Weekly Music News: SXSW, CHVRCHES, and more

SXSW announces first wave of official lineup

South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual music, film, and interactive media showcase extravaganza, will take place in Austin from March 13 to 22. The first wave of "official" SXSW artists performing at the event has been released, and includes standouts Thee Oh Sees, Jessie Ware, the Dodos, Courtney Barnett, Twin Peaks, Alvvays, and many more. Longmont artist Publicist UK is the sole Colorado act on the list, available at SXSW's website.

R.I.P. "The Tide is High" singer John Holt

Reggae singer John Holt died this week at age 67. Holt was best known for his hit song with Jamaican group The Paragons "The Tide is High," which was later a U.K. and U.S. Number One hit when Blondie covered it. Holt had released 40 albums over his multi-decade music career. [via Rolling Stone]

(Photo: courtesy of the artist)CHVRCHES, Foals, SBTRKT remake "Drive" soundtrack

BBC Radio 1 host Zane Lowe has commissioned a remake of the soundtrack to the popular 2011 Ryan Gosling film "Drive," which memorably featured contributions from Cliff Martinez, Kavinsky, The Chromatics, and more. The project is titled "Radio 1 Rescores: Drive - Curated by Zane Lowe" and features songs from CHVRCHES, Foals, SBTRKT, Jon Hopkins, Banks, and more, all written specifically for the film.

On Oct. 30, BBC Three will air the film, and viewers will be able to switch off between the original and new score at their leisure. "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn has expressed support for the project.