SXSW Day 4: New Artists

Day Four of SXSW started off with demos of upcoming artists and street performances and ended with The Queen of New Orleans Bounce, Big Freedia, who took us to church with her new gospel project live at Stubb’s.

Indie-Rock Demo Listening Party

Photo by Rhayla Candler for Coog Radio.

The Indie-Rock Demo Listening Session took place at the Austin Convention Center and gave artists the opportunity to present a short demo to a panel of A&R professionals to receive feedback or advice. The artists presented a variety of genres including rap, R&B, pop, indie bedroom-pop, and so much more. These artists include C-III with his track “Alabama Ain’t Sweet,” “DEEP DIVE” by Marshall Cooper, “Here We Go” by Flight By Nothing, “Before You” by Gina Zo (out this summer), and “Happyface” by Poser Kid. The artist demo session is an outstanding experience for SXSW festival goers to discover new and upcoming artists who want to get their name out there! Artists and audience members were given time to mix and mingle after the session to get to know them a bit more, sharing their social media accounts and promoting themselves.

Real Radio Outdoor Show

Photos by Rhayla Candler for Coog Radio.

The Real Radio Outdoor Showcase took place right outside of the Austin Convention Center where artists got to light up the stage for outdoor crowds. The Real Radio Outdoor Show was an outstanding experience, surrounded by high vibes and upbeat energy! Nicolas Mccoppin gave a high-energy performance of his songs, including “DEEP END!” The vibe of his music was undeniably similar to that of Troye Sivan, so Nicolas is a must-listen if that is something that you like! Keithian also delivered groovy R&B beats and got the crowd involved in singing along to “Go Bae.”

Karma

The dynamic trio Karma captivated festival-goers with fierce dance moves, flawless harmonies, and exceptional crowd control—the best seen from any unofficial artist this week. Armed with powder cannons, branded megaphones, and a spontaneous a cappella rendition of “No” by Megan Trainor, the girl group left the crowd in awe with one fan saying “It’s giving Cheetah Girls”. Fans lined up down the street to meet the girls as they ended their set. Make sure to check out this undiscovered talent here.

On Swift Horses US Premiere @ The Paramount

The US premiere of Daniel Minahan’s On Swift Horses happened at the Paramount Theater on Thursday night with one Coog Radio press team member having the opportunity to attend. The director of the film and cast members Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sasha Calle, and Diego Calva were also in attendance and held a Q&A afterwards with the head of SXSW Film & TV, Claudette Godfrey. Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter were stars that were noticeably missing from the premiere but were incredible in the film overall. The film hits theaters April 25.

Big Freedia @ Stubb’s

Big Freedia, The Queen of New Orleans Bounce, premiered her new gospel era at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Thursday night. She was joined by a gospel choir, a live band, and three background dancers that made the entire set come together in such a memorable way. The crowd members were in heavy anticipation of Big Freedia’s set and were visibly excited for it to start. Big Freedia let the attendees know that they were the first to ever hear her gospel songs live, one of which including the “Holy Shuffle,” a two-step line dance song with her New Orleans roots. The set made Thursday night one to remember for those in attendance as they danced and grooved along to the illustrious Big Freedia set.

Bilboard Stage

Billboard’s three-day showcase, The Stage, is arguably one of the most anticipated showcases at SXSW every year, and this year did not disappoint the fans who waited for hours down the block just to get a good spot. Opener George Birge, an Austin-based country singer and SXSW veteran, dazzled the audience with his charm and ease on stage. The singer was thrilled to be performing in his hometown again. Before playing last year’s number one hit “Cowboy Songs,” the artist mentioned how he wrong the song about “chasing my wife across every dive bar on Sixth Street.”

Rising pop-country sensation Ashley Cooke lit up the Billboard stage with a captivating six-song set, treating fans to a mix of beloved hits and fresh tracks. Cooke’s powerful vocals paired with her effortless confidence showed just how bright her future will be in the country music scene. She delivered flawless performances of crowd favorites like “Getting Into“ and “I Almost Do,” while her latest debut “F Word,” showcased her evolving artistry. The song has yet to be released on streaming services.

The week is almost over, but there are still plenty of artists waiting to be discovered. Make sure to catch up on our previous coverages of the 2025 SXSW Music Festival.