The program for South by Southwest’s (SXSW) second Sydney iteration continues to take shape, with the latest music announcement revealing a line-up of exciting up-and-coming artists.

SXSW Sydney will take place across October 14–20, with over 1000 sessions across workshops, performances and networking opportunities. This year marks the second time the event has been held in the Harbour City, following a successful 2023 debut.

Among the 25 music acts announced today are Sydney-based electronic duo 2touch, who will make their live debut at the festival. Other Australian artists joining them are Byron Bay indie rock solo artist GIMMY, Victorian punks dogworld and Queensland reggae band Kurilpa Reach. Sydney producer Touch Sensitive will also bring his Italo-influenced EDM to SXSW.

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Also among the new additions is a selection of international artists, with an emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. Chinese post-punk group Berlin Psycho Nurses will perform, as will Indonesia’s KATHMANDU and mindfreakk, and Thailand’s YONLAPA.

These acts join the rest of the music line-up, which was announced in May and includes Jorja Smith, Ayesha Madon (of Heartbreak High fame), Voice of Baceprot, Nick Ward and Bogota-based psychedelic funk trio Balthvs.

The famous culture and technology conference was born in Austin, Texas, in 1987. Its music pillar has always been a core part of its DNA: artists to receive early-career boosts through the US festival include White Stripes, Billie Eilish and John Mayer, while it also served to break Amy Winehouse to American audiences.

SXSW Sydney will also feature a showcase of Indian creative culture called +91 Calling!, which will take place on the main stage at Tumbalong Park, with six Indian acts set to dazzle the crowd.

Here – in alphabetical order – are the 25 new artists joining the SXSW line-up.

• 2touch (NSW)
• Arky Waters (NSW)
• Bakers Eddy (VIC)
• Berlin Psycho Nurses (China)
• Big Sand (NSW)
• Charm of Finches (VIC)
• Dave Kent (WA)
• dogworld (VIC)
• Elizabeth M. Drummond (VIC)
• GIMMY (NSW)
• Heno. (USA)
• Holiday Sidewinder (NSW)
• Hydra Fashion Week (VIC)
• Ivoris (NSW)
• KATHMANDU (Indonesia)
• Kinder Bloomen (Indonesia)
• Kurilpa Reach (QLD)
• Majak Door (VIC)
• mindfreakkk (Thailand)
• Nao Yoshioka (Japan)
• overpass (UK)
• Rub Of Rub (Indonesia)
• Tim Hicks (Canada)
• YAHYAH (NZ)
• Yawdoesitall (NSW)
• YONLAPA (Thailand)