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[title]Sydney's got your back when it comes to bangin’ live music venues, with rowdy underground dens, grand concert halls and even a bunch of pubs and bars putting on great shows all across the city. Things are heating up this October as SXSW Sydney returns to the Harbour City for its second edition, featuring a stacked line-up of concerts by globally-renowned artists.
From October 14, the city will come alive as the futuristic festival takes over for seven exhilarating days with SXSW Sydney’s dedicated musical showcase. The program will feature a diverse curation of musical artists from all over Asia Pacific performing at renowned venues and music institutions across Chippendale and surrounds, including The Abercrombie, the Lord Gladstone, Phoenix Central Park and more. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up our top picks to catch throughout the festival.
Voice of Baceprot
This heavy metal trio – Widi on bass, Siti on drums, and Marsya on guitar and vocals — hail from Singajaya, a small village in Garut, West Java, Indonesia where they first crossed paths in high school. Their tongue-in-cheek name was given to them by their music teacher who fondly dubbed them 'baceprot', meaning 'noisy' in Sundanese. The group shot to fame with their viral hit ‘The Enemy of Earth is You,’ and have since performed worldwide, including at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. Catch them while they’re in town, performing songs from their debut album Retas, which was recently selected by music magazine Kerrang! as one of the 50 best metal albums in 2023.
Jeshi, October 15-16
After the release of his debut album Universal Credit in 2022, Jeshi has quickly risen up the ranks to become one of the leading figures in UK rap. His experimental music, which blends beats with personal lyricism confronting social issues including classism, sets him apart from the rest of his peers in the UK hip-hop scene. Since his debut, Jeshi’s gone on to collaborate with notable artists like Sad Night Dynamite and Celeste; partnered with leading brands including Nike Air Max; and been profiled by leading fashion and music publications including Dazed and Hypebeast. Now, he’s set to captivate Sydney audiences with songs from his arresting debut album at SXSW Sydney on October 15-16.
Taiwan Beats Showcase, October 17
Experience the dynamic sounds of Taiwanese music as this epic showcase takes it global. On October 17, emerging artists will perform live at The Abercrombie Hotel. Audiences and industry leaders can stick around for follow-up events, offering the chance to meet artists and dive deeper into Taiwan’s music scene.
Nick Ward, October 16
From scribbling ideas in his bedroom studio to becoming a triple j Unearthed high finalist in 2019, the young artist has come a long way in a short time. When you listen to Nick Ward’s debut EP Everything I Wish I Told You and his most recent album House With The Blue Door, it’s clear why. The melodies of Ward’s indie rock albums suggest a craftsmanship well beyond his years. The Aussie artist is set to perform at Phoenix Central Park on Wednesday, October 16 before supporting Troye Sivan on his Australian tour in November.
+91 Calling!, October 20
For one day only, +91 Calling! will take over SXSW Sydney’s main stage at Tumbalong Park main stage for a mega night of genre-bending performances celebrating Indian culture. The showcase will feature exciting artists from all over India and the Indian diaspora, including Yung Raja, Mali, Manara and more to be announced. Expect a night to remember with everything from hip-hop, pop, R’n’B, club and indie music on the roster.
You can check out the full program here and get your hands on badges and wristbands here.