30 Breakout Music Acts to See in Austin This Week: Your definitive guide to SXSW’s most scintillating artists, encompassing both official and unofficial spectacles!
As Austin, Texas gears up for the highly anticipated South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival happening from March 11-16, here’s a heads-up for all music lovers. The capped ticketed events and official performing acts certainly steal the limelight, but it’s the up-and-coming, just-breaking-through artists that truly spark the SXSW vibe. Our finest music connoisseurs have therefore rounded up 30 magnificent but largely unknown acts for you to appreciate during the festival this coming week across over 75 local stages.
This list doesn’t shy away from controversy either, pulling no punches in highlighting several artists who have chosen to assertively exclude themselves from their official showcases as a show of support for Palestine, protesting against the festival’s U.S. Army sponsorship and its connections to the defense contractor RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon.
And here’s a twist – amid these myriad emissions of creativity and protest, we’ve actually packed an indispensable 31 on this list. Two of these artists, GRÓA and Lambrini Girls, have made a bold statement, choosing not to attend the festival at all in solidarity with Palestine; we do however still encourage you to explore their exceptional music.
Here’s a primer on a few of the artists that have made our list:
Arches
Hong Kong sextet, Arches, journeyed from sprightly alternative rockers into the realm of moody shoegazers. Their single “Doll” paints a vivid picture of this evolution, as Jack Ip’s opening whisper dissolves with the thump of a distortion pedal, launching a melody that is nothing short of cosmic.
Bar Italia
The London-based trio, Bar Italia, is another act to watch, their sound emanating a well-deserved post-punk hype. Their debut album ‘Quarrel’ sets them on a breathtaking experimental pathway, underpinned by the ultra-cool delivery of Rome-born vocalist Nina Cristante.
BLK ODYSSY
Delving into a unique blend of neo-soul, funk, and hip-hop, Austin’s own BLK ODYSSY is a standout artist. With in-depth collections ‘BLK VINTAGE’ (2021) and ‘DIAMONDS & FREAKS’ (2023) under their belt, they’ve been carving their niche, weaving a mesmerizing sonic tapestry which listeners will get to experience at SXSW.
Eliza McLamb
Embracing the raw and untouched, North Carolina-born, and L.A.-based singer-songwriter Eliza McLamb stirs an abyssal pond with haunting soundscapes. Her debut album, ‘Going Through It’, bears witness to her lyrical prowess and emotional outpourings.
While the SXSW festival promises a daily line-up that’s a veritable who’s who of music, it’s vital not to overlook the extensive list of burgeoning talent waiting in the wings. It’s the acts you’ve never heard of – the ones that are just on the cusp – that frequently snatch the limelight, steering the festival’s energy into uncharted territories. Be it through deliberate acts of civil disobedience, their predilection for after-dark programming, or their determination to remain resolutely unofficial, these artists are the ones that embody the true spirit of SXSW – edgy, provocative, and inherently unique.
So, here’s to everyone in Austin or headed to Austin for SXSW – let’s relish in the wonderful unpredictability that these talented up-and-comers bring to the table, and seize this chance to witness a marvel in the making. Rock on, Austin!
