35 Recommended SXSW Music Acts

From rock to new age to Irish traditional, these are the incoming artists to see

"...to convince you of every name’s merits, but all festival veterans know – there’s just too much to see...."

March 7, 2025 Music Feature by Carys Anderson

Daniel Fears, Sydney Wright, AB6IX, and More Crucial Concerts

Get out and get live

"...Floor Elevators to a third-eye plateau second only to Pink Floyd in psychedelia. Erickson’s family, band, and myriad friends..."

July 12, 2024 Music Feature by Cy White

The First-Ever Austin Women in Jazz Festival and More Crucial Concerts This Week

Plus visiting acts from Burna Boy to Mike Dimes and Dro Kenji

"...town, head to Chron Events. Austin Women in Jazz Festival Elephant Room, Friday 17 Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, Saturday..."

Nov. 17, 2023 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Memorable Moments From ACL Fest Weekend One

For you to rewind this weekend at Zilker Park

"...of ACL Fest's past decade. In 2013, back when hip-hop was scarcely represented in Zilker Park, the young Compton..."

Oct. 13, 2023 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

Qmmunity: Finding Your Pride

Drip Drop 10 brings urban LGBTQ music to the forefront, plus did you hear it’s Austin Pride this weekend?

"...will be their first experience with this parade and festival. I'm so excited for you, the same way I'm..."

Aug. 19, 2022 Column by James Scott

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Kendrick Lamar, Brandi Carlile, Red Young, Chucky Blk, and more recommended shows

"...In May, hip-hop's long-absent guiding conscience returned. Though our decaying world expected..."

July 15, 2022 Music Column by Julian Towers

SXSW Film Gets Latest Apatow, Snowpiercer Premiere

Huge lineup includes new docs on St. Vincent, Ozzy, Zappa

"...the raunch. SXSW has established itself as the Spring festival launchpad for R-rated comedies, and this year looks like..."

Jan. 15, 2020 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Loud and Proud at Pink Elephant Radio’s First SXSW Showcase

Pink Privilege becomes SX's inaugural queer hip hop event

"...Pink Elephant Radio rolled out Pink Privilege – its first..."

March 18, 2019 Qmmunity Post by Lilli Hime

The Ultimate Queer Guide to SXSW 2019

Often imitated, never duplicated, we’re here to keep it real kweer

"...The All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival just so happens to be the fifth longest running..."

March 1, 2019 Qmmunity Post by Sarah Marloff

The Pink Elephant (Radio) in the Room

Local LGBTQ advocates bring queer hip-hop to the radio and SXSW

"...Pink Elephant Radio is ready to address the pink elephant..."

March 15, 2018 Qmmunity Post by Mikaila Rushing

Your Queer Guide to SXSW

Keeping things kweer in 2018

"...Gaysha Presents: A Queer Riot Festival, 5-11pm, One World Theater..."

March 2, 2018 Qmmunity Post by Sarah Marloff

Queer Events to Come

A guide to Austin's poppin' parties, fests, and art shows

"...Outsider Festival (Feb. 14-18, The Vortex – mostly). Austin’s queer transmedia..."

Feb. 12, 2018 Qmmunity Post by Sarah Marloff

Gay Place

Austin’s 10 most defining headlines of 2017: the good, the weird, and the unexpected

"...a love-filled parade later on, and two days of festival festivities!..."

Dec. 29, 2017 Column by Sarah Marloff

Pink Elephant Puts Black LGBTQ Artists Center Stage

Austin's queer hip-hop fest returns for year two

"...The nation’s largest queer hip-hop music festival, Pink Elephant, returns to Austin this weekend..."

March 31, 2017 Qmmunity Post by Courtney Naquin

Gay Place

Black Pride is here, and it's queer

"...(and really, not even then). Purposefully coinciding with Japan's Pink Elephant Hip Hop Festival presented by allgo, and Texas..."

March 31, 2017 Column by Sarah Marloff

100 Local SXSW Music Acts

A-Z list of 100 Austin acts showcasing at the Fest

"...on 2014's IX. Fresh off headlining Keely's Golden Street Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday's showcase features original guitarist..."

March 17, 2017 Music Feature by The Music Staff

Creating Space for Queers in Hip Hop

LGBTQ hip hop festival addresses the queer elephant in the corner

"...today marks the official start of Austin’s first queer hip-hop festival. Aiming to be the largest festival of its..."

March 9, 2016 Qmmunity Post by Sarah Marloff

Gay Place

Buckle up pretty people cuz SXSW is rapidly descending

"...with one unofficial showcase (see Wednesday), and the inaugural Pink Elephant Hip-Hop Festival. Presented by Allgo and located at..."

March 4, 2016 Column by Sarah Marloff

Gay Place

In the world of queer lady party-throwing, two years feels like a victory

"...The Pink Elephant Hip-Hop Festival Pink elephants rejoice! The largest LGBTQ..."

Feb. 26, 2016 Column by Sarah Marloff

Gay Place

Let's talk about (gay) sex

"...Nine months after marriage equality, OUTsider Film & Arts Festival is taking a look – and paying homage –..."

Feb. 19, 2016 Column by Sarah Marloff

Gay Place

Love is in the air

"...The Pink Elephant Hip-Hop Festival Pink elephants rejoice! The largest LGBTQ..."

Feb. 12, 2016 Column by Sarah Marloff

Saturday Picks and Sleepers

Saturday night SXSW blurbs

"...Stasia Iron and singer Catherine Harris-White, mixes soul and hip-hop both bizarre and brilliant – intergalactic and out of..."

March 14, 2014 Music Feature

SXSW Thursday Picks & Sleepers

S.H.I.T. – So Happy It's Thursday blurbs

"...artist takes off in Europe. From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival award-winning performance piece The Terrorism of Everyday Life to..."

March 14, 2014 Music Feature

Playback: Unlocking Infest

Infest lockout, Austin Psych Fest lineup part two, Aaron Behrens' sweet new deal, and more

"...and just enough naivete to run a punk- and hip-hop-focused venue in the white-collar Warehouse District. They weathered notable..."

Feb. 7, 2014 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

SXSW Friday Picks & Sleepers

Friday blurbs are down from Thursday's, but how are you holding up at this point?

"...a microphone. Nas, whose 1994 debut Illmatic remains on hip-hop's desert island list, will release Life Is Good, his..."

March 16, 2012 Music Feature

SXSW Thursday Picks & Sleepers

Thursday blurbs slim down from the Wednesday bloat

"...9:15pm, Elephant Room Veteran bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Pedro Menéndez has been..."

March 16, 2012 Music Feature

A Boy Named Emo

What was your favorite show on Red River at Emo's?

"...Seattle's Hovercraft, following the raucous Southern metal of Jeff Pinkus' Honky, wasn't as notable as the other 1990s revolutionaries..."

Dec. 30, 2011 Music Feature

Off the Record

OTR goes country with Mike & the Moonpies and Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas

"...to Jimi Hendrix's kerosene routine at the Monterey Pop Festival and Johnny Cash's infamous jail bird at San Quentin..."

Oct. 21, 2011 Music Column by Austin Powell

Thursday Showcases

All the SXSW showcases that fit

"...ones out in the Latin-centric night, but the Chicago hip-hop duo likes to roll that way anyway. The Kids..."

March 19, 2010 Music Feature

Thursday Picks & Sleepers

Blurbing Thursday night SXSW 09 talent

"...8pm, Elephant Room In the restless digits of the Golden Arm..."

March 20, 2009 Music Feature

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