SXSW 2008 News & Rumor Updates

SXSW has announced (via official mailing) a few confirmations for the festival aside from those we've mentioned already: R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Daniel Lanois, The Black Keys, The Kills, My Brightest Diamond, Pato Banton, Vampire Weekend, Joe Lean + The Jing Jang Jong, Jens Lekman, Sia, $olal, Tech N9ne, and Mala Rodriguez have received the official nod. A couple of those names will look familiar to those of you following our ongoing coverage, but the big names are news to us as well.

R.E.M. are perhaps the biggest surprise so far, since they only recently announced the imminent arrival of their latest full-length, Accelerate, which drops on April 1. As the title suggests (and live shows have revealed), it's going to be a fast-paced ride. The album is the band's 14th studio effort and follow up to 2004's Around the Sun.

Locally, Black Joe Lewis has announced his inclusion in 2008's festivities, via his MySpace blog. Other confirmed local acts include Black and White Years and Car Stereo (Wars).

Have a tip for us? Are you confirmed to play? Send us a note: music@austinist.com">