SXSW Sydney has lifted the lid on its 2025 Music Festival program, unveiling the first round of artists set to take over venues across the city from October 13–19. From shoegaze to punk poetry, soul, indie, and immersive tech showcases, the early lineup announcement is a heady snapshot of where global music is heading.
Leading the international charge is Manchester’s genre-twisting Jasmine 4.t — fresh off her win at SXSW Austin and backed by Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory label — alongside rising Irish rock outfit Cardinals, and eccentric UK artist Freak Slug. Also joining is Ristband x Pivots, whose mind-bending mixed-reality music performance arrives from the future via Austin.
From Asia and the Pacific, highlights include Japan’s math rock mavericks Suichu Spica, Thai alt-shoegazers Slowwves, and NZ’s alt-R&B powerhouse Tusekah, joined by indie producer Serebii out of Auckland.
On home soil, the Australian contingent is equally fierce. Jamaica Moana brings ballroom energy and rap finesse, RICEWINE offers lo-fi global melancholy, and JJ4K delivers raw hip-hop grit. Sacred Hearts lead a guitar-heavy charge with post-punk meets shoegaze, while BADASSMUTHA and Swapmeet bring soul, chaos, and indie punch.
More announcements are on the horizon, but the 2025 edition is already shaping up as a must-attend for anyone chasing the next wave of genre-defiant voices.
The event is now on sale at early bird pricing on offer until the end of May 1st, so the widest range of the curious and creative can attend the event than ever before. To find out more or to secure early bird access, visit www.sxswsydney.com.
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