Metallica play SXSW

Music veterans pose as newcomers to crowd of just 2,000 in Austin

21 March 2009 - Metallica played an intimate show at South By South West last night. The gig came after rumours and speculation that they would play at the Guitar Hero Metallica party.

The Los Angeles outfit took to the stage at the festival in Austin, Texas, playing a mix of classic tracks and songs from their most recent album Death Magnetic.

The four-piece attempted to pose as newcomers at the gig, playing to a crowd of just 2,000. Frontman James Hetfield told the audience "We're a young band from Norway and we want to get signed" before launching into their 12 song set.

Die hard Metallica lined up outside the venue, Stubbs, for a chance to see their favourite band up close.

The heavy metal outfit played for an hour, watched by members of Janes' Addiction and the Duke Spirit.

Elsewhere at the festival, Graham Coxon was showcasing tunes from his next solo album, the concept record The Spinning Top. He told 6 Music the festival feels like boot camp: “I’ve got a show every day. I’ve never played these songs so this is like jumping into a fire and seeing what happens."We're a young band from Norway and we want to get signed"James Hetfield

“It was alright for a couple of days, because it was all so surreal with the jetlag and it being so hot it didn’t really matter…but now I’m fully aware.”

Coxon explained why he chose to debut his new material in Austin, rather than in the UK. “No one really knows the songs so if I screw them up they don’t know. I think American audiences are very appreciative, they’re very enthusiastic and will allow me quite a few mistakes.

“I can actually get to grips with feeling a bit more confident away from home with the songs.”

Scottish outfit Dananananakroyd are also in Austin. At the start of the third day of the festival, John from the Glaswegian outfit told us the band were on a pretty hectic schedule. “We’re playing the Scottish showcase with Primal Scream, Glasvegas and the Proclaimers.

“We’re doing a radio session, some press stuff, and then we have Sunday off to recover. Then we come back on Monday and go on tour two days later.”

You can hear more from SXSW 2009 by tuning into theMusic Week on Sunday at 1pm GMT.

Victoria Hannaford