SXSW 2025: Recap

The bands seen this week. For reference when my mind goes.

Monday March 10

@GSD&M
Me Nd Adam
Brittney Spencer
Band of Horses

Tuesday March 11

@HITW
Lodro
Spun
Death by Monkey
Marcus Striplin

@GSDM
Rochelle and the Sidewinders
Hayes and the Heathens
Asleep at the Wheel w/

Jake Worthington

Willi Carlisle

Hayes Carll

Band of Heathens

Jimmie Vaughan

 

Wednesday March 12

@Cheer Up Charlie's
Terraplana
untitled (halo)
Shallowater
Madame Gandhi
Deloyd
Dead Gowns
La Securite

@Palm Door-British Music Embassy
Finn Forster

@High Noon-Paste Magazine
Georgia Maq
Judy Blank
Soda Blonde
Stella Bridie
Honeyglaze

Thursday March 13

@Luck Reunion
Luke Tyler Shelton
Marlon Funaki
BMI Songwriter showcase w:

JD Clayton

Coleman Jennings

Valley James

Briscoe
Willi Carlisle
Kris Kristofferson tribute with:

Chaparelle

Jesse Welles

Hayes Carll

Charlie Sexton

Margo Price

Jesse Woods

Lukas Nelson

Ester Rose and Casey James

Jessica Simpson
Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge
Shane Smith and the Saints
Julien Baker & Torres
Waxahatchee
Arcade Fire (outside)
Lucinda Williams
Willie Nelson & Family

Friday March 14

@Yeti
Gold Star

@Imogene and Willie
She Returns from War
Luke Tyler Shelton
The Tiarras

@San Jose
Case Oats (2 songs)

@Imogene and Willie
Ken Pomeroy
Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge
Rowena Wise (2 songs)

Saturday March 15

@White Horse
Kimmi Bitter

@Lazarus
Chinese American Bear

@White Horse
Teddy & the Rough Riders (partial)

@High Noon
Tommy Stinson with Freedom Rockets
Nikki Lane

SXSW 2025: Madame Ghandi

 This artist is playing Wednesday at Cheer Up Charlies.  Per Wikipedia:

Kiran Gandhi (born February 21, 1989), also known by her stage name Madame Gandhi, is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist and activist...Gandhi's music career includes being a touring drummer for artists M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, and Kehlani. Her music and activism focuses on female empowerment and fourth-wave feminism.

Here is her performing live on KEXP. 

This is one of her most streamed songs. It says: "An uplifting Fela Kuti-inspired percussive electronic afrobeat anthem about being your best self."

SXSW 2025: Judy Blank

Americana from Holland. She's playing all over this week. She's playing Luck with Aaron Lee Tasjan but she's also playing the Paste Party Wednesday at 5:20pm. 

"1995" is a nice song. 

This is fun.

SXSW 2025: Monobloc

This is a band out of New York that is playing quite a few of the big shows. They're doing Paste on Wednesday at 1:45pm and SXSanJose on Friday at 5pm. Rolling Stone interviewed them and they said:

“Of course we’ll get the New York comparisons,” says Waldron. “But the band that actually brought us together was Joy Division and it’s kind of funny. This reverse relationship where the UK feels like we’re a New York band, but we want to be a Manchester band. I feel like if we were in an alternative dimension and from Manchester we’d get those comparisons. But we’re from New York, so everyone just thinks we sound like The Strokes.”

"I'm Just Trying to Love You" sounds like The Strokes.  So does "Where is My Garden".

This was pretty good. You can hear the Joy Division influence, especially in the bass line.

SXSW 2025: Lily Seabird

This is an indie-folk singer out of Burlington, Vermont. Most of her shows are on Thursday. I don't think we'll get to see her but I like her. We'll need to keep her on our radar.

"Cavity" is a nice mellow tune.

"Grace" is good, too. It starts off so sweet then goes full rock'n'roll. Reminds me of Ratboys.

This is another good one.

SXSW 2025: Palmyra

Luck announced a day party at Hotel Magnolia for Saturday from 1-4. Three bands. SUSTO String Band is one of them. I'm pretty sure it's SUSTO with just strings. Nice.

This is a bluegrass trio out of South Carolina. According to this article they've opened for Watchhouse and also played Newport Folk Festival. They've also played with Jobi Riccio.

This is fun.  

SXSW 2025: Fashion Club

This is another artist profiled in the Austin Chronicle. It says:

The gothic vocals and rich post-punk textures of 2022 debut Scrutiny offered an easy introduction to Fashion Club, the solo project of Moaning bassist Pascal Stevenson...Strings and synths dominate this electronic album, Stevenson’s first release since her gender transition. Avant-pop master Perfume Genius guests on brooding ballad “Forget,”

Here is "Forget".

They play Friday at 1:45 at High Noon.

This is the best I heard. 

SXSW 2025: Dead Gowns

This is another of the bands highlighted by the Austin Chronicle.  It's the moniker of Maine's Genevieve Beaudoin.  She had her record release show in Portland on Valentine's Day. Her bio says:

 The record is a stirring compilation of raw, passionate folk-rock that calls to mind the music of Cat Power, PJ Harvey, and Big Thief. 

The best chance to see her is Wednesday at 3pm at Cheer Up Charlie's. She also plays the Paste Party on Thursday. That is the best day for the Paste Party unfortunately for us.

The video for "Maladie" is her on a ferry in Maine. The fort at 1:16 is the same one we went by on our ferry.

"How Can I" is her first single. It's good.

I liked this one.

 

SXSW 2025: Brennan Wedl

The Austin Chronicle just posted their list of "35 Recommended SXSW Music Acts".  This artist is from Nashville. They say:

Unvarnished voices have always been a calling card of music, country or otherwise – from George Jones to Bruce Springsteen, who the Nashville singer-songwriter cites as an influence on this track. Other recent singles – like the electric “Scorpio,” released via legendary DIY label Kill Rock Stars – signal Wedl’s equal love for indie rock. The alt-country renaissance continues. 

She's playing Friday at Luck.  All her day shows are on Thursday. She is playing Saturday night at Saxon Pub. I doubt we'll get to see her this time around.

"Heartland" is a nice mellow song. Her unvarnished voice when she says Heartland reminds me of Lucinda Williams.

"2 Dollar Pistol" is good. I like her.

This is good. A good fit on the bill with Waxahatchee.

 

SXSW 2025: Shallowater

This band originally out of West Texas but now in Houston is playing Cheer Up Charlie's Wednesday outside at 1:30pm.  Brooklyn Vegan says:

 It’s sublime mix of slowcore, post-rock, alt-country, ’90s alt-rock and emo that deftly pivots styles, often within one song, making it all seem natural and clearly coming from one creative point of view. We hear Neil Young, Sunny Day Real Estate, Acetone, Hum, Red House Painters & more. They call it “West Texas dirtgaze.” 

"Angels" is really good. Definite Neil Young vibe. 

This is the only video they have on Youtube.

SXSW 2025: Radio Free Alice

This band from Melbourne is playing Cheer Up Charlie's on Wednesday and the Paste party on Thursday. They call themselves post punk. According to Rolling Stone:

There is something intriguingly Aussie-anomalous to Radio Free Alice’s sound: it’s a heady throwback to the guitar music that spread across the Atlantic at the beginning of the 2010s, when Twin Peaks and Parquet Courts roamed Chicago and Brooklyn, and The Vaccines and The Maccabees did their exuberant thing in Britain. 

"Empty Words" reminds me of Modest Mouse.

"Johnny" is good.

This was my favorite.

SXSW 2025: Schedules

For the most comprehensive list of all the unofficial parties go to the Austin Chronicle.

I've narrowed that down to the top day parties for each day, mostly in order of my preference. The links are for bands I sampled and a quick overview of them.

These are a work in progress as changes happen daily.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

SXSW 2025: Bobby Dove

This country artist is playing quite a few evening shows but only one show at a reasonable hour: Saturday at 6pm at the Fairmont Hotel. Per SXSW:

Bobby Dove, the Montreal born singer-songwriter, is quickly becoming a magnetic presence in the world of Country and Americana music. With a voice as powerful as their storytelling, this trans/non-binary troubadour pays tribute to the golden age of honky tonk, while crafting original, emotionally charged songs that “blend genres with the touch of a master.” (Mary Gauthier)

Currently based in rural Manitoba, Bobby Dove is preparing to release a new full-length album in the spring of 2025, including a cowrite/duet with grammy winning songwriter, Jim Lauderdale.

"I Dreamt I Met John Prine" is a good acoustic song.

This is live. Nice.

SXSW 2025: Jo Hill

This artist is on the big British Music Embassy night showcases but I find only one day party: Thursday at 1pm at Waterloo Records. Her bio says:

Jo Hill is a singer/songwriter from Cheddar. Taking influence from Fleetwood mac, Remi Wolf, Kasey Musgraves, and Benee, her music is a combination of indie pop/rock/soul with a sweet smattering of country.

