As days 5 and 6 of SXSW Sydney unfolded, it was as if the festival had found a second wind—a vibrant phoenix rising, feathers shimmering under the glow of neon lights and the hum of anticipation. The city’s pulse quickened, syncing with the electric beats, buzzing conversations, and cinematic reveries that have made this festival a sensory overload in the best possible way.
The past two days?
Oh, they were a kaleidoscope of experiences—swirling with sound, sight, and stories that felt like a wild, beautiful dream you didn’t want to wake from.
At UTS Underground, the Rolling Stone House roared to life with 9lives and Ayesha Madon, their performances unfurling like a hypnotic spell on the crowd. Meanwhile, Ruby Jackson serenaded at The Lord Gladstone, her voice weaving like silk into the twilight air, while “Horny Shorts” flickered across Palace Central's screen, its risqué charm as cheeky as the title itself.
And this was just the prelude—a symphony warming up before the crescendo hits this weekend.
On Friday night, there’s more than one rabbit to chase down the festival's neon-lined rabbit hole. Did you find yourself under the spell of British Music Embassy’s indie anthems, or did you allow the midnight moon guide you to the raucous Nightbitch performance at Darling Harbour Theatre? Whichever you choose, you're bound to be stumbling into something surreal, and maybe just a little bit magical.
Saturday was where the stories really begin to unfold. It’s as if SXSW Sydney has been brewing a potent concoction, waiting for this final weekend to pour it out—one sip at a time.
The Discovery Stage and Tech & Innovation Expo were like alchemists’ workshops, where the future is being spun from bits, bytes, and human brilliance. And then, for a moment of cinematic catharsis, there’s Warwick Thornton, peeling back the layers of his films in a live commentary, guiding you through his artistic labyrinth like a sage in the desert.
Meanwhile, if laughter and life lessons are more your speed, Babes at Dendy Newtown offered a warm, hilarious ride through the messy maze of adulthood, pregnancy, and unlikely friendships. It’s a story as familiar as a hand-knit blanket but with enough twists to keep you on your toes.
Oh, and then there's The Kid Laroi—Redfern’s very own shooting star, whose journey from local talent to billion-streaming phenom is the stuff legends are made of. If ever there was a modern-day Icarus who flew not too close to the sun but through it, Laroi is it.
His session offered a glimpse behind the curtain of fame, where fire and ambition collide in spectacular fashion.
But the grand spectacle on Sunday, "+91 Calling," is the crown jewel—a carnival of Indian creative culture, where every beat is a drumroll of excitement.
The acts taking over Tumbalong Park are like fireworks in the night sky, bursting with color, rhythm, and unapologetic joy, promising to make you dance like no one’s watching (though they probably are, this is SXSW, after all).
And as the stars start to fade on this epic festival, Fest by Inner West will rise, taking over Enmore Road in a final flourish of creativity. Like a flame burning bright before its soft glow settles into the night, SXSW Sydney has ensured that this final weekend will leave an indelible mark—on your mind, your heart, and maybe your sore feet from all that dancing.
So, with a drink in one hand, a festival pass in the other, and curiosity bubbling like champagne in your veins, you’ll dive back into this extraordinary whirlpool. The story of SXSW Sydney 2024 is still being written, and lucky for you, you’re smack in the middle of it.
Ready to turn the page? The final chapters await.
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Words by AW.
Photo courtesy of SXSW Sydney.