SXSW 2024 Playlist – Heywood Hotel Picks
February 13, 2024
|
The Best Bands to See at the SXSW 2024 Music Festival
Each year, the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals host a large and carefully curated set of thought leaders and trendsetters in tech, film, music and education. SXSW takes place March 8-16, 2024, in Austin, Texas, and is known worldwide for its impact on culture. Navigating the festival and determining what to see and do can be daunting. The Heywood Hotel is here to help! For more information, read on…
…Or get right to it and jump to the Heywood Hotel SXSW 2024 Playlist.
What is the SXSW Music Festival?
Originating in 1987, SXSW began as a Downtown Austin festival, known around the world as the place for new and emerging musicians to be discovered. Now, more than 30 years later, it has grown into a citywide event.
The SXSW 2024 Music Festival will take place over five days, starting March 11, 2024. Most events are centered in the downtown, East Austin and Rainey Street neighborhoods near the Heywood Hotel
Why should bands play SXSW?
For musicians, the SXSW Music Festival offers an incredible opportunity to develop new audiences and broaden their reach. It’s also a top opportunity to meet and network with musicians, producers, promoters and other industry insiders and, if desired, “get signed” by a label.
Why should music fans attend SXSW?
For music lovers, the opportunity is just as great. Nearly 1,500 bands from around the world will converge on Austin over the five-day period. There is no better place than SXSW to experience the thrill of discovering a new artist, or seeing a band you already love play a small venue. These memories last a lifetime. Long after the performance, we still can feel the intensity and intimacy of those moments when we hear those songs. Our connections to the music and the artist are transcendent.
How to decide which bands to see at SXSW?
Obviously, with so many acts, figuring out who to see becomes a major challenge. It’s not possible to see every band performing at SXSW. Therefore, it’s essential to plan ahead and try to quickly get up to speed on new bands, some of whom may have only a few hundred followers online. If you are worried that you’ve never heard of most of the musicians playing at SXSW, you’re not alone! For most attendees, the primary purpose of the SXSW Music Festival is to discover unknown and unsigned bands.
Helpfully, South by Southwest recently released an official Spotify playlist featuring more than 800 musical artists who will be showcased during SXSW 2024.
The Heywood Hotel team poured through the entire list, more than 24 hours of listening, to compile our picks for the SXSW 2024 Music Festival.
The Heywood Hotel SXSW 2024 Spotify Playlist
Just like SXSW itself, there is something in our playlist for everyone. From rock to roots to rap to R&B, indie to folk to world music. Punk bands, garage bands, country bands, electronica and more singer-songwriters than you can shake a stick at.As a “woman-owned and everyone-is-welcome-here” hotel, we were especially impressed by the inclusion of so many female artists, BIPOC artists, LGBTIQA+ artists, transgender artists and nonbinary artists this year.
And, across the board, the musicianship is excellent. Kudos to the SXSW team for curating such a diverse lineup of musicians.
We are excited to experience SXSW 2024 and invite you to check out our Spotify playlist of what we consider the must-hear picks of the SXSW 2024 Music Festival: SXSW 2024 Playlist: Heywood Hotel Picks
Some standouts that we were excited to hear for the first time were The Belair Lip Bombs, Lambrini Girls, Kiwi jr., Chloe Tang, John Roseboro, KNEECAP, Mongolian jazz singer Enji, and Japanese band The fin.
Local Austin artists are well represented too, with tunes from Magna Carda, Cotton Mather, Tameca Jones, Kalu & The Electric Joint and many more.
Where is the best place to stay for SXSW?
East Austin is the perfect neighborhood to stay in during SXSW. While much of the action takes place in Downtown Austin, the scene there can be a bit hectic and overwhelming. Choose the Eastside for a convenient, walkable location, that is calmer at night.
The Heywood Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel located in East Austin. We have the perfect hotel location for SXSW. We’re just one mile away from the Austin Convention Center and within walking or biking distance to more than 100 venues like Stubb’s, Mohawk, Scoot Inn, Hotel Vegas at Volstead, Waterloo Park, Low Down Lounge, Lucky’s Brick Bar and more.
Hot tip: Check out our interactive map of nearby SXSW 2024 venues.
What makes the Heywood Hotel the best hotel for SXSW?
In addition to being SXSWalkable, with just seven rooms and a serene environment, the Heywood Hotel offers unparalleled comfort. After long, action-packed days spent on your feet at SXSW 2024, you’ll want a quiet spot to recharge. Our intimate and stylish hotel is the perfect place to retreat to.
At the Heywood, you’ll find luxury beds, personalized service, and a cozy atmosphere. While we’re perfectly situated to allow easy access to all SXSW venues, our small hotel is quiet and serene so you can make the most of your day, then get a good, quiet night’s sleep.
The Heywood Hotel offers discounts for stays of 4+ nights and group rentals. Each year, we are honored to host guests from all over the world who are looking for a unique place to stay that is convenient to all of the action. We hope to have the opportunity to host you, too! Check availability for SXSW 2024 Here
Feature image of Kalu & the Electric Joint, courtesy of Spaceflight Records