Surfbort, Poppy Ajudha & More to Take the Stage at the 2022 SXSW Music Festival

We're back and more excited than ever to share our first batch of Showcasing Artists set to perform at the 2022 SXSW Music Festival from March 14-20.

Today's announcement includes over 240 artists from across the globe, both up-and-comers and veterans, ready to make some noise.

“Our first round of Showcasing Artists is a taste of what you can expect to see at SXSW 2022; a diverse lineup full of adventurous talent that’s ripe for discovery. We’re looking forward to bringing the music world back together next March to see where we’re headed.” – James Minor, Head of SXSW Music Festival

Leading the charge are rising London R&B vocalist Poppy Ajudha, and trash punks turned Gucci models Surfbort.

From central and eastern Africa comes Kenyan 1970’s Zambian psychedelic rockers W.I.T.C.H. (We Intend To Cause Havoc). Other international acts include Brazilian folk-pop duo ANAVITÓRIA, Swiss-Tamil R&B singer Priya Ragu, and the latest great UK post-punk hope Yard Act.

A little closer to home, we are excited to announce some Texas favorites with San Antonio avant-experimental composer Claire Rousay, Houston’s newest baddie Monaleo, and Texas Americana troubadour James McMurtry.

Teen indie-rock trio, and new Matador signing Horsegirl is set to take the stage as well as the ever-prolific Ezra Furman. And finally, trifecta singer, songwriter, and producer as well as Song Exploder host Hrishikesh Hirway; Kansas City pop genre-blenders BLACKSTARKIDS; and Kevin Whelan’s (The Wrens) newly announced Sub Pop solo-venture Aeon Station join the lineup.

A few of this year’s showcase presenters include British Music Embassy, American Dreams, The Legendary SOB.’s, Nyege Nyege Tapes, Fire Records, Rolling Loud, The Anniversary Group, High Road Touring, Jazz re:freshed Outernational, Move Forward Music, Kill Rock Stars, Cosmica Artists + Records, Ernest Jenning Record Co., New West Records, Rocky Road Touring, Polyvinyl Records, Double Double Whammy, Keeled Scales, Park the Van, Don Giovanni Records, Nine Mile Records and Touring, and Focus Wales.

The Countdown Begins

While we wait for March, get to know this year's Showcasing Artists:

  • Follow and listen to the Official SXSW 2022 Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music
  • Explore the SXSW 2022 Showcasing Artists Music Videos playlist on YouTube
  • Browse the Showcasing Artist lineup on the SXSW Schedule and favorite the artists you want to see at SXSW 2022

If you are in need of new music, look no further. Discover the hottest up-and-comers and find your favorite jams. Register to attend SXSW 2022 to experience these Music Festival showcases and much more from March 11-20 in Austin, TX and online.

To stay up-to-date on the latest SXSW coverage including artist highlights and upcoming announcements, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SXSW News.

2022 SXSW Showcasing Artists

Everything subject to change.

