SXSW Sydney has revealed the first wave of artists for its 2025 Music Festival, featuring Jasmine 4.t and Cardinals.
South by Southwest Sydney (SXSW Sydney) returns for its third year, unveiling its initial music festival lineup with a strong focus on emerging talents from both Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
The first announcement features UK indie-rock experimentalist Jasmine 4.t, the inaugural signee of Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory label and winner of the Grulke Prize for Best Developing Act at SXSW Austin earlier this year.
International acts making their way to Sydney include Irish rock outfit Cardinals bringing their poetry-inflected punk, Manchester’s Freak Slug with their eccentric artistic vision, and innovative UK creative studio Ristband collaborating with Pivots for an immersive multimedia experience combining mixed reality technology with live performance.
SXSW Sydney 2025
- Monday 13 October – Sunday 19 October 2025
- Various venues across Sydney, NSW
The first lineup
- Jasmine 4.t (UK)
- Freak Slug (UK)
- Jamaica Moana (AUS)
- JJ4K (AUS)
- Serebii (NZ)
- Slowwves (Thailand)
- Cardinals (Ireland)
- Tusekah (NZ)
- Suichu Spica 水中スピカ (JPN)
- RICEWINE (AUS)
- Ristband + Pivots (UK)
- Sacred Hearts (AUS)
- Swapmeet (AUS)
- BADASSMUTHA (AUS)
Check out our gig guide, our stage guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Stellar Australian lineup
The local contingent is led by a diverse group of rising Australian stars:
- Jamaica Moana – rapper, songwriter, creative director and ballroom icon
- RICEWINE – DIY lo-fi songwriter turned global sensation
- Sacred Hearts – Meanjin/Brisbane alternative rock duo fusing post-punk, industrial and shoegaze
- JJ4K – rising hip-hop artist and Relentless Records co-founder
- BADASSMUTHA – Githabul, Migunberri-Yugumbeh artist blending soul, reggae and alt-pop
- Swapmeet – chaotic indie-rock outfit from Kaurna Country/Adelaide
Asia-Pacific representation
The festival continues to strengthen its position as the premier music discovery platform in the Asia-Pacific region with acts including:
- Serebii (New Zealand) – indie singer-songwriter and producer from Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
- Tusekah (New Zealand) – underground R&B/neo-soul performer
- Slowwves (Thailand) – shoegaze/alternative rock outfit
- Suichu Spica 水中スピカ (Japan) – distinctive math rock-style act
Building on past success
Following previous years featuring alumni like Jorja Smith, XG, Miss Kaninna, Hockey Dad and Voice Of Baceprot, SXSW Sydney is cementing itself as a crucial event for discovering emerging talent.
The 2025 festival will feature more than 1,600 sessions and events, including 400+ conference sessions, 300+ music performances, 90+ film screenings, 150+ games, and over 400 brand-led events throughout the week.
American Apparel joins as the official merchandise partner for 2025, with American Apparel House presenting part of the SXSW Sydney Music Festival. Early bird pricing is now available until 1 May, with further announcements on additional artists, parties, workshops and the full music conference lineup expected in coming months.
For more information, head here.
