SXSW 2014: A Guide to the Best Parties, Performances and Showcases

-

Trying to define exactly what SXSW is has been likened to the old blind men and an elephant parable, many people grasping at it but all coming away with different impressions depending on their own experience. With over 2000 artists and 90 venues its sprawling street party atmosphere means that you can’t possible do everything but you’re never really feel like you’re missing out: it is what you make it. Whether you’re the planning type or the kind to just go with the flow, we thought we would just share with you a few showcases we are looking forward to – whether we make it to them or not is another question entirely!

Tuesday 11 March

Bella Union Presents:
Ballet School + Pins + Arc Iris
7pm @ Central Presbyterian Church

Harvest Records Present:
BANKS + Arthur Beatrice + Syd Arthur + Glass Animals
8pm @ Haven

Huw Stephens and UK Trade & Investment Present:
Wolf Alice + Jungle + Prides + Slaves
8pm @ Latitude 30

Conflict of Interest:
Magic Man + RAC
8pm @ Hype Hotel

Wednesday 12 March

Pitchfork Day Party:
Speedy Ortiz + Cashmere Cat + Perfect Pussy
12pm @ French Legation Museum

House of Vans and Spin Present:
Tyler The Creator + Charli XCX + Pusha T + Dum Dum Girls
12pm @ Mohawk

Consequence of Sound Present:
Wye Oak + Hospitality + Together PANGEA
12pm @ Hype Hotel

Canadian Blast BBQ
Andy Shauf + The Darcys
12pm @ Under The Big Top at Brush Square

DiS / Under The Radar Magazine
Future Islands + EMA + Casual Sex
12pm @ Flamingo Cantina

KCRW Present:
The Preatures + Tennis + Moses Sumney
2pm @ Austin Convention Center

NPR Presents:
Damon Albarn + St. Vincent + Kelis + Eagulls
7:30pm @ Stubbs

Warp x Lucky Me:
Kelela + Future Brown + The Blessings + A.G. Cook + P. Morris
8pm @ Empire Room

I Guess I’m Floating
Sylvan Esso + SOHN + Chromeo
8pm @ Hype Hotel

Thursday 13 March

Pitchfork Day Party:
Fucked Up + Mutual Benefit + Kelela
12pm @ French Legation Museum

House of Vans and Stereogum Present:
Woman’s Hour + Cloud Nothings + The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
12pm @ Mohawk

Waterloo Records Instore:
Gary Numan + The Orwells
12pm @ Waterloo Records

Brooklyn Vegan:
Little Dragon + Torres + Roosevelt
12pm @ Red 7

Sub Pop x KEXP :
Avi Buffalo + La Luz + Thumpers
12pm @ Mello Johnny’s

Filter x Dr. Martens Present:
Bipolar Sunshine + Sir Sly + Parquet Courts
2pm @ Bar 96 Rainey St.

Official 4AD Showcase:
Empress Of + bEEdEEgEE + Merchandise + SOHN + Future Islands
7pm @ Cheer Up Charlie’s

Merge Present:
Wye Oak + Bob Mould
7pm @ Parish

Yours Truly and Gorilla vs Bear Present
London Grammar + Tinashe + Ejeckta
8pm @ Hype Hotel

Resident Advisor:
Shlohmo + SETH
8pm @ Elysium

Friday 14 March

Crack in The Road x Disco Naivete Present:
Hozier + GEMS + Wolf Alice + HAERTS
12pm @ Hype Hotel

DiS / Under The Radar Magazine
Glass Animals + Woman’s Hour + Charli XCX
12pm @ Flamingo Cantina

Portals Travelling Showcase:
Saint Pepsi + Tink + Pure Bathing Culture + Beat Culture
12pm @ The Owl

The Windish Agency Day Party:
Phantogram + Mas Ysa + Connan Mockasin
12pm @ Mohawk

IHEARTCOMIX, Biz 3, Embrace and Heard Present:
SOPHIE + Classixx + SEEKAE
12pm @ Empire Garage

Filter x Tumblr House Present:
Banks + Cymbals + Lucius
1pm @ Clive Bar

SXSW Flatstock x Gorilla vs Bear:
TOPS + Tei Shi
1pm @ Austin Convention Center

Pitchfork Official Showcase:
Angel Olsen + EMA + Forest Swords
6pm @ Central Presbyterian Church

Mexican Summer Present:
No Joy + Connan Mockasin + The Fresh & Onlys
7pm @ Swan Dive

Cruel Rhythm @ Hype Hotel:
Tourist + SZA + Jungle + Cyril Hahn + Kelis
8pm @ Hype Hotel

Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans Present:
Woman’s Hour + Angel Olsen + Tomas Barfod + Small Black
8pm @ Red Eyed Fly

Transgressive / RockFeedback Present:
Flume + No Ceremony /// + Vinyl Williams + WALL + Marika Hackman
8pm @ Latitude 30

Saturday 15 March

Kissability x I OH YOU in association with The Line of Best Fit:
Thumpers + Glitches + Sivu + DZ Deathrays
12pm @ Wonderland

ISO50 x No Fear of Pop Present:
Tomas Barfod + Jessy Lanza + Jacques Greene
12pm @ Hype Hotel

Brooklyn Vegan:
Speedy Ortiz + The Hold Steady + Wye Oak
12pm @ Red 7

Neon Gold Showcase:
Tove Lo + HEARTS + MØ + Miami Horror
7pm @ Empire Control Room & Garage

Hype Machine:
Chloe Howl + Meursault + Washed Out
8pm @ Hype Hotel

Ray-Ban x Boiler Room
Four Tet + Future + Gaslamp Killer
8pm @ Emo’s

Urban Outfitters After Fest x Making Time:
Autre Ne Veut + Matthew Dear (DJ)
10pm @ Scholz Garden

There are also showcases from Canadian Blast, Fader Fort, Red Bull Sound Select, Filter Magazine at Cedar Street, Spotify House and hundreds more lined up too, not to mention performances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Blondie and Kurt Vile but we hope this is a helpful start for the planners amongst you!

Lead photograph by Sebastien Dehesdin.