Coming up in October 2024 is the second annual SXSW Sydney - the music, film, gaming, tech & innovation expo that’s rapidly becoming a staple in the APAC region. The original SXSW in Austin, Texas began as a music festival, so it’s only natural that there is still an extremely strong music presence in the SXSW conferences of today.
SXSW is a hotbed for up-and-coming artists from around the world, with a heavy focus on artists local to the area. There will be many great musical artists from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond all performing live throughout the week.
Find out some of the top bands and top musical artists can be found this year at SXSW Sydney, taking place 14 to 20 October!
Jorja Smith
One of the most anticipated musical artists at SXSW this year, Jorja’s performance is part of her “Falling or Flying” international tour. The Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling UK sensation will no doubt be filling seats at the theatre. Her music is an interesting step off the beaten path of pop, but with the same magic that makes you want to keep listening. Her genre has been described as R&B, alt pop, trip-hop, UK garage band, and even grime.
Phoebe Rings
This dream-pop band from Auckland is sure to be a performance to remember. After their hit song “Cheshire” topped radio charts last summer, their popularity has ballooned. The band’s overall sound can be described as avant-pop, shoegaze, city pop and jazz.
The Grogans
This relatively young band already has a healthy stack of EPs and albums in addition to many tour performances supporting other artists like Ocean Alley, WAVVES (US), Hockey Dad and The Chats. Not to mention their previous experience sharing festival line-ups with Franz Ferdinand, Los Bitchos and The Teskey Brothers!
Their genre is hard to pin down, but others have tried, describing it as blues, surf and garage rock, with punk and psych touches.
The Buoys
Quickly becoming a highly-appreciated artist in Australia, this all-girl rock band started selling out shows across the country just a few years ago. With only a handful of EPs and records, the band is more well-known for their presence on tour, sharing the stage with names like the Arctic Monkeys, DMAs, Royal Blood, IDLES, and more.
Find out how SXSW works and how you can see these bands play!
RINSE
Categorised as post-punk, shoegaze and new-wave, among other things, RINSE is the solo creative project of Joe Agius, the Brisbane artist most well-known for his work with Hatchie and The Creases. RINSE's sound covers a wide variety of genres, so you can explore lots of different sounds with their discography.
smol fish
They may be “smol” but they’ve garnered an impressive local following. After appearing along with Noah Dillon on tour, their reach has expanded and they even went on another tour in the spring of 2024. Fans love their indie rock sound. The Boorloo-based band has already garnered a great reputation in both music and performance.
Mulga Bore Hard Rock
From the remote area of Akaye, NT, this six-piece glam rock group might take you by surprise. Made up of brothers and cousins, the band sings in both English and Anmatyerre with music inspired by KISS, Status Quo and Guns N’ Roses. Many budding artists find huge success after appearing at SXSW, like John Mayer, Kid Cudi, HAIM, Ellie Goulding, and even Amy Winehouse! Could Mulga Bore Hard Rock be another name on this list?
Learn about the history of SXSW and how it came to Sydney.
Voice of Baceprot
Hailing from Indonesia, Widi, Siti, and Marsya are starting a revolution with rock. They have already toured in Glastonbury and the US and are sure to keep on making waves in the musical community and perhaps the community at large with their activism-charged lyrics.
Ayesha Madon
One of the stars of Heartbreak High on Netflix, Ayesha already has some global recognition for her acting. But she won’t stop there! Her upbeat pop music is a treat for the ears, offering fans of sugar-sweet singers another option to fill up their playlists.
J-MILLA and Yung Milla
Some of the hottest new talent in the hip-hop genre, the two Marranunggu Millas are actually separate artists meeting up at SXSW for a party they’re calling Same Blood. With a handful of singles each, J-MILLA and Yung Milla are sure to host an exciting event.
Brandn Shiraz
A Cook Island native, Shiraz already has a dedicated following. His Polynesian and Caribbean-influenced hip-hop sound has made him stand out as someone to bank on in the coming years.
Pyra
An activist artist on a mission, Pyra has already toured around the world at various festivals, gaining momentum for her new genre known as “Dystopian Pop.” Critics hail her as an outstanding performer, so you’re sure to have a great time at her set at SXSW!
Aysanabee
Originally from the Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Aysanabee now lives in Toronto and creates award-winning music. He’s been compared to Hozier and Kings of Leon, his indie-folk music is deeply artistic and inspired.
Submerse
Originally from the UK now living in Tokyo, Submerse is a producer/DJ whose musical style is described as having elements of Jungle, Footwork, Beats, and Hardcore with additional inspiration from video game music and R&B, just to name a few. Some have called the genre Future Garage or J-garage.
There will also be lots of speakers and events at SXSW.
A. Swayze & The Ghosts
Modern post-punk band A. Swayze & The Ghosts is a five-piece ensemble that recently came back from hiatus, refreshed and ready to wow audiences with their “Impassioned, intelligent punk” (DIY). They’ve quickly gained popularity, even landing a song on the remastered Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game. Additionally, their live performances have been described as “unpredictable, risky and unhinged” (Triple J), so you know it’s going to be a great show!
Other Notable Artists
There will be dozens of other musical artists performing across many stages during the week. Be sure to check out the full schedule on the SXSW official site to learn more.
Here are some other artists you should look into adding to your music festival itinerary!
- Beckah Amani
- Friends of Friends
- Mannequin Death Squad
- Vetta Borne
- Full Flower Moon Band
- 00_ (double oh nothin)
- Chase Woods
- Ena Mori
- Dualist Inquiry
- FACESOUL
- KRSNA
- ixaras
- BIRDEE 王煒
- Joan & The Giants
- Special Feelings
Discover the screenings and other media events at SXSW.
SXSW Sydney Schedule
| Artist | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Voice of Baceprot | Tue, 15 Oct. | 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM |
| Jorja Smith | Tue, 15 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM |
| smol fish | Wed, 16 Oct. | 7:10 PM - 7:40 PM |
| Phoebe Rings | Wed, 16 Oct. | 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
| Ayesha Madon | Wed, 16 Oct. | 9:00 PM - 9:30 PM |
| J-Milla x Yung Milla | Wed, 16 Oct. | 10:15 PM - 10:45 PM |
| A. Swayze & The Ghosts | Wed, 16 Oct. | 11:00 PM - 11:30 PM |
| Submerse | Wed, 16 Oct. | 11:30 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Pyra | Thur, 17 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM |
| Aysanabee | Thur, 17 Oct. | 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM |
| RINSE | Thur, 17 Oct. | 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM |
| Brandn Shiraz | Fri, 18 Oct. | 7:15 PM - 7:45 PM |
| Mulga Bore Hard Rock | TBC | TBC |
| The Buoys | TBC | TBC |
| The Grogans | TBC | TBC |
The music keynote speaker this year is The Kid LAROI, who will be sharing about his experience as a musician. If you’re interested in his music and story, or want to learn more about being a musician and the music industry, this keynote speech will be full of valuable information for you.
The music festival portion of SXSW is perhaps the most anticipated among most people. Although the conference has expanded into film, games, and tech, the heart of the event has always been the music.
There will be many opportunities to listen to live music for free at SXSW!
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