South by Southwest Sydney’s 2025 programme of live music showcases has been bolstered with the addition of 62 international and local artists.
SXSW Sydney’s international contingent includes buzzy global talent including Indian singer-songwriter and Diplo collaborator Rashmeet Kaur, rising US electronic Mom+Pop signee Vandelux, Indonesian rapper and producer duo Tenxi & Jemsii (pioneers of the Hipdut sound with their viral anthem ‘Garam & Madu’), Filipino neo-soul artist August Wahh, New York City-based psych-garage rock band The Thing and many more.
The Australian cohort expands with noise-drenched and dreamy Brisbane crew blue diner, celestial Melbourne indie-folk Holly Hebe, Munan, the lo-fi psych-pop solo project of Korean-Australian artist Peter Lee, mainstay of Sydney’s R&B and jazz underground Yasmina Sadiki, and a myriad of other local up-and-comers.
Other notables additions include Beryl, Birdsnake, Bump2Soul (KOR), C.O.F.F.I.N, Charlie Ivan Band, Charlotte OC (UK), Cold Heat, D.D. Mirage, DC Maxwell (NZL), Denzel Kennedy, DOOR PLANT (THA), EZUZ (KOR), 花溪 Flowerstream (NZL), Fresh Hex, GAZAL, Geography, GRXCE, Haley Holgate, heartholder, Hey, Love, Holy Void (CAN), Jaal, Jasmine Thompson (UK), KAI CULT, Kidskin, Last Quokka, Letters to Lions, Lucy Sugerman, Lyric, MANAGONA草本藥師 (TWN), Mariae Cassandra, Micah Heathwood, Nate G, No Life (NZL), O.M.R., Paulina, Puff Punch (IDN), RESORT (MYS), Robert Baxter, Rovv (KOR), Scratching, Sesame Girl, SHN (MYS), Sir Echo (USA), Tash, Thy Howler (SGP), Tiana Khasi, Tripov (IDN), Ullah, Virgin Vacation (HKG), Womb (NZL), Worm Girlz.
The powerhouse speaker line-up expands with another round of impressive global talent buyers: Bryan Duquette (founder Outsidelands/ Another Planet Entertainment), James Cheney (VP Creative Reservoir), Rachel So (Festival Manager, Goldenvoice – Coachella and Stagecoach), Chris Fraser (Head of A&R Partisan Records), Royden Bangara (Chief Business Officer Skillbox), Dani Deahl (Head of Communications & Creator Insights BandLab), Stacy Nam (Director of Domestic Marketing Warner Music Korea), Chantelle Georgiou (Head of Label Relations and Marketing ANZ Amazon Music), and Theo Seffusatti (Director of Warp Publishing and Founder of Heard & Seen).
The first wave of announced music conference sessions explore the trends, technologies and challenges reshaping the global music landscape. This year’s first sessions dive into AI’s impact, superfans’ power and strategies for entering new markets, offering insights for artists and industry professionals to navigate the evolving music ecosystem.
Expect thought-provoking discussions on music ownership, export strategies and the creator economy, along with workshops designed to foster personal growth and overcome creative roadblocks.
“The breadth of talent joining SXSW Sydney this year speaks to our growing role as the premier destination for music discovery and professional development in the Asia-Pacific,” SXSW Sydney’s Head of Music Claire Collins says.
“With some of the world’s most respected talent buyers and industry leaders in attendance, SXSW Sydney has become a truly global meeting point – a place where careers are launched, collabs take shape, and real deals are done.”
These new additions join an already stacked lineup from home and abroad, with plenty more announcements still to come. Click for the full list of artists confirmed as part of the SXSW Sydney 2025 Music Festival.
SXSW Sydney runs 13-19 October, 2025.
