Culture
26 Mar 18

Top 10 Acts Of SXSW 2018

These are some of the best musicians we witnessed in Austin, Texas.

From Derry to Los Angeles, from Tijuana to Queens, the worldwide talent on display at SXSW never ceases to amaze. Here are the top 10 acts we had the pleasure to see.

10. The Octopus Project

The Austin quartet have become a staple of SXSW. Their indietronica will keep your feet shuffling all night. If you don't watch them at least once, it doesn't feel like you've done SX right.
At the very least, go to see Yvonne Lambert play her theremin, it's mind blowing.

9. Anna Wise

Anna Wise #sxsw pic.twitter.com/k8O1wnoQWj

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

Chances are you've heard her voice without ever even knowing it. Anna has featured on 11 Kendrick Lamar tracks from the albums Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, and Damn.
She's also released 2 studio albums The Feminine: Act I (2016), and The Feminine: Act II (2017).

8. Touts

TOUTS #SXSW pic.twitter.com/oa8TxkXm3s

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 14, 2018

The Derry three-piece punks shone bright at their opening BBC Introducing showcase at Latitude. Their name was certainly bandied about during the week as a must see band.

7. The Blind Suns

The Blind Suns ? #sxsw pic.twitter.com/UxyF0faUKR

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 13, 2018

An electric performance at Hotel Vegas cemented their position in the top ten groups of the week. The french-polish band's chemistry and skill was undeniable.

6. Saint Sister

Saint Sister #sxsw pic.twitter.com/uievc6POEK

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

Gemma Doherty and Morgan MacIntyre returned to SXSW for the second time. The new tracks that Saint Sister previewed are a testament to the growing scope of their deepening sound. From what I've heard of the new material, their debut LP should easily be one of the albums of the year.

Saint Sister #sxsw pic.twitter.com/fW3rbRyxF5

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

5. Action Bronson

Bam Bam #sxsw pic.twitter.com/tvSKXXfOUx

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

You're never quite sure what to expect from a Bam Bam concert. His only South By show started with him dancing to reggae music, signing 'Fuck That's Delicious' cookbooks, and slipping lit joints into those books as he handed them back into the crowd. The night continued to get better and better. It was a commanding one-man performance.

4. Idles

Idles #sxsw pic.twitter.com/frRar5LLOE

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

Easily one of the wildest and most enjoyable shows at SXSW goes to Bristol punk-rockers. The band members spent as much time in the crowd as on stage, and the punters loved every minute of it.
We do hope Mark Bowen's behind is okay after falling from the Hotel Vegas tree xoxoxo.

Idles 2 #sxsw pic.twitter.com/O7yaYHrFqD

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

3. Mint Field

The Tijuana duo were on my shortlist of bands to see. I was a little concerned when the diminutive vocalist-guitarist, Estrella Sánchez, announced at the beginning of the gig that she'd lost her voice. My concerns diminished a minute in to their show. I was blown away by their psychedelic sound. The power of shoegaze scope they managed to create on stage was breathtaking.

2. Black Pistol Fire

Black Pistol Fire #sxsw pic.twitter.com/Py70WtASso

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 22, 2018

There was a lot of gossip circulating about the electrifying live shows of the Toronto/Austin rock duo. Black Pistol Fire's only performance at this year's SXSW most definitely lived up to the hype and surpassed it by miles. My only regret is I didn't get another chance to see them.

1. Starcrawler

@thestarcrawler #sxsw pic.twitter.com/A8ZENaqLnT

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 21, 2018

What else can you say about them? There's a chance singer Arrow de Wilde will grab your drink and throw it over you. There's a chance she'll snot-rocket in your face. There's a chance she'll spit and spray blood all over you. If those aren't reasons to see them I don't know how else to convince you. PS: They sound phenomenal live.