Year after year, SXSW Music continues to be a sprawling clusterfuck of fans, bands, and brands. It’s the absolute best/worst musical event on the globe, a conference so towering and all-enveloping that the city of Austin willingly transforms into a near-week-long circus of clashing sounds, long lines, and short sets. And yet, it consistently plays host to some of the most unique, indelible shows you’ll likely see.
This year, we’ve decided to compile some of our favorite official and unofficial showcases, day parties, and underground shows. Sure, there’ll be a slew of DIY shows and house parties that we’ll hear about while there, but it’s not our aim to be comprehensive. In fact, you’ll notice we didn’t include some of the bigger showcases, despite their solid lineups (for example, by Pitchfork, The FADER, and Red Bull Sound Select) and even limited ourselves to choosing just six events per day.
Therefore, this “guide” — compiled by Grant “Gumshoe” Purdum, Mukqs, Mike McHugh, Liz Louche, and Mr P — is really just a starting point for the SXSW bound, aimed at those of you who aren’t just going to the conference to witness Lil B at the Converse/Thrasher Death Match showcase or all seven Coachwhips reunion shows. <3
TUESDAY, MARCH 11
Heard showcase @ Empire Control Room & Garage
Machinedrum, Dam-Funk, Keys N Krates, James Supercave, Walker Lukens & The Side Arms, Holland Greco
http://sxsw.empireatx.com
Chicago Made showcase @ Red 7
Chance The Rapper, The Hood Internet, Archie Powell & The Exports, The Autumn Defense, Bonzie, My Gold Mask, ShowYouSuck, ProbCause
http://www.chicagomade.us
SPF420 x Imaginary Friends @ a private residence
Ryan Hemsworth, Giraffage, Anamanaguchi (DJ), Wave Racer, SAINT PEPSI, Beat Culture, Bear // Face, Different Sleep, Deebs, Spazzkid, & Tony Hawk Pro DJ
https://www.facebook.com/events/470753249693124
* This event is invite-only, but it will be broadcast at SPF420.com.
K-Pop Night Out showcase @ Elysium
Jambinal, NELL, Kiha & the Faces, Crying Nut, IDIOTAPE, Jay Park, HyunA
https://www.facebook.com/KPopNightOut
Hometapes and Team Clermont showcase @ Trinity Hall @ Old School
Pontiak, Pattern is Movement, Leverage Models, Landlady, Spaceship Aloha (Chris Powell of Man Man) , Star Rover
http://on.fb.me/1cf0bki
@ The North Door
The Octopus Project, Sorne, Zorch, Holiday Mountain, Major Major Major, Hikes
https://www.facebook.com/events/558127490950136
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
Warp Records x LuckyMe showcase @ Empire Control Room & Garage
Empire Control: Cashmere Cat, Future Brown, Kelela, Jeremiah Jae, Obey City, Sophie, etc. / Control Room: DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn, Gobby, P Morris, James K, Mr Uno, etc.
http://sxsw.warp.net
Bruise Cruise @ Capital Cruises
Coachwhips, Kelley Stoltz, Destruction Unit, Arp / Mark McGuire, La Luz, Calvin Love, DUNE RATS
https://www.facebook.com/events/260071240836515
Relapse Records showcase @ Dirty Dog Bar
Nothing, Obliteration, Pyrrhon, Obliteration, Windhand, Christian Mistress, PRIMITIVE MAN
https://www.facebook.com/events/746643282037341
KCRW showcase @ Haven
Future Islands, Bear Hands, Sam Smith, Jamestown Revival, Kins, Glass Animals
http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2014/02/kcrws-sxsw-2014-showcases-announced
@ Remedy
Sean Nicholas Savage, Wrekmeister Harmonies, B L A C K I E, Indian Jewelry, Shocked Minds, Cosmonauts, Dead Ghosts, Major Stars, Audacity, Tyvek
http://www.remedyatx.com
Burger Records SXSW Kickoff @ Trailer Space Records
Nalgadas, Party Plants, The Rebel Set, Lust Cats of the Gutters, HOTT MT, BOYTOY, The Rich Hands, Mr. Elevator & the Brain Hotel, The Lovely Bad Things, Pizza Time, White Mystery, Las Rosas, Froth, Vaadat Charigim, Boogarins, Cosmonauts, Habibi, Mozes and the Firstborn, Cherry Glazerr, Curtis Harding, The Garden, Gap Dream
https://www.facebook.com/events/359545487517020
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Okayfuture x House of Marley Present Top Notch @ Hudson on Fifth
secret Teklife artist, Brenmar, Booty Fade, Falcons, Durkin, Brother In Arms, Top Notch & Bombon DJs
http://okayfuture.splashthat.com
Resident Advisor showcase @ Elysium
Shlohmo, Machinedrum (performing Vapor City Live), Jacques Greene, DJ Spinn & DJ Rashad, Jessy Lanza, Lee Bannon, SETH, Rabit
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?572353
Austin Psych Fest presents: Levitation Austin @ Hotel Vegas
Forest Swords, Mark McGuire, The Black Lips, Goastt, Entrance, La Luz, Young Magic, J Fernandez, Spires, Stardeath & White Dwarfs, Wytches, etc.
