Atlantic Records At SXSW Preview Part 3

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - In part three of our SXSW preview, we highlight Robert Francis, Ben Gibard and Versaemerge. Here's where and why you should see them in Austin.

ROBERT FRANCIS
You may recognize Los Angeles musician Robert Francis' song 'Junebug' as being a former iTunes single of the week, however that's just the tip of the iceberg for him. Although he's still young, Francis' soulful voice is rooted in rock's rich traditions and is the perfect conduit to express heartfelt ballads like 'Nightfall.' After SXSW, Francis will be doing a short run in the United States before heading back over to Europe. Catch Him: 3/18 at Stubb's (801 Red River); 3/19 at Rusty Spurs (405 E. 7th Street); 3/20 at Hotel San Jose (1316 South Congress)

BEN GIBBARD
For over a decade Ben Gibbard has fronted the iconic indie rock band Death Cab For Cutie, but during his free time Gibbard has experimented with everything from electro-rock (The Postal Service) to film scores (Kurt Cobain: About A Son) with stellar results. Those of you who saw Gibbard on his 2007 solo tour already know that his set can be full of surprises-such as an impromptu cover of Nirvana's 'All Apologies'-so if you are lucky enough to catch this rare performance, who knows what special tracks Gibbard will pull out?
Catch Him: 3/20 at The Parish (214 E. 6th Street)

VERSAEMERGE
VersaEmerge are a trio from Port St. Lucie, Florida, who are proving to be one of 2010's true breakout acts. Led by the vocals of female crooner Sierra Kusterbeck and teeming with songs that range from ballads to full-fledged arena rockers, the band's 2009 eponymous EP has help them gain countless fans who caught them aside peers like the Cab and We The Kings. The band are releasing their full-length debut this summer, however we recommend checking them out at SXSW if you want a sneak peek of what they've been working on.
Catch Them: 3/18 at Pure Volume House (504 Trinity Street)