With just over a week until the SXSW Music Festival gets underway in Austin Texas, God Is In The TV Zine provides an A to Z of artists to check out. The festival gives a platform for music from all genres and all corners of the world. With hundreds of artists already confirmed for the showcasing event, there will be an official weekly announcement by SXSW between now and the start of the Music Festival on 10 March confirming further additions. This is obviously a long way from an exhaustive list but provides a dip of the toe into the waters of this humongous event.
UNIVERSITY (United Kingdom – England)
UNIVERSITY are three—well, four, if you count the one pulling the strings—inquisitive souls bound by fate (and maybe “time travel,” if you ask them quietly). This Crewe-based band dives into life’s existential quirks, exploring adolescence, self-identity, and a touch of mania. Their music is “like getting punched by a gorilla but cuddled after,” blending influences like Nouns, Hella, and Cypress Hill into a patchwork of vintage-futuristic textures.
Hailing from a northern English railway town, UNIVERSITY channel the monotony and challenges of small-town life into an “explosion of energy” (NME). Inspired by everything from midwest emo to UK grime, they craft a cathartic mix of emo, punk, and hardcore—a restless anthem for a generation navigating chaos.
VITAL Powers (Wolverhampton, California)
VITAL Powers is a previous BBC Presenter, Music/Video Content Creator & Mentor who goes from Grime to Rap, Drill to Dancehall, from the UK, based in California. Releases such as 2016’s ‘POWERS’ hit the iTunes Hip Hop top 20 charts, VITAL followed up with a SOLD OUT headline show in his home city of Wolverhampton. 3 more sold out shows followed and a UK TOUR, which then saw VITAL headline shows in Paris and Canada. Performing on over 200 stages including MADE Festival 2016 + BBC Radio 1’s BIG WEEKEND Festival 2016 alongside artists such as: Stormzy, JayKae, Lethal B, Dappy, Stylo G, Big Narstie, Alkaline, Wiley, J Hus + many more
In 2018 BBC West Midlands gave VITAL Powers his own Radio Show ‘The Midlands Source’. Additionally VITAL has over 2 million+ Youtube views collectively including on his personal channel.
Working Class Stiffs (Niagara Falls, New York)
Hailing from the dirty waters of Niagara Falls, New York, Working Class Stiffs have made their mark on Upstate/Western New York’s explosive punk & hardcore revival. Packing local & regional shows and giving the crowd an immersive experience is what this band does best. Working Class Stiffs are currently in the studio recording their highly anticipated album dropping summer 2025.
xBValentine (Georgetown, Texas)
xBValentine is a queer Latina artist from Georgetown, Texas, known for her bold blend of hip-hop, R&B, and Latin influences. A first-generation creative, she’s spent over a decade breaking through barriers, from open mics to sharing stages with artists like Joyner Lucas, WESTSIDE Boogie, Snow Tha Product, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Wall, Three 6 Mafia, and more. Her rise includes viral moments such as the LGBTQ+ anthem ‘Vibe With You’, which surpassed a million streams and took off on TikTok, and her 2023 collaboration with Paul Wall on ‘LIKE DIS’, which gained over 10 million TikTok views.
xBValentine’s empowering music continues to push boundaries, connecting deeply with her audience through raw, intimate lyrics. With a magnetic stage presence and a unique blend of masculine energy and mystery, she’s redefining the Latina artist experience while keeping her sound fresh, captivating, and unapologetically her own.
YHWH Nailgun (New York, New York)
YHWH Nailgun is a luminary four-person experimental rock project based in NYC, made up of artists Zack Borzone (vocals), Saguiv Rosenstock (guitar), Jack Tobias (synth + electronics), and Sam Pickard (drums). Their music is a visceral blend of styles that reaches toward an absolute essence.
Zach Edwards and the Medicine (Lafayette, Louisiana)
Zach Edwards and the Medicine isn’t just another Louisiana band, they’re the heartbeat of the South, pulsing with the grit of the bayou and the soul of the blues. Led by the magnetic Zach Edwards, whose raspy vocals carry the weight of Southern storytelling, this band melds the best of swampy rock, blues, and a dash of country swagger. Their sound is a cocktail of raw, emotive guitar riffs, foot-stomping rhythms, and melodies that dig deep into the Louisiana soil, where every note tells a story.
Zach and his crew, “The Medicine,” don’t just perform, they heal. They bring audiences into their world, from smoky barrooms to festival stages, filling the air with the kind of electric energy that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. With a blend of authenticity and attitude, Zach Edwards and the Medicine are forging their own path, staying true to the roots of Southern rock while blazing ahead with their distinctive style. Every performance feels like an intimate, soul-stirring sermon, delivered with a passion that leaves audiences craving more. This is a band on the rise, ready to leave its mark on the world, one powerful show at a time.
For more information on SXSW including badges, artists information and schedules please check out the website.