http://www.austinpsychfest.com
Carpark Records showcase @ The Parish Underground
SAINT PEPSI, Dylan Baldi (Cloud Nothings), Greys, GRMLN, Young Magic, TEEN, Speedy Ortiz, Cloud Nothings
http://www.parishunderground.com
Invisible Oranges showcase @ Quantum Lounge
Black Tusk, Mutoid Man, Kayo Dot, Yautja, Wild Throne, Venomous Maximus
http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/the-second-annual-invisible-oran…
Ground Control showcase @ Red 7
Kurt Vile with Steve Gunn, Robert Ellis, The Felice Brothers, Gruff Rhys, Jonny Fritz
https://www.facebook.com/events/666276666769114/?ref=22
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
Northern Spy x Ba Da Bing! Records showcase @ Palm Door
Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon), NYMPH, DVA, Cross Record, Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Slothrust
https://www.facebook.com/events/719710204728934
* Exclusive guest mixes for TMT from Northern Spy and Ba Da Bing coming Wednesday!
Holodeck Records showcase @ Red 7
Survive, Ssleeperhold, Troller, Marie Davidson, Thousand Foot Whale Claw, Dylan C
https://www.facebook.com/events/134842563353008
Mexican Summer showcase @ Swan Dive
Connan Mockasin, No Joy, The Fresh & Onlys, Quilt, Happy Jawbone Family Band, Arp, Weyes Blood, Viet Cong
http://www.mexicansummer.com/news/mexican-summer-sxsw-showcase-2014
Madison House showcase @ Holy Mountain
Hieroglyphics, Mobb Deep, Blue Sky Black Death, Lindsay Lowend, First Light, A-Plus
https://www.facebook.com/events/598508400217253
Metalsucks South by South Death showcase @ Dirty Dog Bar
Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Ringworm, Iron Reagan, Mutoid Man, Whores, East of the Wall
http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/02/04/announcing-metalsucks-fourth-annual…
Secretly Canadian showcase @ Red Eyed Fly
Tomas Barfod, Small Black, Mark McGuire, Angel Olsen, Gardens & Villa
https://secretlycanadian.com/blog/2014/02/sc-sxsw-secretly-label-group-o…
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
Sux by Suxwest 4 (Day 1) @ Romani Gallery
Crowhurst, Drums Like Machine Guns, Tyr/Slurr, Scant, Dromez, Breakdancing Ronald Reagan, Xome, Aunt’s Analog, Period Blood, Vasculae, Sickness, Stress Orphan, Twodeadsluts Onegoodfuck, Interracial Sex, NO DREAMS / SHARP TOOTH, Penchant, Disthroned Agony, Vibrating Garbage, Boar, Grandpa Lies Again, Anus Morissette, Bucket of Piss, Clang Quartet, Michael Amason, How I Quit Crack, Seaton XOXO, Arvo Zylo, T.E.F., Gym Mat Nap, Bollywood Life, Korperschwache
https://www.facebook.com/events/249485801872010
No Fear of Pop x ISO50 showcase @ Hype Hotel
Machinedrum (performing Vapor City Live), Jacques Greene, Cashmere Cat, Jessy Lanza, Tomas Barfod, The Range / DJ Sets: Joel Ford, Heathered Pearls, The-Drum
http://hypem.com/hotel
Castle Face Records Party #2 @ The Owl
Amplified Heat, Tacocat, Male Gaze, The Abigails, Digital Leather, Burnt Ones, Useless Eaters, POW!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1412090939048158
Stones Throw showcase @ The North Door
Madlib (DJ set), Peanut Butter Wolf, Prince Paul, Knxledge, J. Rocc, Dam-Funk, Jonwayne, Pyramid Vitra, Kota Pop
http://www.ndvenue.com/event/497705-stonesthrow-records-official-austin
AllHiphop.com showcase @ 1100 Warehouse
A$AP Mob, Mobb Deep, Rich Homie Quan, Rocko, Young Scooter, Biggg Slim, Sonnie Carson, V.I.P, Jamel Castro, Clemm Rishad, Produkt, etc.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_MS27669
Switched On/Moog @ Elysium
Gary Numan, EMA, Feathers, Trust, Empress Of, Silk Rodeo
http://www.elysiumonline.net
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
Sux by Suxwest 4 (Day 2) @ Romani Gallery
Total Abuse, Joshua Vance, Youthful Masturbation Techniques, Laundry Room Squelchers, Acid Trash, Myconids, Jason Crumer + Joseph Hammer, Richard Ramirez, Goat, Reptilian Sexual Predator, FFH, Ferveur Noire, Country Club, Dolores Dewberry, Zombie Bite, I Like You Go Home, Lovelord/Bonemagic, Whitey Alabastard, Dakota Hogback, Hell Garbage, FILTH, Ascites, Resin Cum, Power Monster, Yellow Paint Eater, Tigre Merde, Peasant, Death.Sick.Cunt, Edged Weapons
https://www.facebook.com/events/249485801872010