49 Winchester (Castlewood VA)
A Giant Dog (Austin TX)
Abigail Lapell (Toronto CANADA)
Adam Ostrar (Austin TX)
Aeon Station (Ocean City NJ)
Aertex (Washington DC)
Alex Dupree (Austin TX)
ANAVITÓRIA (São Paulo BRAZIL)
Andrea Cruz (Puerto Rico PUERTO RICO)
Angélica Rahe (Austin TX)
Antti Paalanen (Kokkola FINLAND)
Art d'Ecco (Victoria CANADA)
Ava Vegas (Berlin GERMANY)
Babehoven (Hudson NY)
Bandicoot (Swansea UK-WALES)
Beauty Sleep (Derry UK-N. IRELAND)
Being Dead (Austin TX)
Bendigo Fletcher (Louisville KY)
Big Bill (Austin TX)
BLACKSTARKIDS (Kansas City MO)
Blunt Bangs (Athens GA)
Blushing (Austin TX)
Bodywash (Montreal CANADA)
Boulevards (Raleigh NC)
Bread Pilot (Seattle WA)
Breanna Barbara (Far Rockaway NY)
Buffalo Hunt (Austin TX)
Buffalo Nichols (Austin TX)
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard (Cardiff UK-WALES)
Caleb De Casper (Austin TX)
Charlotte Cornfield (Toronto CANADA)
Chief Cleopatra (Austin TX)
China Bears (Guildford UK-ENGLAND)
Claire Rousay (San Antonio TX)
Claud (Highland Park IL)
Congee (London UK-ENGLAND)
Constant Follower (Stirling UK-SCOTLAND)
Couch Prints (New York NY)
Creamer (Nashville TN)
Cuffed Up (Los Angeles CA)
Curse Mackey (Austin TX)
Danielle Ponder (Rochester NY)
DEETRANADA (Baltimore MD)
Delta Spirit (Los Angeles CA)
Desperate Journalist (London UK-ENGLAND)
Devin Shaffer (Chicago IL)
Diamante Perez (Wichita KS)
Doeman (Houston TX)
Don Lifted (Memphis TN)
Donna Blue (Utrecht NETHERLANDS)
Ed Schrader's Music Beat (Baltimore MD)
Elephant Stone (Montreal CANADA)
Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter (Chicago IL)
Enjoyable Listens (Oxford UK-ENGLAND)
Enumclaw (Tacoma WA)
Evicshen (San Francisco CA)
Ezra Furman (Chicago IL)
Family Jools (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Flower (New York NY)
Geese (Brooklyn NY)
GIFT (Brooklyn NY)
Glass Spells (San Diego CA)
Go Fever (Austin TX)
Goya Gumbani (London UK-ENGLAND)
Grace Cummings and Her Band (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Graham Reynolds (Austin TX)
Graham Reynolds & The Golden Arm Trio (Austin TX)
Greyhounds (Austin TX)
Guapo (Houston TX)
Gully Boys (Minneapolis MN)
Gustaf (New York NY)
HAEPAARY (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
Hamish Hawk (Edinburgh UK-SCOTLAND)
Haru Nemuri (Yokohama JAPAN)
Holly Macve (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
HOODLUM (San Antonio TX)
Horsegirl (Chicago IL)
Hrishikesh Hirway (Los Angeles CA)
India Ramey (Nashville TN)
J Soulja (Austin TX)
Jacks Haupt (Dallas TX)
James Hersey (Vienna AUSTRIA)
James McMurtry (Austin TX)
Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel / Acoustic (London UK-ENGLAND)
JayWood (Winnipeg CANADA)
Jekyll (Blackpool UK-ENGLAND)
Jo Schornikow (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Joshua Hedley (Nashville TN)
Junaco (Los Angeles CA)
KAINA (Chicago IL)
Katy J Pearson (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Katy Kirby (Austin TX)
Kevin Galloway (Austin TX)
Kiana V (Manila PHILIPPINES)
Kompas Trio (Santo Domingo DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
Korine (Philadelphia PA)
Kristeen Young (New York NY)
Kristin Hersh (Providence RI)
Laura Lee & the Jettes (Berlin GERMANY)
Lee Bains + The Glory Fires (Birmingham AL)
Letting Up Despite Great Faults (Austin TX)
Linqua Franqa (Athens GA)
Little Mazarn (Austin TX)
Living Hour (Winnipeg CANADA)
Lord Friday the 13th (Austin TX)
Lucy Gooch (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Luna Luna (Dallas TX)
Lunar Vacation (Atlanta GA)
Mace The Great (Cardiff UK-WALES)
MAITA (Portland OR)
Maria BC (San Francisco CA)
Mariangela (San Antonio TX)
Marina Allen (Los Angeles CA)
Mark Burgess of The Chameleons UK (Manchester UK-ENGLAND)
Marta Del Grandi (Milan ITALY)
Mattiel (Atlanta GA)
Maxo Kream (Houstin TX)
Me Rex (London UK-ENGLAND)
Meatraffle (London UK-ENGLAND)
Mister Goblin (Bloomington IN)
Mobley (Austin TX)
Monaleo (Houston TX)
Moon Panda (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Moriah Bailey (Oklahoma City OK)
Neighbor Lady (Atlanta GA)
NewDad (Galway IRELAND)
Nuevo (Austin TX)
Nuha Ruby Ra (London UK-ENGLAND)
Number One Popstar (Los Angeles CA)
ONO (Chicago IL)
PACKS (Ottawa CANADA)
Paisley Fields (Brooklyn NY)
PASTEL GHOST (Austin TX)
Paul Jacobs (Montreal CANADA)
Penelope Isles (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
Phobophobes (London UK-ENGLAND)
Plato III (Abilene TX)
Polyplastic (Los Angeles CA)
Pom Poko (Oslo NORWAY)
Poppy Ajudha (London UK-ENGLAND)
Portrait XO (Los Angeles CA)
Priya Ragu (St. Gallen SWITZERLAND)
PYNKIE (Jersey City NJ)
Renée Reed (Lafayette LA)
Rett Smith (Austin TX)
REYNA (Milwaukee WI)
RF Shannon (Lockhart TX)
Riley Downing (Kansas City MO)
Ringo Deathstarr (Austin TX)
Roller Derby (Hamburg GERMANY)
Rosegarden Funeral Party (Dallas TX)
Ryder The Eagle (Toulouse FRANCE)
Salt Cathedral (Bogotá COLOMBIA)
Sara King (Dallas TX)
Sarah Kinsley (New York NY)
Sarpa Salpa (Northampton UK-ENGLAND)
Savak (Brooklyn NY)
Shawn James (Seattle WA)
Silver Synthetic (New Orleans LA)
Sir Woman (Austin TX)
Skirts (Dallas TX)
Smut (Chicago IL)
Sonoda (Los Angeles CA)
Sour Widows (Oakland CA)
Star Parks (Austin TX)
Stella Sommer (Berlin GERMANY)
Strawberry Guy (Liverpool UK-ENGLAND)
Sun June (Austin TX)
Surfbort (Los Angeles CA)
Tagua Tagua (São Paulo BRAZIL)
Taipei Houston (San Francisco CA)
Tallies (Toronto CANADA)
Teenage Halloween (Asbury Park NJ)
TEKE::TEKE (Montreal CANADA)
Tele Novella (Lockhart TX)
The Americans (Los Angeles CA)
The Bad Man (Minneapolis MN)
The Deer (Austin TX)
The Pink Stones (Athens GA)
The Royston Club (Wrexham UK-WALES)
Tiarra Girls (Austin TX)
Tino Drima (Los Angeles CA)
Tomar and the FCs (Austin TX)
Twin Tribes (Brownsville TX)
Vic Santoro (London UK-ENGLAND)
W.I.T.C.H. (We Intend To Cause Havoc) (Lusaka ZAMBIA)
Walt Disco (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
WANDERERS (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
Water From Your Eyes (Brooklyn NY)
Wombo (Louisville KY)
XIXA (Tucson AZ)
Y2K92 (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
Yard Act (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)

View 2022 Artists Schedule

Preview Photo: ANAVITÓRIA, Claire Rousay, Priya Ragu, Maxo Kream, Yard Act, Monaleo, KABEAUSHÉ, Sara King, Poppy Ajudha

By Hailey Hess

10/20/2021