SXSW 2015: A Guide to the Best Parties, Performances and Showcases

15 March 2015, 17:00 | Written by Alex Lee Thomson

(News)

(Bleachers)

For anybody that’s unaware, South By South West in Texas is probably the world’s biggest new music event, sprawling over a hundred venues and spaces with 2,000 international acts performing. It’s as though Glastonbury took over a town, booked the cream of emerging acts, filled that town with free BBQ and whiskey, called your parents to tell ‘em you’re staying at theirs for the week and put the sunshine on maximum setting. It’s Disneyland for your ears and liver. Austin is one of the most amazing college towns in North America anyway and for a week each March, it becomes the epicentre of the music world. A lot of time can be spent roaming the streets and checking out events on-the-fly, but here’s some of the shows we’ll be aiming for …

Tuesday 17 March

StubHub Presents:
Future Islands + Portugal The Man + Charley Braadley & His Extraordinaries
2:00PM - 1:00AM @ Clive Bar, 609 Davis St

Transgressive Records Presents:
Our 2014 “Record Label Of The Year” return to SXSW
Spring King + Gengahr + Songhoy Blues
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ Buffalo Billiards, 201 East 6th Street

Huw Stephen Presents:
Shura + Kate Tempest + East India Youth
8PM @ British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto

House of Vans & Transmission Events:
Angel Olsen + Ryley Walker + Torres + Suicide Year
8PM @ Mohawk, 912 Red River St

Wednesday 18 March

Pitchfork Day Party:
Natalie Prass + Torres + Speedy Ortiz + Sophie + Son Lux
12:00PM - 6:00PM @ Mohawk, 912 Red River St

StubHub Presents:
Elliphant + MS MR + The Vaccines
2:00PM - 1:00AM @ Clive Bar, 609 Davis St

Canadian Blast:
The Wet Secrets + Yukon Blonde
2:00PM - 6PM @ Bush Square Park

Tumblr IRL:
Twin Shadow
8:00PM - 10:00PM @ Ironwood Hall, 505 E 7th St

House Of Vans:
Girlpool + Alvvays + Metz + The Damned + Thee Oh Sees + Future Islands
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ Mohawk, 912 Red River St

All Things Go + Blah Blah Blah Science @ Hype Hotel:
For anybody without a wristband, or anybody with for that matter, The Hype Hotel is a SXSW must. An endless open bar, a history of unbelievable performances and endless tacos and burritos… what’s not to love!?
Wolf Alice + Ryn Weaver + Laura Welsh + Best Coast
8pm @ Fair Market, 1100 E 5th S
RSVP for free HERE

KCRW
BØRNS + Odesza + Wolf Alice
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ The Parish, 214C East 6th St.

NPR Music Presents:
Boogie + Shamir + Courtney Barnett + Stromae + TV On The Radio
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ Stubb’s, 801 Red River St

BBC Introducing:
SOAK + Spring King + Blossoms + Jack Garrett
8pm @ British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto

Thursday 19 March

New Shapes:
Seinabo Sey + Tei Shi + Lolawolf
11:30AM - 6:00PM @ Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River St

Spotify House:
MisterWives + Ibeyi + Tobias Jesso Jr. + more
12:00PM - 9:00PM @ 901 E 6th St
RSVP for free HERE

Under The Radar
SOAK + Mew + Matthew E. White + East India Youth
12:00PM - 6:00PM @ Flamingo Cantina, 200 East 8th Street

Pitchfork Day Party:
Waxatchee + Hundred Waters + Will Butler
12:00PM - 6:00PM @ Mohawk, 912 Red River St

Fader Fort
Shlohmo + Bleachers + Ghostface Killah + more
1:00PM @ The Fader Fort

Levitation in association with Sacred Bones Present:
Institute + Moon Duo + Pharmakon + Lust For Youth + Noveller + Weyes Blood
7:00PM - 2:00AM @ Hotel Vegas Compound, 1500 East 6th St

SXSW Presents:
Luluc + Joseph
7:00PM - 2:00AM @ St. David's Bethell Hall, 30 East 8th St