"Off the 45" is a single off her new album.  Not sure what to think of it.

"Honeymoon" is her most streamed song. Catchy pop. 

This was the best I heard. 

SXSW 2025: Dutch Interior

This band out of L.A. is playing a few big day parties: Paste at High Noon (no date yet), Cheer Up Charlie's on Wednesday at 5pm, Valhalla and the 13th Floor on Thursday. Per their bio:

the LA County-based band of lifelong friends Jack Nugent, Conner Reeves, Davis Stewart, Noah Kurtz, and brothers Shane and Hayden Barton — today announce their Fat Possum debut, Moneyball, out March 21st

 "Sandcastle Molds" is pretty good.

"Ecig" reminds me of TVOTR.

This has a very MJ Lenderman feel, especially the guitar.

SXSW 2025: Amelia Coburn

This artist is playing Wednesday at 3:30pm at Palm Door for the British Music Embassy.  This article says:

Twenty-six year old folk songwriter Amelia Coburn originally hails from Middlesbrough and has spent time travelling and living abroad in Mexico, Russia and France... Despite being classified as a folk singer, she didn’t want to work with someone who had solely produced artists from the folk genre. “The inspirations behind my music are wider than that,” she explains. “I totally get why I was nominated for the BBC Young Folk Artist award, as I am a folk singer in some ways, but I didn’t want to go for a folk producer and then be put into that box forever.”

"Sandra" is her latest release. Definite Joan Baez vibe.

I like this song.

 

SXSW 2025: Finn Forster

 This artist is playing Palm Door on Wednesday at 4:10pm for the British Music Embassy.  Per SXSW:

Finn hails from the industrial town of Middlesbrough in the North East of England and his songs come from places of real truth, deliver anthemic melodies and shine light on the trials and tribulations of his youth told through captivating vocals...Independently featured on BBC Radio 2, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and picked as a ‘BBC Introducing One To Watch’ artist, Finn then signed to Interval Records (Universal/EMI North)

 "Grey Skies" is nice. Great bluesy voice.

This is latest video.  Southern country-rock sound from Middlesbrough. Reminds me of "Midnight Rider".

SXSW 2025: Case Oats

This band plays Yeti on Thursday at 1pm as part of the BMI showcase.  They are also playing SXSanJose but they haven't put out schedules yet.  Per their site:

A band led by songwriters Casey Walker and Spencer Tweedy, Case Oats hails from Chicago, and creates songs about relationships and experience with an unadorned delivery and an unflinching eye. Casey Walker’s lyrics cut to the “gooey heart” of relationships and experience of bringing a city-dwelling life back down to earth. Their yet-to-be-announced debut album is a well-defined, inviting labor of love that is light on pastiche and heavy on intention. 

In case you didn't notice: Spencer Tweedy.  

Also, they just signed to Merge Records who will be releasing their debut album.

No other day shows I can find yet.

Here's a cover from a couple years ago. "Drivin' on 9"

They have only one original on Spotify and Youtube. This was just released. "Unflinching" is a good description.

 

SXSW 2025: Joelton Mayfield

This artist is playing Yeti on Thursday at noon as part of the BMI Showcase. He doesn't have any other day parties at this point.  Per BMI:

Raised in small-town central Texas and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Joelton Mayfield crafts hard-hitting alt-country that’s at home in any setting. Mayfield’s distinct take on the genre blends his experimental musicality with a dynamic edge. At the center of it all is Mayfield’s deft lyricism, which draws from a Southern Gothic literary sensibility and deals intimately with the tensions embedded in family, religion, masculinity, and love in the American South.

The small town is Marble Falls. 

He only has two songs on his Youtube page. "Pretty Linda" is him live. 

Here he is live in Brooklyn. "The Reason". I like him.

This is his new single. It's good.

 

SXSW 2025: Benét

This artist is playing Mohawk on Wednesday for the Marshall day party and he's also playing Chess Club the same day at noon.  Per this article:

'Can I go again?', the debut full-length album by Richmond, VA-based singer-songwriter Benét (Benét Nutall, pronouns He/Him) is a diverse collection of contemplative, tightly-crafted indie-pop, rock, and soul tracks as emotionally resonant as they are immediate and infectious.

There isn't much online about him other than that but he's on two high profile shows so something is up. 

"Things Change" is a nice tune. 

"Make 'em Laugh" is a new release with Faye Webster.

This is his most streamed song.