South by Southwest Sydney® (SXSW Sydney) today unveils over 50 exciting new performers, adding even more to the 2025 festival’s genre-spanning music program and bringing the best sounds from home and around the globe. In addition to the performer lineup, there are also fresh conference sessions, parties, showcases and a new partnership with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby which looks to champion emerging talent. Together, these bring more industry insight and celebration to the week-long festival.
Leading the homegrown highlights are electronic artist Ninajirachi, whose debut album has gained five stars across the board, the mysterious and iconic 2charm, and Drifting Clouds, formed in the heart of Bunhungura/Gapuwiyak, NT who bring a unique fusion of synth-pop, 80s, rock and country to the stage. Canberra’s Sonic Reducer will bring the intensity with a gritty mix of punk, rock and garage that’ll have you hooked from the first riff, and from Sydney’s underground comes experimental four-piece xiao xiao who blend dream pop and hip hop into their unique punk sound.
Another 20 international artists also join the line-up including beloved American indie rock band Whitney; Irish arena act Picture This, set to make their Australian debut and compatriots Le Boom, whose frenetic live sets have attracted 4,000+ fans at their infamous secret raves. Breakout singer-songwriter Angela Ken and Maki have each amassed billions of streams in their native Philippines, while Taiwan’s Modern Cinema Master brings post-punk grit and lo-fi textures. From the UK, genius rapper-producer Lex Amor joins jazz-refreshed signees Amy Gadiaga to bolster a truly exciting global line-up. See full list of newly announced artists below.
The music precinct in Chippendale will come alive with parties, showcases and events from American Apparel, APRA AMCOS, Awesome Black, British Music Embassy, Good Manners, Heaps Normal, Impressed Recordings, Ivy Music Group, Laneway Festival x Outside Lands, Meta, NATSIMO, NPCC Presents Taiwan Now, RAC Arena’s legendary Agents vs Promoters mixer, Rolling Stone, The Orchard, triple j’s PRISM and so many others. New venues for 2025 include The Eveleigh Hotel, Embassy Conference Centre, outdoor stages at the Seymour Centre and Kensington St, and a number of other pop-up stages set to surprise and delight.
SXSW Sydney Pro Pass holders can access industry knowledge with an array of future-facing industry talks, events and conference sessions. Hook up with a mentor in one-on-one sessions and set up your career for success with AI workshops, marketing masterclasses and grow your global industry connections with some of the world’s leading decision-makers, talent buyers and influencers. These include Anmol Kukreja (Founder, Skillbox India), Alison Bremer (Marketing Director, Groupspeed), Alisa Preisler (Agent, Ground Control), Bryan Duquette (Founder, Another Planet Entertainment/Outside Lands), Danny Rogers (Founder, Laneway Festival), Akhila Shankar (Head of Tunecore, South Asia) and Jaddan Comerford (Founder, UNIFIED), while Flagrant Artist Management and their flagship client Ruel will be sharing trade secrets on how to break it in Southeast Asia.
SXSW Sydney is proud to partner with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby in 2025 to hero and support the next wave of music talent. As part of this collaboration, the Johnnie Walker Black Ruby House will take over UTS Underground from 14-18 October. Following days of iconic live music, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby will present the Walk to Austin Award, celebrating outstanding emerging talent performing at SXSW Sydney’s Music Festival. A standout act from the Johnnie Walker Black Ruby House stage will be selected by a panel of industry judges to receive the Walk to Austin Award – recognising their creativity, originality, and potential to connect with a global audience. As part of the recognition, the selected artist will perform at SXSW® 2026 in Austin, Texas. The initiative underscores Johnnie Walker’s commitment to championing the next generation of music talent, helping them progress and take bold steps forward on their creative journey – from Sydney to the world stage.
These new additions join an already expansive lineup of global and local artists previously announced, building momentum towards SXSW Sydney 2025 as it continues to redefine the region’s place in global music culture. Explore the full list of artists, speakers and sessions confirmed for the Music Festival and Conference at sxswsydney.com/music-showcase.
