North West bands attending SxSW include Liverpool’s Hot Club de Paris and singer-songwriter John Smith. Companies attending include Liverpool royalties specialist Sentric Music.

Kevin McManus, director of Merseyside ACME, will be at the event.

He said: “It’s probably the most important music industry event and showcase in the world, certainly for guitar-based music. It’s a key gateway to the North American market.

“We support businesses going there to help them break into that market. That could mean them getting a record deal, a publishing deal or a US agent.”

Clive Drinkwater, North West regional director at UKTI, said: “We are delighted to once again be a part of this globally recognised music conference and festival, which gathers together hundreds of creative professionals from around the world and provides opportunities for them to win lucrative contracts.

“We are proud to be able to raise the international profile of the North West music sector by promoting the huge talent that we know we have in the region, supporting individual artists and businesses and helping them to increase their export potential.”

TO SEE tomorrow’s live broadcast from SxSW online, visit www.northernnet.co.uk