The Øya Festival/Oh My Rockness Showcase will be at the Habana Annex Backyard on Thursday 3/19 this year. The O’s collaboration has become a highly successful NYC-Austin tradition over the past few years, showcasing some of the best up-and-coming Norwegian and US talent around. Below is the full lineup.

THURS. 3/19 @ HABANA ANNEX BACKYARD
********Max Tundra
******Wavves
*****Casiokids (NO)
****Lemonade
***The New Wine (NO)
**Chikita Violenta

Arms – (Todd from Harlem Shakes) – [[Todd, guitar player for the Harlem Shakes will play with a full band in support of his solo effort, Arms' critically-acclaimed lo-fi debut album "Kids Aflame," available on Melodic Records UK in Europe. "impossibly catchy, yet artful." - NPR]
THURS. 3/19 I GUESS I’M FLOATING DAY PARTY

The Besties – [[Catchy 60's girl-group pop with a DIY-punk influence, the concept of being "Home Free" is a literal one, as the band gave up their apartments in order to be able to spend more time on the road doing what they love. They've booked several tours around the US and Europe, and were asked to perform at the Emmaboda Festival in Sweden (w/Dinosaur Jr. and Of Montreal). "heavenly: [The Besties] music could whisk away the cynical and melt the hardest of hearts…pop bubblegum…Marisa and Kelly swap sugary vocals like class-Mates of State.” – Magnet “First Exposure”]]
THURS 3/19 STARCLEANER RECORDS BIG TEXAS PARTY 2 – 12PM
SAT. 3/21 WATERLOO CYCLES – 1PM

Casiokids – [[This Norwegian group is not just an electronic act, they also include a shadow puppet group (and actually did a tour of kindergartens throughout the country). A Pitchfork favorite, the instrumentation includes cassette-recorder, cello, melodica, guitar, congas and of course lots of electronic quarks and quirks.]]
WED. 3/18 SXSW BLOG FRESH EVENT – 4PM
WED. 3/18 MOSHI MOSHI EVENT @ CLUB 1808 – 7PM
THURS. 3/19 MOSHI MOSHI EVENT @ THE RED HOUSE PIZZERIA – 1PM
THURS. 3/19 ØYA FESTIVAL SHOWCASE @ HABANA ANNEX – 8PM
FRI. 3/20 BIG STEREO PARTY @ CANVAS BAR AND GALLERY – 9PM
SAT. 3/21 MOSHI MOSHI EVENT @ LAMPERTS – 1PM
SAT. 3/21 DAY STAGE CONFERENCE CENTER – 4PM

Chairlift – [[Brooklyn dream-pop three-piece are currently touring with YACHT, Sebastian Tellier, and Peter, Bjorn & John this year in support of their forthcoming Columbia Records debut. Chairlift's song "Bruises" was also featured in the new iPod Nano-chromatic commercial ]]
THURS. 3/19 OTHER MUSIC SHOWCASE @ RED 7 – 12AM
THURS. 3/19 GIGOTRON/VIDEOTHING SHOWCASE @ CLUB 1808 – TIME TBD
FRI. 3/20 URBAN OUTFITTERS PARTY – 5PM
FRI. 3/20 SXSW – UNDER THE RADAR PARTY @ FLAMINGO CANTINA – 3:15PM
SAT. 3/21 SXSW – SIDE UP SOUNDS PARTY @ RED EYE FLY – TIME TBD

The Chap – [[UK band The Chap have become known and loved for their inimitable pop-improv disco rock with strings, sound and a furiously rocking live show, complete with dance routines. The Chap have been busy since their last remixing Beck and Bloc Party, as well as gigging intensively around the UK and Europe. They are making their US debut at SXSW. "Mega Breakfast is the Chap's superbly quirky coming-out party" (8.1) - Pitchforkmedia]]
WED. 3/18 CLUB 1808 – 8:30PM
WED. 3/18 MOHAWK (GHOSTLY/ANTICON PRESENTS) – 11:40PM
SAT. 3/21 URBAN OUTFITTERS – 2PM

Juliette Commagere – [[Rising LA songstress and Hello Stranger front woman is joined by Ry and Joachim Cooder and friends on her acclaimed solo album, /Queens Die Proudly/. Check out Juliette's KCRW "Morning Becomes Eclectic" In-Studio. "like a No. 1 chart-topper from another dimension, where remarkably memorable songs are given evocative musical twists via her classically designed song structures and sensual '70s synth stylings." - LA Weekly "Rock Pick," John Payne]]
WED. 3/18 @ SPACELAND PARTY – TBA
SAT. 3/21 @ MUSEBOX PARTY @ RUSTY SPURS – 8PM

Motel Motel – [[Brooklyn "Band To Watch In 2008" pair alt-country stylings with front man Eric Engel?s unusual vocals, complete with varying string and horn arrangements. "[Motel Motel's] record “New Denver” clocks in at an ambitious 72 minutes, and every single one of them is necessary listening. This is NYC’s best debut record of 2008.”- New York Press]]
WED. 3/18 C3 PRESENTS PARTY @ PARADISE CAFE – 6PM W/HARLEM SHAKES, MORNING BENDERS, ETC.
FRI. 3/20 SOUNDCHECK MAGAZINE PARTY @ EMO’S ANNEX – 12:55PM
FRI. 3/20 WESTERN VINYL PARTY @ PROGRESS COFFEE (ACOUSTIC SET)- 2PM
FRI. 3/20 THE REBEL GROUP SHOWCASE @ MAGGIE MAE’S – 8PM
SAT. 3/21 WHOOPSY DAY PARTY @ TROPHYS – 2PM
SAT. 3/21 THE PARLOR NIGHT PARTY @ THE PARLOR – 8:55PM

