Tour promoter Louis Messina will be among the featured speakers at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference in March
in Austin, Texas. Messina's company, The Messina Group, has promoted numerous high-profile country concerts, including tours
by George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and the Dixie Chicks. He will be interviewed by Joe Nick Patoski,
author of Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, a book that will be available in April. Other SXSW featured speakers in 2008
include Lou Reed (who will deliver the keynote address), Daryl Hall, Sire Records president Seymour Stein, composer Steve
Reich and Ticketmaster CEO Steve Moriarty.




