All Songs Considered's 'Wow' Moments From SXSW 2019
Cimafunk performed at the Alt.Latino SXSW showcase at Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas, on Friday night. Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption
Cimafunk performed at the Alt.Latino SXSW showcase at Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas, on Friday night.
Bob Boilen/NPREach year, the buzz in Austin, Texas, at the South By Southwest music festival can reach a deafening pitch. Our NPR Music team is here to help you cut through the noise. Every evening, we'll gather to roundup and recap the best discoveries of the day.
Keep up with our coverage of SXSW 2019 by subscribing to All Songs Considered. We'll be sharing 'Wow' moments every morning and updating our SXSW 2019 playlist with the best-of-the-fest tunes from the bands that we couldn't get enough of.
'Wow' Moments From SXSW 2019
Saturday, March 16
With another SXSW in the books, a truncated and reconstituted All Songs Considered gang — Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson and Jessi Whitten of Colorado Public Radio — gathered late Saturday night (early Sunday morning, really) for one last joyous huddle to share notes on the day's highlights.
Since Jessi wasn't on the night before, she had to share at least one major discovery from Friday: The Jazzrauch Bigband, who put on one of the best shows she'd seen in years. (On Saturday, she loved the singer who goes by the name Del Water Gap, as well as Dreamer Boy and Ings.) Bob had raves for Indigo Sparke, THERE and the ever-evolving Miya Folick, while Stephen recommended Jerusalem-based composer and looper ORI, skirts and the soul singer Celeste.Saturday, March 16th
Friday, March 15
All Songs Considered has been soaking up SXSW all week, so you'll have to forgive the gang for forgetting just how many days it's been. But recommendations and giddiness abound in their latest late-night dispatch, with Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson singing the praises of artists from all over the world.
For Bob, that meant raves for Combo Chimbita, Borzoi and Seán Barna, while Robin loved Cherry Glazerr, Nanook of the North, Tamino and Big Phony. For his part, Stephen saw musicians from six continents — and came away with a long list of recommendations, including Pipo Romero, Stefan Wesolowski, 47SOUL, Jojo Abot, yahyel, Sonambulo Psicotropical and The Comet Is Coming.Thursday, March 14
For the third installment of late-night dispatches, the team huddles in a hotel lobby to avoid the cold and sing the praises of Thursday's standout performances. Bob Boilen loved seeing Lonnie Holley with Mary Lattimore, KOKOKO!, John Vanderslice and David Keenan; Robin Hilton sang the praises of Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Durand Jones & The Indications and perennial SXSW favorite Calliope Musicals; Katie Presley reveled in performances by Fatai, Xenia França, King Princess and the mighty Lizzo; and Stephen Thompson couldn't say enough nice things about Another Sky, Bixiga 70, Fanclub and Mourning [A] BLKstar.
Thursday, March 14
Wednesday, March 13
After a day of chaotic fun involving cancelled gigs and expensive cab fare, the gang gathers to chat about the unabashed queer pop of Sir Babygirl, Bob's vodka soaked experience in the mosh pit of Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver's set, and the timeless essence of Yola Carter. Other favorites from the day: undeniable pop energy from quartet CHAI, immersive, ethereal soundscapes from Taipei-based shoegaze outfit I Mean Us, and much, much more.
Late-Night Dispatch: Wednesday, March 13
Tuesday, March 12
We kick off the festival from the far corners of Bob Boilen's brain. Held in the Central Presbyterian Church on Tuesday night, the Tiny Desk Family Hour was an intimate showcase of nine Tiny Desk alumni including 2016 Tiny Desk Contest winner Gaelynn Lea; rising soul performer Cautious Clay; North Carolina folk trio Mountain Man; Brooklyn rapper Leikeli47; "emo puppet band" Fragile Rock; John Paul White (formerly of duo The Civil Wars); bilingual folk singer Gina Chavez; vocalist and pianist Amanda Palmer; and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
Over the coming week, we'll be rolling out videos from the concert, highlighting tracks from each performer.
- Watch Gaelynn Lea at the Tiny Desk Family Hour
- Watch Cautious Clay at the Tiny Desk Family Hour
- Watch John Paul White at the Tiny Desk Family Hour
- Watch Mountain Man at the Tiny Desk Family Hour
- Watch Wyclef Jean at the Tiny Desk Family Hour
'Wow' Moments from SXSW 2019
John Vanderslice performs at The Hideout in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Bob Boilen/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
John Vanderslice performs at The Hideout in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Bob Boilen/Courtesy of the photographer
CHAI performs at Elysium in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Bob Boilen/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
CHAI performs at Elysium in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Bob Boilen/Courtesy of the photographer
Otoboke Beaver performs at Valhalla in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption
Otoboke Beaver performs at Valhalla in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Bob Boilen/NPR
Cautious Clay performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Cautious Clay performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
Fragile Rock performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Aaron Rogosin/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Fragile Rock performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Aaron Rogosin/Courtesy of the photographer
Onlookers watch Gaelynn Lea's performance at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of SXSW hide caption
Onlookers watch Gaelynn Lea's performance at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of SXSW
Gina Chavez performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Gina Chavez performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
Wyclef Jean performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Wyclef Jean performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
Gaelynn Lea performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Mountain Man performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Mountain Man performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
John Paul White performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
John Paul White performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
Leikeli47 performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the SXSW 2019 music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Leikeli47 performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the SXSW 2019 music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer
Amanda Palmer performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival. Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer hide caption
Amanda Palmer performs at the Tiny Desk Family Hour at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX during the 2019 SXSW music festival.
Adam Kissick/Courtesy of the photographer