Infinity Car Recordings Present:
JEFF the Brotherhood + Diarrhea Planet + Ed Schrader’s Music Beat + PUJOL Jawws + Roswell Kid
7:30PM - 2:30AM @ Swan Dive Patio, 615 Red River St

House Of Vans / Domino Presents:
J Fernandez + Alex G + Bob Moses + Matthew E. White + Hamilton Leithauser + Laura Marling
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ Mohawk, 912 Red River St

SXSW Presents:
Viet Cong + Metz + King Tuff + Courtney Barnett
8:00PM - 1:00AM @ Cedar Street Courtyard, 208 W 4th St

Gorilla vs. Bear:
Yumi Zouma + Leon Bridges + Autre Ne Veut
8pm @ Hype Hotel, Fair Market, 1100 E 5th S
RSVP for free HERE

PC Music
Hannah Diamond + SOPHIE + Lil Data
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ The Empire Garage, 604 East 7th st

SXSW Presents:
Tove Lo + Tribe Society + Nova Rockafeller + The Karma Killers + July Talk
Times TBC @ The Belmont, 305 W 6th St

Friday March 20th

Spotify House:
Joey Bada$$ + PRhyme + Wale + Pell + SZA +Just Blaze
12:00PM - 9:00PM @ 901 E 6th St
RSVP for free HERE

Crack in The Road x Disco Naivete
Lydia Ainsworth + George Mapel + Raury +
12pm @ Hype Hotel, Fair Market, 1100 E 5th S
RSVP for free HERE

Panache Booking:
Jacco Gardner + Meat Bodies + Thee Oh Seas + Wand + Wax Witches
12:00PM - 1:00AM @ Hotel Vegas, 1500 East 6th Street

Dr Martens Presents:
Happyness + Torres + Twin Peaks + Cloud Nothings
3:00PM - 1:00AM @ Bar 96, Rainey St

Blackjack London:
JUCE + Boxed In
8pm @ British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto

Cruel Rhythm
Seinabo Sey + Years & Years + Rae Strummurd
8PM @ Hype Hotel, Fair Market, 1100 E 5th S
RSVP for free HERE

SXSW Presents:
Slothrust + Fabryka
8:00PM - 2:00AM @ Buffalo Billiards, 201 East 6th St

SXSW Presents
Ibeyi + Marian Hill + Tobias Jessor Jr
7:30PM @ Central Presbyterian Church, 200 East 8th st.

SoundExchange Presents:
Elle King + Bleachers + Laleh + Marina & The Diamonds
10:30PM - 1:00AM @ Stubb’s, 801 Red River St

Fools Gold Presents:
Fetty Wap + A-Trak + Athletixx + Bames + more
Times TBC @ Gypsy Lounge, 1504 E 4th St

Saturday 21 March

Neon Gold
Verite + Astr + Marina & The Diamonds + Christina and the Queens
7pm @ The Empire Room, 604 East 7th Str

Pigeon & Planes:
Tei Shi + Earl Sweatshirt + Tove Stryke
8pm @ Hype Hotel, Fair Market, 1100 E 5th S
RSVP for free HERE

NME/PRS:
Honeyblood + Hinds + Happyness + Girl Band
8pm @ British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto

Top Artist Showcase: Bleachers

Fronted by Fun’s lead guitarist and now Taylor Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff, Bleachers could very well be the next coming of guitar pop. The debut record, Strange Desire, is due out in the UK on 18 April and is absolutely crammed with the most perfect indie crossover material put on wax this decade. Live the band is accessible to teenagers who’ll swoon at the front, to rockers going ape-shit in the middle, and to smart-arse pop aficionados stood at the back whispering “it’s sooooo clever, eh”. With his shirtsleeves rolled up, nailing a faultless bombardment of riffs, Antonoff is worth catching now.

Thursday 19 March: 11:00PM - 11:40PM @ UPROXX House, 311 E 5th St
Friday 20 March: 11:30PM - 12:10AM @ Stubb’s, 801 Red River St

Check tonnes more bands worth catching courtesy of SXSW's Music Preview, compiled by a whole host of respected music bloggers and writers.