On a mission to keep things weird

Fifty seven days from now, I’ll be boarding a plane to Austin, Texas.

Yes, yes, I’m talking SXSW, but don’t think I’m being smug about it. There is too much at stake.

Back in 1988, I shambled into Austin as a Greyhound-Bus-travelling backpacker.

I gawped at the huge State Capitol Building. I dossed at lodgings at the Uni. I swapped chords with a brilliant REM tribute band.

It did seem like a really cool town (even though it’s a city).

This time the mission is very different.

Myself and colleague Steve ‘Danger’ Manser are Indicia representatives at SXSW 2016 Interactive. We’re part of a Bristol Media collective who will swoop, like the city’s famous bat colony, upon all that’s fresh, exciting and innovative.

Our brief is simple: to bring the thrills, chills and spills of the event directly to you.

We will shake the hands of hitherto-unknown tech wizards.

We will slavishly soak up sound-bites at seminars.

We will endeavour to out-scoop the scoopers.

We will tenaciously track down the good, the great and the god-like.

Even as I write we’re making audacious plans to put together a social shout-out to break news even before its been made.

Twenty-five hours a day we’ll be on it, all over it.

Right now, the organisers of SXSW are playfully teasing the world with who’s going to be sharing, showcasing, and smooshing at the event.

Such info is gold to us. The clues we need to create a compelling, coruscating adventure.

Our huge super-computer is running endless scenarios.

We are breaking in our running shoes.

We will always travel with five fully charged-up phones.

Rest assured, we'll bring you an enthralling SXSW experience where you'll almost be able to smell the cowboys, cactii and desert coyotes.