In case you haven’t heard, this week belongs to the South by Southwest festival, Austin’s legendary “film, music, and interactive” event that gathers thousands to converge all over every surface of the city. Celebrating the newest and innovative in film, music, comedy, and more, the festival delivers a week’s worth of musical performances, film screenings, and comedy tours. Although the festival has already kicked off the film portion of the festivities, this week marks the beginning of its SXSW Music festival, which will showcase more than 2,000 independent acts in over 100 of Austin’s venues. Kicking off fully on March 11th, the music festival will draw performers from all over the world to Austin
D FrontRow will be in Austin to cover South by Southwest, and to keep you up on its best performances. Here are some of the acts we’re most anticipating:
Thankfully, hip-hop and rap are sporting healthy guests lists this year, as B.O.B, Childish Gambino, Nas, Mobb Deep, Big Sean, and more will be performing in the Austin bar scene for the week. I’m mostly curious to see Schoolboy Q in the aftermath of his first “Billboard 200 Albums” sweep. Fellow “Top Dawg Entertainment” label mates Kendrick Lamar, Isaiah Rashad, and Ab-Soul will also be performing under the hip-hop/rap bill, along with fellow R&B crooner SZA, whose inclusion in the festival strikes another point for the TDE camp. Additionally, Chicago’s growing presence on the SXSW circuit is one to be noted: KatieGotBandz, Lil Bibby, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Mouse will all take the stage to feature some of the best of Chicago’s rap scene.
Other favorites include the Queen of Bounce Big Freedia, whose return to Austin will mark one of many, fellow bounce pioneer Nicky Da B, New York’s A$AP Mob, Atlanta’s trap powerhouse Migos, and Trinidad James. Expect stellar performances from Dallas favorites as welll: Dorrough, Sam Lao, Blue the Misfit, The Outfit, TX and more will all bring a little of Triple D with them to the Austin metroplex.
Additionally, R&B’s biggest and brightest will be in Austin for the week, such as nu-soul/chillwave singer-songwriter 8th Grader, as well as Tinashe, Tweet, electro-R&B songstress Kelela, and singer/songwriter Solange.
Dance fans should take delight in the appearance of local dance-pop outfit Ishi and DJ-producer Ynfynyt Scroll, who will join the likes of drag superstar performer Sharon Needles, The Hood Internet, and Little Boots on the dance music circuit. Similarly, ASTR, Gobby, Giraffage, Keys N Krates, A Tribe Called Red, and Machinedrum will take the stage for the SXSW electronic showcase.
Pop music fans and general celebrity enthusiasts rejoice: Lady Gaga will be making her first SXSW appearance after all. The good news follows the city’s decisions to shut down the pop star’s appearance on the Doritos, 56-foot-tall vending machine-style stage, and which will instead place her at Stubb’s. London singer-songwriter Charli XCX, rising producer and solo act The GTW, Capital Cities, K-Pop princess HyunA, Kelis, Swedish singer-songwriter and frequent Diplo collaborator MØ, disco/New-Wave mashup band Pompeya, and indie pop favorites Tennis will all be making appearances in Austin venues.
For a complete list of future performances, visit the South by Southwest’s official website.
Image: Big Freedia performing at Fun Fun Fun Fest, 2013. Credit: Andi Harman.