SXSW SYDNEY 2025: 13 – 19 OCTOBER
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More on the SXSW Sydney Music Festival
New Artists Announced:
2charm, 64ksana (KOR), Akala Newman, Amy Gadiaga (UK), Angela Ken (PHL), Ashkan Shafiei, Black Dahlia, Big Wheels, BOCCE, Body Type, Bonniesongs, Brad Mullins, BREADCLUB, Charlie Pittman, Chuck Sics, Convenience Store, Deadshowws, Drifting Clouds, DUNGI SAPOR (TWN), FELIVAND, Folk Bitch Trio, Frankfurt Helmet (CHN), Hashbass (IND), Hellcat Speedracer, Jazzy Dale, Korda Korder (UK), KYARNA, KyoYoko (CHN), Le Boom (IRE), Lemonise, Lewis Love, Lex Amor (UK), Ligaya Escueta (PHL), Lilium (TWN), Maki (PHL), Max Jackson, Modern Cinema Master (TWN), Ninajirachi, Picture This (IRE), Playlunch, PSYCHIC FEVER (JPN), Rafiki (IND), Reuben De Melo, Runyu Qian (CHN), Sarah Levins, Selve, Shanghai Qiutian (CNH), sleepazoid, Sollyy, Sonic Reducer, Stella Bridie, Taba Chake (IND), The Chairs (TWN), The Lazy Eyes, The Rubens, the stamps, The Washboard Union (CAN), TIA RAY (CHN), Velvet Trip, We Are Neurotic (IDN), Whitney (USA), Wicked Lights (THL), xiao xiao
Plus Previously Announced Artists:
August Wahh (PHL), Beryl, Birdsnake, blue diner., Bump2Soul (KOR), C.O.F.F.I.N, Cardinals (IRE), Charlie Ivan Band, Charlotte OC (UK), Cold Heat, D.D. Mirage, DC Maxwell (NZL), Denzel Kennedy, DOOR PLANT (THA), EZUZ (KOR), Freak Slug (UK), Fresh Hex, 花溪 Flowerstream (NZL), GAZAL, Geography, GRXCE, Haley Holgate, Hey, Love, Holly Hebe, Jaal, Jamaica Moana, Jasmine 4.t (UK), Jasmine Thompson (UK), JJ4K, JUPiTA, KAI CULT, Kidskin, Last Quokka, Letters to Lions, Lucy Sugerman, Lyric, MANAGONA草本藥師 (TWN), Mariae Cassandra, Micah Heathwood, Munan (KOR/AUS), Nate G, No Life (NZL), O.M.R., Paulina, Puff Punch (IDN), Rashmeet Kaur (IND), RESORT (MYS), RICEWINE, Ristband + Pivots (UK), Robert Baxter, Rovv (KOR), Sacred Hearts, Scratching, Serebii (NZ), Sesame Girl, SHN (MYS), Sir Echo (USA), Suichu Spica 水中スピカ (JPN), Swapmeet, Tash, Tenxi & Jemsii (IDN), The Thing (USA), Thy Howler (SGP), Tiana Khasi, Tripov (IDN), Tusekah (NZ), Ullah, Vandelux (CAN), Virgin Vacation (HKG), Womb (NZL), Worm Girlz, Yasmina Sadiki
New Music Presenter Events Announced:
American Apparel, APRA AMCOS, Awesome Black, British Music Embassy, College of Hip Hop Knowledge, Future Classic, Good Manners, GYROstream, Impressed Recordings, Laneway Festival x Outside Lands, Meta Music, Moshtix, NPCC presents Taiwan Now, RAC Arena presents Agents vs Promoters, Rolling Stone, The Orchard, triple j presents PRISM, Virgin Music and more TBA
New Music Industry Speaker Lineup:
Ai, Jing (A.J) (Founder, Hazesounds), China, Akhila Shankar (Head of TuneCore South Asia India, Alisa Preisler (Agent, Ground Control), US, Alison Bremner (Head of Marketing), Group Speed, Anmol Kukreja (Founder & CEO, Skillbox), India, Annabelle Herd (CEO, ARIA), AUS, Ash King (Wellbeing Content & Programs Lead / Psychologist, Support Act), AUS, Ash Wallace (Artist Manager, Higher Ground), AUS, August Cohlmia (Director, Alchemist Group Asia), China, Bryan Duquette (Founder, Another Planet Entertainment), US, Dan Nascimiento (Artist Manager, UNIFIED), AUS, Danny Rogers (Co-Founder, Laneway Festival / Lunatic Entertainment), AUS, Devin Landau (Agent & Partner, TBA Agency), US, Harry Parsons (Artist, GYROstream), AUS, Jaddan Comerford (CEO, UNIFIED), AUS, Jamal Chalabi (Tour & Production Manager, Backlash Productions), UK, Jesse Taunton (Co-Founder, Bondi Lines), AU, Jim Sewell (Owner, Jungle), AUS, Joe Ireland (Co-Founder, MODE/ Biazzaro), AUS, Leon Neville (Director Insights & Innovation, BPI), UK, Liam James Ward (Co-Founder & CEO, Something Something), UK, Kelly Munro (Artist Management, End of the Trail), UK, Luke Bevans (Managing Director & Founder, Impressed Records), AUS, Dr Nici Sweaney (AI Her Way), Michael Burrows (Brand Music, Director Sound), AUS, Poppy Reid (Press/Media, Curious Media), AUS, Riki Tsuji (Global Business Team, Crypton Future Media, INC.), Japan, Sally Dunstone (Concerts Agent, Primary talent), UK, Sam Urban (Owner/Founder, Sam Urban Consulting), AU, Sohail Arora (Artist), India, Steve Rimmer (Founder & CEO, Tickets for Good), UK, Tara Medina (Director, Strawberry Fields), AUS, Tao-Ming Lau (Agent, Paquin Artists, Blue Crane Creative), Canada, Thor Sutherland (Founder, Way Out / Homebass), UK, Unice Wani (Content Creator), AUS, Wenona Lok (Promoter, Live Nation), AUS
Plus Previously Announced Music Industry Lineup:
Brian Hobbs (VP of Music Festival, SXSW), USA, Daphne Berry (Podcast Host, Airing Your Dirty Laundry), AUS, Hallie Anderson (Co-Founder, Rareform Agency), USA, Jashima Wadehra (Founder, Ode), USA, Jen Malone (Music Supervisor, Black & White Music), USA, John Watson (President, John Watson Management / Eleven Music), AUS, Jono Harrison (Music Industry Consultant), AUS, Justin Sweeting (Co-Founder & Music Director, Clockenflap Festival), Hong Kong, Kartini Ludwig (Founder, Koup Music), AUS, Lucy Atkinson (Booking Agent, ATC), UK, Macarena González (Live Talent Coordinator, Apodaca Group / Pal Norte Festival), Mexico, Dr Marcus Collins (Culture Academic and #1 Selling Author), USA, Mardi Caught (Head, The Annex), AUS, Meng Ru Kuok (Group CEO & Founder, Caldecott Music Group), Singapore, Patrick Daniel (Project Manager, Reeperbahn), Germany, Priya Dewan (Founder & CEO, GigLifePro), Singapore, Roochay Shukla (Head of Creative Marketing India and South Asia, Believe), India, Sally Dunstone (Partner and Agent, Primary Talent), UK