In March, all 10 Irish bands that were set to play South By Southwest Festival in Austin, cancelled their official showcase shows in Texas after the festival’s links with the US Army and defence companies emerged.
In the summer, SXSW, which also has a big tech wing, dropped its US army sponsorship, saying “After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model. As a result, the US Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
Today, the festival has announced its first round of acts for their 39th edition taking place March 10-15, 2025.
On the list for this year from Ireland are some of the acts who pulled out of the 2024 edition including: Soda Blonde, Gurriers and Really Good Time.
Also playing in Texas this year are John Francis Flynn and M(h)aol, with more to be announced.
International acts also playing include Dune Rats, mary in the junkyard, Yasmin Williams, Annie-Claude Deschênes, Delivery, Twin Shadow and The Ting Tings.
- Ali
- Amiture
- Annie-Claude Deschênes
- Ava Vegas
- babas tutsipop
- Bakers Eddy
- Bee Blackwell
- Big Phony
- Bleary Eyed
- Boo Seeka
- Bubba Lucky
- Bummer Camp
- Caleb De Casper
- Cap Carter
- Cari Cari
- Carter Vail
- CDSM
- Chinese American Bear
- Cloth
- corto.alto
- Cotton Mather
- Delivery
- Dr. Pushkin
- Dune Rats
- Edgar Alejandro
- Ellur
- Emmeline
- Exotic Fruitica
- Fake Dad
- fantasy of a broken heart
- Frankie Venter
- GEOGRAPHER
- Graham Reynolds
- Guardian Singles
- Gurriers
- Gus Englehorn
- Hachiku
- HIMALAYAS
- Honeyglaze
- Housewife
- Jad Fair and the Placebos
- John Francis Flynn
- J.Tajor
- Julie Nolen
- Justin Morales
- Kanaan
- KAP BAMBINO
- Ki!
- Kombilesa Mi
- La Sécurité
- Laura Lee & the Jettes
- Lauren Lakis
- Letting Up Despite Great Faults
- Levin Goes Lightly
- Los Eclipses
- Lucy Sugerman
- MADELEINE
- Mall Girl
- Man/Woman/Chainsaw
- Marry Cherry
- Maruja
- mary in the junkyard
- Matching Outfits
- MELLT
- Meltheads
- Mhaol
- Midnight Navy
- Miranda and the Beat
- Monobloc
- Nanocluster (Immersion | SUSS)
- Nature TV
- Nemegata
- Nilipek.
- Nive Nielsen
- o’summer vacation
- Parker Woodland
- Paula Prieto
- Perennial
- Personal Trainer
- The Philharmonik
- Pug Johnson
- Quiet Money Dot
- Really Good Time
- Rowena Wise
- Sarah Klang
- Scarlet House
- Shao Dow
- Shiho Yabuki
- Shishi
- Sir Jude
- Sly5thAve
- Soda Blonde
- Sofia Grant
- Sultanes del Yonke
- Summer Pearl
- Surely Shirley
- Susobrino
- Tesfaye Taye Gebeyehu / Yaho Ethiopian Cultural Band
- tiger bae
- The Ting Tings
- TVOD
- Twin Shadow
- twst
- Vanessa Zamora
- The VANNS
- Venus Grrrls
- Volcan
- Vv Pete
- Water Damage
- Woomb
- XAMIYA
- Xixa
- Yasmin Williams
- Yndling
- Yoo Doo Right
- Yuuf
Many of SXSW’s showcases are curated by SXSW programmers in collaboration with record labels, booking agencies, export offices, music publishers, media outlets, lifestyle brands and more.
These showcases give attendees the opportunity to experience sets in exclusive, small-stage performances.
The initial list of showcase presenters includes: ATC Live, Billboard, C3 Management, Chicken Ranch, De Los, Deezer, Don Giovanni, Focus Wales, German Music Export, Green Witch Recordings, Jazz Re:Freshed, The Loyalty Firm, M for Montreal, Mint Talent Group, Mothland, Music From Ireland, The Line of Best Fit, Need Pastel, NIVA, The Noise Company, Planetary Group, Pop Montreal, Reeperbahn Festival, Rolling Stone, Sofar Sounds, Spanish Wave, Taiwan Beats, Tokyo Calling, UTOPiAfest, Wide Days Scotland.
