See Y’all in Austin for SXSW 2025
Written by Alina Velasquez on February 3, 2025
With spring break just around the corner, anticipation for Austin’s biggest event, the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW), gets higher and higher. From March 7 – 15, the Music Festival will showcase some of the best and newest names in entertainment over nine days, ending with a series of performances from your favorite new artists.
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Music Festival features a series of performances called showcases that celebrate many new artists and creators in the media industry. You can find official showcases on the SXSW app and website but the entire city is full of unique talent. Last year brought many big names such as Peso Pluma, J Noa, and Teezo Touchdown. The big venues might be full of names you recognize but many smaller venues have their own artists to showcase. You may find yourself being lulled into one of Austin’s best venues such as Valhalla and or the Women of Rock showcase.
THIS YEAR’S ARTISTS
Since there can be several hundred artists showcasing from around the world, the Music Festival lineup gets released in several waves, keeping anticipation high and patience low. Some of the artists you can expect to see include Big Freedia, NSQK, Sofia Reyes, Samara Cyn, and Justin Morales. Many of these rising stars are just beginning what could be a very bright future. You can listen to any of the official artists using the Official SXSW Playlist on Spotify while you wait for the fun to begin.
NAVIGATING THE FESTIVAL
If you haven’t already downloaded the SXSW app, you will want to make that a priority if you plan on getting to events on time. The app can help you create a schedule of events you would like to attend and can help match you with like-minded attendees. The streets will be jam-packed with people, food, live music, comedy shows, you name it. Many showcases are a good walk away from others, and can be found along the way. So grab your walking shoes, sunscreen and water bottles because it’s going to be a long week.
TAKE BREAKS
If this is your first time, please, for all the volunteers working tirelessly to keep everyone safe, schedule breaks and meal times. There are so many sights to see, places to get to, and merch to buy; it can be easy to skip a meal or forget to drink water. Part of living in the moment is paying attention to yourself. Grab your badges, stay safe out there, and most importantly, keep Austin weird.
