After the thunderstorms and grey skies of the last couple of years, 2025’s edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas earlier in March occurred during a heatwave. Under sweltering blue skies, the Music Festival again provided a humongous volume of choice, with multiple clashes and the re-engaging of the brain to celebrate JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out). Here are just a few highlights enjoyed in the sunshine.
Best All Ages
Delivery (Australia) at Lazarus Brewery were busy cultivating the next generation of musicians. The band finished a five week tour in support of their second album Force Majeure (Heavenly Recordings) in Austin and invited us all to the celebrations. It was fitting as this was also the final set of the last day party which Music for Listeners put on during SXSW. The stars aligned for Delivery to produce a set which bounced from start to finish. What a joy, smiles all round, and the next generation truly inspired.
Best Crowdsurfing
The Courettes (Denmark) at Hotel Vegas saw lead singer and guitarist Flavia Couri crowd surfing while still playing guitar. The trust artists have in strangers always amazes when crowd surfing. This is how it should be of course, the shared experience of live music. The Courettes play garage rock with a thrilling 60’s vibe and live they are a delight, it’s impossible not to enjoy yourself. Flavia was looked after by the Hotel Vegas crowd and beautifully deposited back onto the stage.
Nominal mention has to go to Harry Wilkinson, the lead singer of jazz punks Maruja (United Kingdom), who was carried aloft at Mohawk during Marshall Amplifications Day Party. The fact it was 4pm in the afternoon did not deter the band or indeed the crowd and they moshed as if it was midnight. Mohawk provided plenty of vantage points for onlookers. Maruja dropped into SXSW during their debut North American tour and Austin fans were particularly thrilled to see the four-piece play in their city.
Best Hat
In the searing temperatures Mark MacCormack, guitarist of Gurriers (Ireland) was wearing a fake fur trapper’s hat. At 3pm at High Noon for Paste Magazine, Gurriers gave a pulsating punk-fuelled set and how on earth the hat survived I have no idea. But survive it did as it made a second appearance that evening at the Velveeta Room for Music From Ireland showcase. Gurriers are a band who wowed the crowds in Austin, wherever they have played. Their energy has been limitless and the five-piece celebrated the release of their debut album Come and See in style. The Music from Ireland set was particularly emotionally charged considering the boycotts in 2024. Surely a debut North America tour is now in the planning.
Best Local Support
As a United Kingdom-based journalist seeing local bands is one of the perks of SXSW. Austin is a music city all year round and it’s bursting with creativity so giving these artists a platform in their own backyard can only be a good thing. The Pinky Rings (Austin) at Hotel Vegas were a case in point. Think Riot Grrrl attitude and whip smart lyrics. They had plenty of fans in the crowd which only added to the fizzing atmosphere.
Best Onstage Fall Without Missing a Note
To see Sunflower Bean (New York) up close and personal was very special, although it looked like the set may have been cut short as guitarist Nick Kivlen took a tumble over a stage crew member who was trying to fix the kick drum. Thankfully no injuries but impressively it was the most graceful fall and not a note was missed! The trio release their fourth album Mortal Primetime on 25 April, the first to be self-produced by the band.
Best Onstage Totems
Population II (Canada) at Hotel Vegas had trolls on stage. Toy ones I hastened to add, at least I think they were! Having seen Population II play on the bigger stage at this venue in 2024, this set was on the more intimate inside stage, and even better for it. The trio of singer and drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist and keyboardist Tristan Lacombe, and bassist Sébastien Provençal produce pulsating beats, wild guitar riffs, and thunderous drums. I wonder what the trolls made of it!
Best Stomping Saxophone in the Crowd
A draw between Smag På Dig Selv (Denmark) at Coopers BBQ and Maruja (United Kingdom) at Mohawk for Marshall Amplification showcase. Indeed these bands seem like brothers in music. Similarities in description perhaps but both bring their own unique take on jazz punk. Of one thing there is no doubt, the saxophonists in the crowd created an electricity in the air. Not long before Smag På Dig Selv took to the stage at midnight the venue seemed pretty empty, and then suddenly the room filled, like bees to the honey pot. The reward was an exuberant performance by Oliver Lauridsen (tenor saxophone), Thorbjørn Øllgaard (baritone and bass saxophone, and vocals) and Albert Holberg (drums). Ones to watch no doubt.
Joe Carroll of Maruja also fires up the crowd and in the mid-afternoon heat of Mohawk it was a sweaty affair. The crowd were totally up for this set before the band even took to the stage. The four-piece are currently on their debut North America tour and their reputation is spreading like wildfire. Their emotionally charged live shows are speaking to a generation in these tumultuous times, and the result is exhilarating.
More highlights of the 2025 edition of the SXSW Music Festival to follow.
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