Writer, Kate Eringer, rounds up what you need to know from the music industry’s fastest growing festival.

Photos courtesy of – Vans (House of Vans at the Mohawk) and Ian Orion – www.ianorion.com

SXSW takes over Austin, the hippy capital of Texas. For two weeks each year, in the middle of March, the roads are closed and ‘industry’ people descend upon Texas’ liberal oasis. Hoards of airplanes are unloaded on the city known for BBQ and ‘keeping Austin weird’. The result is something manic and magical. Uncountable free shows with bands new and old, well-loved and unknown, take place each day and night all around the city and it’s up to you, music lover, to find them. Can’t find the time out to attend the festival? Feel like you saw all the movies and didn’t catch the bands? Waited in line to see your favorite musicians and didn’t get to find anything new? You’re in luck because I did it all for you (and asked a bunch of music pro’s on their tips). Read more to find out the best of Unofficial SXSW Music 2015.

Play

Tumblr Irl at Ironwood Hall

Music met art as Tumblr took over the Ironwood Hall venue for this years’ SXSW. With two musical acts each day, they closed up after each performance and redesigned the space to best reflect the music. Artist and musician worked together with Tumblr’s creative director, Nate Auerbach, to “make a space where music lovers could really spend time with music”. With shows by Houndmouth, Tobias Jesso Jr., Travis $cott, Odesza, Twin Shadow and Courtney Barnett, each with personal openers and lasting over an hour, this event was by far the most magical. Houndmouth performed in a road trip-like set, while Tobias Jesso Jr. taught his songs to viewers as they sat at the piano. I, and all the other viewers, came (and stayed, which is rare for a festival as stacked as SXSW) to watch some music and left having experienced music. Look out for other Tumblr IRL’s all over the world.

VANS Waxahatchee KOBANE

VANS VINCESTAPLES KOBANE

VANS THEMEMORIES KOBANE

VANS THE BLESSINGS

VANS SPEEDYORTIZ KOBANE

VANS RAESREMMURD KOBANE

VANS RAESREMMURD KOBANE

VANS POWERTRIP KOBANE

VANS POWERTRIP KOBANE

VANS LUSTFORYOUTH KOBANE

VANS GIRL POOL

VANS FUTUREISLANDS KOBANE

VANS DAY 2 ENVIRONMENT

VANS ALVVAYS

House of Vans at Mohawk

Mohawk went under House of Vans invasion this year and was completely and utterly stacked. With a line-up that boasted Waxahatchee, Angel Olsen, Son Lux, Girlpool, Alvvays, The Oh Sees, Future Islands, Meat Market, Hundred Waters, Vince Staples, Migos, Laura Marling, Børns and honestly, so many more standouts, I implore you to look at their line-up.  The ‘cool’ status of both Mohawk, as an Austin staple, and Vans, the constantly relevant skate brand, helped to make this one of SXSW’s standout events. Plus they had a party with yummy BBQ, beautiful people, sand-bag tossing and I got invited, if the rest wasn’t enough.

Other standout events to check out:

Floodfest

Slice of Music by Homeslice Pizza

SX San Jose

Waterloo Records

Wonderland Bar

Listen

Tobias Jesso Jr.

With his first album released in time with SXSW, Tobias Jesso Jr. is set to take the music world by storm. His music is highly personal and connects with its listeners in a big way, as he chats with them on stage and explains his relationship to the songs and his experience with the music. In his Tumblr IRLS show he went out and taught the audience how to play his music on keyboards. Goon? More like Swoon. Get ready for the Tobias takeover with his album, Goon, available on ITunes and Bandcamp.

Hundred Waters

Nothing could prepare me from the presence that is Hundred Waters live. One of the strongest voices alive today, Hundred Waters creates a musical genre all of her own, while remaining entirely classically perfect. Her album, The Moon Rang Like A Bell, is stunning and makes for haunted and magical listening.

Hinds

Spanish girl band Hinds, formerly ‘Deers’, is blowing up in a big way. Equal parts cool girl band and chilled out listening you might think they are California locals, not unalike Mac DeMarco. Their album, Barn, is out now via Bandcamp.

Ibeyi

Homeshake

Hot Sugar

Børns

Courtney Barnett

Lido

Alvvays

Until the Ribbon Breaks

Chastity Belt

Pity Sex

Leon Bridges

Eat

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Franklin’s BBQ

Clark’s Oyster Bar

Arro

Gourdough’s 

Amason

Apolo

Basecamp

Big data

Big data

Caral Barat

Caral Barat

Courtnet Barnett

E 40

Eaarl Sweatshirt

Frank Turner

Marit Larsen

Priory

Swimm

Ting Ting

Ting Ting

Twin Shadow

Photos courtesy of – Vans (House of Vans at the Mohawk) and Ian Orion – www.ianorion.com