Yoko Ono Announced as 'Featured Speaker' at SXSW

With all those party invites and showcase announcements, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that SXSW is, at its heart, a music conference more than just a festival. To that end, the conference features a keynote address that anchors four days of panels, interviews, workshops, mentor sessions, peer meetings, a trade show and, of course, endless networking. This year's keynote will be from esteemed music mogul Bob Geldof. But -- it was announced on Wednesday -- Yoko Ono has now been added as a "very special featured speaker."

Jody Denberg will interview Ono live, in front of conference attendees, on Friday, March 18, for a special SXSW Interview. Ono is expected to discuss everything from her pioneering work in the Fluxus movement of the 1960s on up to her final days with her husband, the late John Lennon. And she'll be taking Q&A. While Ono may often be remembered as either Lennon's wife or as the leader of the Plastic Ono Band, she continues to make significant contributions to the art world and is still a vocal proponent for world peace. Musically, Ono also remains startlingly relevant: she has has an incredible five consecutive dance singles chart at No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts in the past few years. She also revived the Plastic Ono Band last year, playing live with a slew of marquee special guests and releasing a new album, 'Between My Head and the Sky.'

In addition to being a featured speaker, Ono will also perform at SXSW at a Chimera Music showcase on Saturday, March 19 at the Elysium. SXSW Music will take over Austin, Texas at large on March 16 - 20, with hundreds of bands scheduled to perform multiple shows and showcases, day and night, throughout the city.