Home is Where the Heart is: 5 Local Acts to See at SXSW 2024

Here’s a hand-picked list of Austin’s very own to catch at this year's SXSW. 

Written by Miranda Garza 

Photos courtesy of Dan Curwin, Oscar Chik, and Henry Gorse

Though SXSW brings hundreds of artists from six continents to Austin each year, the renowned music festival is also an opportunity to shed light on homegrown talent. As the Live Music Capital of the World, there is no shortage of genre-bending soundscapes and relentless musical ardor. With everything from funk-fueled grooves to Americana acoustics, here is a curated list of local artists to support at this upcoming SXSW Festival.

!La Fermata!  

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Andrew 

Latin three piece !La Fermata! exists where textured progressive rock meets hypnotic psychedelia. Led by the vocals and creative direction of frontman Josiah Riojas, the band treks back in time with eclectic instrumentation and time-suspending signatures. In just under 20 minutes, their jolting EP !La Fermata! II casts a shadow of six-string accents over layers of vibrating basslines and unwavering drum solos. Intricate electric patterns swell under hushed cymbals in opener “Intro II,” which the band revisits closing track “Outro II” for a full-circle crescendo of bombastic melodies. The trio explores darker grit in !La Fermata! (Redux), with louder, heavier sonics like the cymbal-driven “La Independencia (Redux)” and volatile shreds of “Outro (Redux).” Balanced by their experimental edge and modern nostalgia-powered sound, !La Fermata! will not disappoint.

Follow !La Fermata! on Instagram and check out their music on Spotify. Catch their performance at Hotel Vegas on March 13 (8:00 pm CST).

Blushing 

Photo courtesy of Eddie Chavez 

Bringing equal parts lush dreamscape and distorted reverb, Blushing’s sound is the ultimate shoegaze package. Made up of husband-and-wife pairs Christina and Noe Carmona, and Michelle and Jacob Soto, the band formed in 2016 and now have three full-length records and two EPs under their belt. Their 2022 album Possessions floods listeners with a dense wash of electric guitars, buried velvety vocals, and atmospheric textures. Echoing riffs and sunny chimes slow down time on “Ours,” while the infinitely-layered sonics of “Gel” feel otherworldly. The quartet’s latest single, “Tamagotchi,” is a drum-forward, upbeat wave of amplified instrumentals and airy harmonies. Blushing is the one-stop shop for instrumental ascension and will leave concertgoers stuck in a feedback-induced fever dream all night long.

Support Blushing on Twitter and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp. Catch their performance at Hotel Vegas on March 16 (12:00 am CST).

Chief Cleopatra 

Photo courtesy of Ismael Quintanilla III

Chief Cleopatra is no stranger to the Austin music scene — this year’s festival is her fifth consecutive year as a SXSW official artist. Born Jalesa Jessie, the singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist began creating music under the moniker Chief Cleopatra in 2019. Her hypnotic soul-rock sound and experimental flair are unmatched, with rich vocals and transcendental rhythms that set her apart from other acts. Her 2022 EP Luna cascades with droning plucks and silky croons. “Dreamlights” jolts with incendiary shreds and pulsing drum beats as the singer effortlessly warbles, “I want the flame as I stand in the fire / My mind’s like a live wire, live wire / I can’t run away the past will get me / I swear you’re the only one that gets me.” Set your reminders now because Chief Cleopatra will not be a show that you want to miss.

Support Chief Cleopatra on Twitter and Instagram, and check out her music on Spotify and Bandcamp. Catch her performance at The Grackle on March 16 (9:00 pm CST).

Madam Radar 

Photo courtesy of Tyler Stubblefield 

Austin’s own amplified Americana comes in the form of Madam Radar. The quartet — consisting of lead guitarist Kelly Green, rhythm guitarist Jace Cadle, drummer Kody Lee, and bassist Violet Lea — have been making music together since 2016. The group’s latest record, Speaks, erupts with stirring brass saxophones, radiant riffs, and metallic strums. The album's striking sonics slow down on tracks like “Hands,” where woeful harmonies led by Cadle’s resonant vocals tug at the heartstrings: “On our darkest days, too / I wanna hold hands with you / As our love grows we know we can explain / All the tests that hard times oh so often can.” The group of four brings such instrumental ardor with their country-rock rooted sound that their fervor is infectious with every note.

Support Madam Radar on Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp. Catch their performance at Saxon Pub on March 13 (11:00 pm CST) and at Zilker Brewing on March 16 (8:20 pm CST).

Caleb De Casper 

Photo courtesy of Roger Ho 

Unapologetic to his core, Caleb De Casper uses his classical piano and vocal training for the greater good of rock and roll glamor. Melodramatic dark beats pave an electro-latent path on his 2022 project, Femme Boy. Travel back in time to a glittering, yet menacing new wave scene with the glowing synths of “Radio Trash” and stomping rhythms of  “Too Many Boys.” The singer also has a number of collaborations within his discography, including the dance-driven “La Isla Joitita” featuring P1inkstar and Y2K, and “Dreamer,” a dazzling duet with Sabrina Ellis. Always donning exquisite attire and his signature red lipstick onstage, Caleb De Casper knows how to steal a crowd and keep them entranced.

Support Caleb De Casper on Instagram and Twitter, and check out his music on Spotify and Bandcamp. Catch his performance at Valhalla on March 16 (12:15 am CST) and Chess Club on March 16 (11:00 pm CST).