This year's SXSW in Austin, Texas featured a line-up of memorable performances from all different walks of life, including a special 'Women That Rock' showcase that lit up the festival.

Sorry Mom

To kick off proceedings were Sorry Mom, a femme punk band based in New York. This trio are a ball of energy. Their songs about molly, queer experiences and the frustrations of minimum wage were a welcome jolt to begin the day. The band’s singer Juno Moreno is an electrifying presence. Commanding the stage and sidestepping guitar pedal malfunctions, the vocalist embodies the punk spirit effortlessly.

The group have a burgeoning online presence, amassing over 15 million streams and a 50,000 following on social media. Sorry Mom’s debut full-length album will be out May 2023.

@sxswmusic Sorry Mom #sxsw ♬ original sound - SXSWmusic

Hien

Next up was Brooklyn-based singer and producer Hien. Her journey in life is brought together and blended beautifully throughout her show. The Vietnamese-Hungarian artist began performing at 15 and the different cultures she’s grown up with and experienced are embedded in her music. Electronica is meshed with a traditional đàn gáo string instrument. Hien's sounds and style bounce from soul to hip hop to drum ‘n’ bass, singing in English, Vietnamese and Hungarian, the latter producing a stirring ballad that sounded like an ancient folktale from a tiny mountain town.

@sxswmusic Hien #sxsw ♬ original sound - SXSWmusic

Ava Maybee

The effervescent Ava Maybee was third to grace the bill. Hailing from rock royalty, Ava’s father is the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The New York university student regaled the crowd with stories about puking due to anxiety, apologised to her teachers for having not handed in her coursework and remarked how crazy it is going viral on TikTok. The song that blew up was ‘Colors’, an absurdly catchy tune sung nonchalantly with Ava’s gorgeously textured voice.

@sxswmusic Ava Maybee #sxsw ♬ original sound - SXSWmusic

Cafuné

Last but not least are the indie pop band Cafuné. Like so many other artists performing at South By Southwest this year, they had a viral hit on TikTok with the song ‘Tek it (I Watch The Moon)’. Singer Sedona Schat and guitarist Noah Yoo have been recording together since the mid-2010s and their chemistry and commitment is evident in the group. Their playing and interactions on stage are natural, but it’s clear a lot of work has gone into the foundations of Cafuné to reach this level of comfort and competence on stage.

@sxswmusic Cafuné #sxsw ♬ original sound - SXSWmusic