SXSW 2025 kicks off its third edition in Sydney this October 13th— and it looks like it’s back with a fully loaded lineup. With over 150 artists playing across more than 20 stages citywide, it’s honestly been tough to narrow down a shortlist of shows to recommend. But after listening through the entire roster, I’ve finally picked my favorites.
So before you turn to “ugly-taste” ChatGPT to ask for a complete SXSW schedule, give these recommendations a shot first:
Gordon’s Grandson
Melbourne-based Japanese-born Harry Prior used to play piano for elderly residents as a kid and hasn’t stopped making music since then. Blending playful twee pop and dramatic falsettos, Gordon’s Grandson has a knack for building unpredictable musical structures and atmospheres. Take «My Mother Said» as an example, where sudden key and tempo changes creates the right amount of chaos to catch curious ears and make indie crate-diggers grin.
When: Thursday Oct 16th 7:00 PM | Where: Kensington Street
media puzzle
media puzzle is a five-piece band from New South Wales and their latest EP, Intermission, just got a 7.6 review from the critics at Pitchfork. Honestly, they almost get it right. With a straigth-up visceral sound, these egg-punk tracks tumble one after another delivering the same creative energy heard in Parquet Courts hits or Being Dead latest record. Trust me – you can go wrong with these guys.
When: Wednesday Oct 15th 5:00 PM | Where: Lord Gladstone Hotel
When: Friday 17th 11:00 PM | Where: Sneaky Possum
When: Saturday Oct 18th 10:00 PM | Where: Lord Gladstone Hotel
JUPiTA
Highlighted a few years ago as one of the latinx artists to watch in Australia, JUPiTA has consistently performed way above the expectations. The Chilean-born artist already played SXSW festival last year, and this week she’s making a triumphant cameback with a brand-new debut album in hand. iO LP, released last February, moves between modern R&B tastes and psychedelic arrangements, wrapped in delicate production. A timely album that will hit just right for fans of Dua Saleh and Quelle Rox — and one I can’t wait to experience live.
When: Wednesday Oct 15th 9:30 PM | Where: The Eveleigh Hotel
When:Thursday Oct 16th 9:00 PM | Where: The Abercrombie
When: Friday Oct 17th 07:00 PM | Where: The Chippo Hotel – Then Den
BOCCE
BOCCE’s songs hit hard for nostalgic 2000s indie/surf rock lovers. Yeah, that’s me, i have to admit. The Tasmanian-based quintet sound feels more like a zeitgeist, than a genre: summery guitars à la Real Estate, anthemic, Local Natives–style lyrics, and mischievous power ballads that recall The Kooks. We may be far from the golden era of indie music, but yet BOCCE somehow distills the best of those influences into truly irresistible songs.
When:Thursday Oct 16th 09:30 PM | Where: The Lansdowne Hotel
When: Friday Oct 17th 07:00 PM | Where: The Loft On Broadway
Black Dahlia
150% performance and a full dose of dark wave vibes. Black Dahlia is a UK project with just the right mix of heavy synths and sinister vibes that you would expect while listening to Drab Majesty or Boy Harsher. But «Bodyguard» is just something else entirely. You just got to check the award-winning clip below to truly grasp what kind of alien, teathrical, retro show these guys can put on. A Clockwork Orange references, sharp ’80s lo-fi editing and plenty of awkward moves. This guys rock.
When: Wednesday Oct 15th 7:00 PM | Where: The Lansdowne Hotel – Level 1
When: Thursday Oct 16th 07:30 PM | Where: Knox Street Bar
Want to hear more? Listen now the official SXSW Sydney 2025 official playlist below:
