Sarah Crean at SXSW 2026: “I don’t think I’ve ever associated my music with line dancing, but I’m happy with it.”

“I think coming over, I was nervous and anxious about playing shows here [USA] for the first time,” confesses Sarah Crean underneath the glowing neon sign of Swan Dive Bar.

“I’ve never played in the States. How different will it be? It’s been so lovely. I feel very sad we’re leaving on Sunday I’m not gonna lie. It’s been a joy the whole time.”

The Clondalkin singer’s completed her second nighttime gig of South By Southwest 2026, on a balmy Texas evening. How’s she been finding it?

“I expected coming over to America, it’d be quick, rough & ready, and go-go-go, but they welcomed us in with open arms. Anything you need you can have it. I was like, ‘Jesus Christ, this is great’. Nice full room. Everyone was lovely. And I think the whole time I was smiling because I can’t believe we’re in America, it’s fucking crazy.

“It’s cool, we’re here, we’re doing something and it’s having an effect on people and we should keep doing it. That was really nice.”

Austin is well known for its food and vintage shopping scene, has the Irish musician been able to partake?

“We had a proper barbecue,” she exclaims. “We had pulled pork sandwiches, a massive thing of mac and cheese. It was unbelievable.

“Prices compared to Brighton. What I would pay for vintage stuff. I got a full outfit for last night for 20 quid. We’ve all been shopping.

“Going to Target, a few of my friends had never been to the States before, we go to Target. WTF. Watching them experience Walmart and Target for the first time is so surreal and it feels like a once in a lifetime trip and we’re trying to make the most of it.”

“Even though we’re playing shows, we also engaging with being in Austin community and feel the excitement that is brewing here. Walking around while the festival is on is crazy. It’s such a buzz.

“I’m also taking advantage of the movies. I saw, ‘I Love Boosters’, at the Paramount Theatre. It was fucking crazy. The director, Boots Riley, came out, I was thinking ‘this isn’t real life.”

Austin’s motto is, ‘keep Austin weird’, has Sarah come across any unusual experiences?

“We did get randomly catcalled, but it was so polite,” she concedes. "He went, 'Ladies, you are working it'. And I thought, ‘I’ll take that’. I know catcalling is wrong, but he was nice. That’s the only weird thing I can think of, but apart from that, everyone’s been welcoming and charismatic. I find myself wanting to chat to people more here. At home I’m like, no, I’m in my own personal space, yet here, I’m like no, I’m going to ask that person a question. Not one negative experience so far.”

During Sarah’s Music From Ireland showcase set, a sizeable group of Texas fans began an impromptu line dancing two-step in response to her only country sounding song. The first time I’ve ever seen a breakout line dancing shuffle in ten years of attending SXSW.

“I don’t think I expected that,” she laughs.

“I don’t think I’ve ever associated my music with line dancing, but I’m happy with it. I saw them, and they were on that vibe, and it worked. I think I was just like, ‘oh that’s typical Austin’, maybe not. Maybe, that’s something they felt comfortable doing. They were such a nice group of people and I’m really relieved people showed up. Being the first band to open that stage and go for it. It was a relief to have people engaged with it and they felt that it was enjoyable. You can’t really ask for more than people being there with you in that moment. It feels amazing. It feels reaffirming, to be like, ‘keep going and keep putting music out and keep doing gigs’.

As well as a storming set of performances in America, the singer-songwriter also has a new album coming out.

“It’s finished, it’s done. I wanna say I’ve been working on it for two and a half, three years. I don’t know why it’s been that long. Life. Figuring my feet out. I wanted to do it right. It will be out very soon. The next single is coming out in the very near future, that’s the ‘You’re in a band’ song.

“I think honestly trying to delicately put it out in a way that is right for the record, and right for me, and not trying to make it a TikTok thing, she acknowledges.

“I’ve done that before and it really sucked the soul out of my music and out of me. I’m trying to make sure this record is true to the songs and true to me in that period of time. I excited for it to be out. To have vinyl is fucked I think I’ll die happy when that’s in the shops. That’s the dream. We have the cover, the inserts, everything. It’s very surreal. I don’t think I’ve processed that at all. I probably will when it’s out in the shops. I’ll have a mental break down, but otherwise I’m excited. It’s gonna be cool to have those songs out and have people engaging with them and relating to them. Hopefully it’s a comfort to people who find it on a random night and feel like this is exactly what I needed.”

Watch some of Sarah Crean’s SXSW trip highlights below.

@sarahcreanmusic literally a dream #ontour #fyp #indieartist ♬ Still Beating - Mac DeMarco