

• Beirut (9/07)
• Girl Talk (9/08)
• Silversun Pickups (9/09)

For the first time in twelve years, the acclaimed MFNW is embracing the local Portland tech and startup community.  2012 will be the first year to include daytime tech-focused programming to next month’s lineup with the launch of PDX: Portland Digital eXperience.

The list is short, however we expect the speakers to be a great opening act before the real party begins.  A few panels that we’re especially looking forward to include:

• “Magically Customizing Your Users Experience” with 4-Tell, Embode, uFlavor and PDC
• “Discovering New Musical Artists in Very Different Ways” with Shazam, Spotify and NORTH
• “Creative Technology in Portland:  Local Innovators in Animation” with LAIKA, ADI, Fashion Buddah, PDC

And we’re really looking forward to Aaron Draplin‘s keynote (former art director for SNOWBOARDER magazine and founder of Draplin Design Co)… we anticipate he’ll have a lot to say.  And if you’re a graphic designer you won’t want to miss him!

NERD NOTE: Portland is well known for its microbreweries.  Oregon Public Broadcasting has documented Portland’s role in the microbrew revolution in the United States in a report called Beervana.  Some illustrate Portlanders’ interest in the beverage by an offer made in 1888 when local brewer Henry Weinhard volunteered to pump beer from his brewery into the newly dedicated Skidmore Fountain.  Portland is home to more than 40 breweries—more breweries than any other city in the world which is partially responsible fo CNBC naming Portland the best city for happy hour in the U.S. Source:  Wikipedia

So who’s heading to Portland next week?