Every gig we saw at SXSW Sydney
SXSW Sydney was packed full of countless incredible performances from artists across Australia. Here’s a recap of everything we caught this year, paired with photos we snapped of those sets.
The Grogans
The opening night of the Rolling Stone House music festival, hosted by Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, saw The Grogans bringing energy and good vibes early in the night.
It was a fun, energetic set with their greatest hits, Got a Girl, and some of the tracks off their 2023 album Find Me a Cloud. They set the tone for a great SXSW music festival and warmed up the stage nicely for the rest of the week.
Hockey Dad
After the unfortunate cancellation of Tones and I’s performance, the opening night’s headliner, Hockey Dad, played a lot earlier than anticipated.
Hockey Dad brought the house down with an extended 45-minute set, with mostly their new tracks from the 2024 album Rebuild Repeat, followed by an encore populated with their classics Seaweed and Join the Club. The sudden shift in the schedule didn’t stop Hockey Dad from delivering a crowd-pleasing set, showing just why they’ve been killing it the last decade.
Nick Ward
Nick Ward delivered a beautiful, intimate set at Phoenix Central Park. It was a moving and cinematic-feeling performance, along with his exceptionally talented band.
Nick’s songs are raw and honest, perfectly suiting the incredible intimate feeling of the venue. Nick is one to keep an eye on in future.
The Jungle Giants
Playing at the pop-up BWS Cool Room with free bucket hats and lager-flavoured Messina Gelato, Jungle Giants delivered an enjoyable set.
At their level, this is likely one of the smallest gigs they’ve played in some time. However, the crowd brought the energy, and Jungle Giants played some of their most crowd-pleasing hits— a real festival highlight.
404
A super vibey set played at Knox Street bar, 404 is cool, confident and a fun groove. He brought chill vibes and topped it off with an energetic ending that left everyone wanting more.
Maybe in May
Playing on the Tumbalong Park stage on a beautiful sunny Thursday, Maybe in May blew us away. They already have such a clearly defined style and vibe, and their chemistry on and off stage is an infectious joy to watch.
Maybe in May absolutely rocked and will be a must-see for their future gigs and ventures. Check out our interview with them below.
Ayesha Madon
Breakout star from Netflix’s Heartbreak High Ayesha Madon is not just a talented actor but also an impressive vocalist and confident on-stage performer. Her style, reminiscent of Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, is well realised and shows a promising future as an artist and pop star.
With her Heartbreak High co-stars supporting her front row, Ayesha’s performance was heart-warming and a lot of fun.