The Phenomenal Handclap Band – [[Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand (Embassy Sound Productions) have combined the best of the soul and indie worlds with a debut that includes Jon Spencer, members of TV On the Radio, Calla, Mooney Suzuki, Sí Se, Antibalis, and The Dap Kings among others. "...an impressive hodge-podge of various accomplished musicians simultaneously channeling the energy of !!!, Tom Tom Club, Can, Cerrone, and Giorgio Moroder in a surreal explosion of sound." - XLR8R]]
WED. 3/18 IODA PARTY OPENING BASH @ EMO’S ANNEX W/DEER TICK, ETC. -2PM
WED. 3/18 THE MUSIC SLUT and HYPE MACHINE/BLOGFRESH RADIO PARTY @ THE RUMBLER – 5PM
WED. 3/18 MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG SHOWCASE @ RADIO ROOM – 8PM
THURS. 3/19 MUSIC FOR LISTENERS @ RED HOUSE PIZZERIA – 2PM
THURS. 3/19 MINT RECORDS/VENUS MAGAZINE @ HEADHUNTERS – 5PM
FRI. 3/20 EVERLOVING @ DESIGN WITHIN REACH [200 W. 2nd at Colorado] – 5PM

Ponytail – [[Known for their energetic live shows, Baltimore art-school punks, Ponytail, have been on the road with High Places, Don Caballero, Joan of Arc in support of their sophomore release Ice Cream Spiritual on We Are Free (Yeasayer, Indian Jewelry) "an out-and-out blast" - New York Times, Jon Pareles "Ponytail make a joyful racket with an expressionist swirl of colorful noises, danceable grooves and howled onomatopoeia...Siegel's performance was more like a possession ritual than a rock show." - Rolling Stone "CMJ's 10 Buzzworthy Breakout Bands"]]
THURS. 3/19 URBAN OUTFITTERS – 5PM
THURS. 3/19 GIGOTRON/VIDEOTHING PARTY @ CLUB 1808 – 9PM
FRI. 3/20 TODD P PARTY @ MS. BEA’S – 3PM
SAT. 3/21 MYOPENBAR DAY PARTY @ TBA
SAT. 3/21 VIVA RADIO SHOWCASE @ CLUB DE VILLE – 12AM

School of Seven Bells – [[Ben Curtis from Secret Machines and the twin Deheza sisters from On! Air! Library!, their critically-acclaimed release 'Alpinisms' (Ghostly International) features a guest appearance from Simone Pace from Blonde Redhead and the band will be touring the US with Fujiya & Miyagi and Black Moth Super Rainbow.]]
WED. 3/18 KCRW NIGHT SHOWCASE @ BUFFALO BILLIARDS – 12AM
THURS. 3/19 RHAPSODY PARTY @ MOHAWK – 1:30PM
FRI. 3/20 MOJO PRESENTS GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL/FULL TIME HOBBY SHOWCASE @ RADIO ROOM – 11PM
FRI. 3/20 WINDISH-PITCHFORK PARTY @ EMO’S – 3PM
SAT. 3/21 URBAN OUTFITTERS – 5PM

The New Wine – [[The New Wine creates music for people to dance to. Part of the Telle scene out of Bergen, Norway (Erlend Oye, Lindstrom, etc.) they experiment in both electronic and acoustic sounds. Formed in September of 2007, the band is rapidly becoming a well-known name.]]
THURS. 3/19 ØYA FESTIVAL SHOWCASE @ HABANA ANNEX – 8PM
SAT. 3/21 A BLOG AND A BAND @ CLUB PRIMOS [1700 E. 6th St.] – 4PM

The Shys – [[Formerly on Sire Records, The Shys' music has been featured on shows such as HBO'S Entourage, MTV'S Fast, Inc. Their new album has been met with critical praise from NPR, XM Satellite Radio, UR Chicago and many others. Classic rock n' roll sprinkled with alt-country, blues & soul, drawing from influences ranging from The Rolling Stones and The Clash to The Kinks and The Beatles, The Shys recently returned home from a cross-country tour with the Von Bondies, The Takeover UK and Army Navy.]]
THURS. 3/19 OBSCURE MAGPIE SHOWCASE @ THE COMPOUND – 12PM
FRI. 3/20 LITTLE STEVENS UNDERGROUND GARAGE SHOWCASE @ RED EYED FLY – 7PM
SAT. 3/21 BRANDY VINYL SHOWCASE @ PRAGUE – 7PM

Slim Twig – [["A Toronto icon-in-the-making, Slim Twig is already well known in indie circles for his clutch of avant-rockabilly EPs, and a turn opposite Ellen Page in Bruce McDonald's 2007 film The Tracey Fragments. The ever-mysterious pompadoured troubadour couples his stylishly crafted persona with his Suicide-drenched, art-damaged country tunes." -- NOW Magazine (Slim Twig, Best Toronto Pop/Rock Artist 2008)]]
SAT 3/21 POP MONTREAL SHOWCASE@ BEAUTY BAR – 12AM

Woodhands – [[Woodhands is an electro-pop duo with a relentlessly energetic live-show and a total disdain for anything but balls-to-the-wall, dirty, sexy dance parties . The brainchild of Dan Werb (vocals, keytar, synths, drum machines) and Paul Banwatt (drums, vocals), Woodhands has gathered national press across the US and Canada and was tagged as one of 5 bands to watch in 2008 by Exclaim! Magazine.]]
WED 3/18 PAPER BAG RECORDS SHOWCASE @ HABANA CALLE 6 PATIO
SAT 3/21 M FOR MONTREAL SHOWCASE @ EL SOL (Formerly Emo’s Lounge) -1:45PM