South by Southwest 2026: 10 Great Acts

South by Southwest is always unpredictable. and this year is no exception.

Take, for instance, March weather in Austin. One day, I was happily strolling up and down Congress Avenue in shorts and a T-shirt as the thermometer hit the 90s. That evening, I threw on a sweater and a jacket as it temperature plunged into the 40s. (More than once, I thought, “Sheesh! If I wanted 40 degrees, I would have stayed in New York!”)

This year, the festival ran March 12-18, with the Film and Music festivals running concurrently. So in addition to lots of  music, I saw the terrific new documentary Los Lobos: Native Sons, about the venerable rock band that bridged punk and Chicano music. The band themselves were at the screening for a Q&A afterward with John Doe of the band X.

From outdoor stages to barbecue restaurants to hotel lobbies, you could find artists of different genres everywhere. Following is a list of some of them.

 

AMANDA MACHON/NEW MEXICO HOUSE

There’s so much more to New Mexico than Area 51. The state has a rich artistic and cultural history too. At New Mexico House, I met up with Amanda Machon, Head of Business Development and Sales for Inspirado (and singer of the band Red Light Cameras to boot). Amanda described New Mexico’s thriving and oft-overlooked music scene.

 

AUDIO: Amanda Machon x RNRG

 

BETTYSOO

Born near Houston, BettySoo grew up with music-loving Korean immigrant parents and became a mainstay of Austin’s music community. Her pure, airy voice evokes such crystal-clear country/Americana artists as Emmylou Harris. She’s played shows with the likes of Alejandro Escovedo and James McMurty.

 

AUDIO: BettySoo x RNRG

 

BUDDY RED

The night was chilly, but that didn’t stop Buddy Red and his power trio from delivering a confident performance at the outdoor venue Stubbs. The set included searing originals as well as a stomping cover of the Stooges’ “No Fun.” Buddy Red (whose dad is the rapper T.I.) described what led him to discover and embrace rock and roll.

 

AUDIO: Buddy Red x RNRG 

 

CHUCK PROPHET

Chuck Prophet’s latest venture finds him teaming up with the band ¿Quiensave? as Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes. The onetime Green on Red singer/guitarist delved into a new genre—cumbia—and his career, took a new, delightful turn. Prophet described this new musical journey as well as his Paisley Underground past. 

 

AUDIO: Chuck Prophet x RNRG

 

EASY HONEY

On a warm evening, Easy Honey gave an impromptu set at Inn Cahoots in East Austin. The band’s music—warm, shimmery indie pop with sweet guitar licks—matched the evening’s mood. Afterwards, I spoke to them in the stairwell. 

 

AUDIO: Easy Honey x RNRG

 

GRRL GANG

Hailing from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Grrl Gang is playing the US for the first time this year.  As any fan of K-pop or J-pop could tell you, there’s plenty of great music coming from east Asia. The band themselves described their beginnings as well as the musical climate in Indonesia and beyond.   

 

AUDIO: Grrlgang x RNRG

 

I SEE ORANGE

Take one Mexican expat and two Brits and you have I See Orange. Based in Swindon, England (also home of XTC), the band carries the  ‘90s alt-rock/grunge torch in 2026. Anyone who’s seen this band onstage knows they’ve got firepower that’s all their own. 

 

AUDIO: I Am Orange x SXSW

 

J’RAY

J’Ray’s musical journey began in church in his native Lagos, Nigeria. Today, he calls Austin home, but his love of Nigeria remains. Check out his newest song, “Blessings,” a perfect slice of Afrobeat fusion that’ll bring a smile to your face. 

 

AUDIO: J’Ray x RNRG

 

JULIA BLAIR

Singer-songwriter Julia Blair is proof that you can find close-knit, fertile music scenes anywhere you look. Blair calls rural Wisconsin home and is deeply involved in the local music community on different levels, from performer to label owner. All this and she also does puppet plays!

 

AUDIO: Julia Blair x SXSW

 

LEW APOLLO

 Minnesota is home to plenty of soul artists (including a certain guy with a fondness for purple). But while Lew Apollo’s  journey began in Minnesota, it brought him to Austin. He talked about his music and his impressions of his adopted city.

 

AUDIO: Lew Apollo x SXSW