With seven days of jam-packed events, there’s no question that SXSW Sydney is a stand-out player in Australia’s music event calendar.
This October 13 to 19, a tsunami of sound will be flooding the streets of Sydney and lighting up the music venues as SXSW Sydney arrives back in town for its third edition.
Bursting at the seams with over 400 conference sessions, 150 professional development opportunities, 300 music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games and 400 brand-led events across its 7 days, SXSW Sydney combines events led by industry experts with performances by emerging talents.
SXSW Sydney
- 13 October to 19 October
- Multiple venues across Sydney
- Over 400 conference sessions, 150 professional development opportunities, 300 music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games and 400 brand-led events
- More info here
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Where Australian talent is born
View this post on Instagram
What makes SXSW Sydney stand out on Australia’s events calendar isn’t just that it’s a massive concoction of musicians, fans and industry insiders, but that it’s also a significant launchpad that connects emerging Aussie artists to the American industry – and, ultimately, the rest of the world.
The incredible quantity and undeniable quality of musicians across the festival gives you a sneak preview of the new guard of Aussie talent – like genre-bending up-and-comers Drifting Clouds and modern punksters Worm Girlz. Plus, SXSW Sydney’s lineup is also brimming with international names that you won’t be able to see play anywhere else – like American indie rockers Whitney and Indian singer-songwriter extraordinaire Rashmeet Kaur.
The spectrum of genres covered at SXSW Sydney provides punters with a taste of everything. From Filipino neo-soul like August Wahh to a dash of explosive Irish tunes by Picture This, there’s something for every music lover across the more than 300 performances over the four days of live music.
A music festival wristband is your ticket into this extravaganza of sound and colour. Even if you only catch half a dozen artists – like British rocker Freak Slug, jazz extraordinaire Hey, Love, indie pop sensation Jasmine.4.t, Malaysian newcomers Resort, Aussie legend Robert Baxter and American indies The Thing – it still works out to be massive bang for your buck.
For music fans curious about SXSW Sydney’s conference sessions or professional development opportunities, a Platinum or Pro Pass will be your way to go, allowing you access to sessions with industry leaders like Danny Rogers of Laneway Festival and Akhila Shankar of TuneCore South Asia.
A launchpad for your favourite musicians
View this post on Instagram
While the festival provides musicians a chance to get a foot in the industry door, it’s also prime real estate for music lovers to discover their new favourite artists before they hit the mainstream, like fans did when Sydney-born band Radio Free Alice exploded onto the stage.
Hitting up SXSW Sydney in 2023 with just an EP to their name, the indie rockers have since toured the country and overseas, garnered award nominations and appeared at Austin’s flagship SXSW just earlier this year. Their fanbase has grown immensely since their humble SXSW Sydney beginnings, as well as the opportunities that have followed. It’s anyone’s bet which musicians will follow in their footsteps at this upcoming showcase.
Taking place across venues in Chippendale, Broadway and Darling Harbour, the music festival unfurls across the stages of some of Sydney’s most beloved, relaxed and intimate venues. With such a dedicated focus on the quality of artists and support for emerging artists, the vibe that SXSW Sydney has curated across its music festival is one that casts a spotlight on community.
For more information on SXSW Sydney, head here.
This article was made in partnership with SXSW Sydney.
