Among all the dumped dockless scooters, food trucks, and people on hoverboards holding boa constrictors (yes, really), Austin hosted countless numbers of great up-and-coming artists alongside established acts for SXSW Music 2019. For those that have never gone, many Austin venues and locations open up their doors to host music of all kinds. Rock music, electronic music, Latin music, African music, even classical music - there's a SXSW experience for everyone. They play in established venues like Stubb's BBQ, intimate mezcalerias, still-active churches, expensive clothing stores, and even hotel lounges perched high above the city. So with the diversity of artists and venues at SXSW, it's a futile endeavor to crown any one artist among the 1400+ that performed as the 'best' of the music festival. But to point you towards some genuinely great music, here are some new favorites after seeing many for the first time at SXSW.

Keep scrolling down for a full photo gallery and a spotify playlist of sxsw 2019 favorites!

The Blinders

They’ve got the swagger of Kasabian, the dark lyrics of Nine Inch Nails, and the ferocity of Queens of the Stone Age. Guitarist/vocalist Thomas Haywood is decked out in menacing face paint, bassist Charlie McGough’s wild twists and turns make standing in front of him a dangerous affair, and drummer Matthew Neale has a war-ready stare as he furiously pounds away at the drums. In other words, don’t mess with The Blinders - they came to demolish everything in their path.

Cimafunk

If Rick James had been raised in Cuba, he’d probably have turned out a bit like Cimafunk. Erik Alejandro Rodriguez and company turned the heat up at the NPR Alt.Latino showcase with a lot of dancing, horns, and call and response moments. Rodriguez is a showman of the highest caliber and shouldn’t be missed.

Fragile Rock

For those that like a nice helping of humor to go with their rock n' roll, look no further than Fragile Rock. Songs like "Socks are Murder" and their boisterous ode to actress Fairuza Balk titled..."Fairuza Balk" will have you laughing and headbanging at the same time. Oh, and did we mention that they're fronted by a bunch of puppets?

Haiku Hands

This Australian trio brings out the best of the call-and-response energy of the Beastie Boys, the empowering anthems and choreographed moves of the Spice Girls, and the party-starting sounds of Pitbull to make something entirely their own. They rap and sing over frantic electronic beats and poppy guitar riffs, and the crowd at their midnight performance at Swan Dive grew from a moderately-attended group of curious onlookers into a crowded mosh pit by the end of their set. Like their latest single states, they “Dare You Not To Dance.”

Illuminati Hotties

The rambunctious LA rock band call their brand of music ‘tenderpunk’ - singer and guitarist Sarah Tudzin woke up the 12 PM crowd with a whole lot of fun guitar riffs and slice-of-life songs about keeping the boyfriend’s dog, but not the boyfriend. They even had time for a ‘big rock finale’ of some call-and-response verses as Tudzin hit away at snare drums at the front of the stage.

Katie Schecter

The jubilant Katie Schecter singer slowly attracted a crowd inside an Aviator Nation clothing store away from the open bar and towards the stage. Her infectious presence and voice combined with her band’s well-oiled performance hearkened back to the great soul-pop singers of the 60s and 70s. In retrospect, having her perform in a clothing store whose aesthetic is entirely 70s-inspired makes a lot of sense now. Not mad about it.

MUNYA

Hailing from Montreal, the classically-trained Josie Boivin has a knack for lo-fi synth-pop earworms in both English and French. You only need to hear her ethereal, upbeat songs once to get them stuck in your head. Her solo performance was a huge crowd-pleaser, but if there was anyone at SXSW that deserved a full band, it was MUNYA.

Porangui

Think Beardyman meets Kishi Bashi meets Latin American sounds. This Brazilian-born and America-based artist and sound therapist takes a loop pedal to a cavalcade of instruments steeped in generations of Afro-Caribbean music and turns it into not just an globe-spanning dance party, but also into sublime and mystical moments of musical healing and inner peace.

Ratboys

Singer and guitarist Julia Steiner has written songs about Antarctic explorers, dying cats, late-night Wawa trips, and relationships. But above all, she’s an emphatic performer on stage, trading laughs with her bandmates and having a whole lot of fun with every guitar strum and harmonized verse.

Sean Barna

Sean Barna is the storyteller that our world needs right now. In his own words, Barna sings about the “the sad ones, the scared ones, the mad ones, even the queer ones.” His storytelling and musical style channels Bruce Springsteen in his prime as he crafts entire worlds within each song - traumas, fears, flaws, desires, and so much more come to life through Barna’s distinctive and emphatic vocal delivery. With the help of his band that turned every song into a raucous wall of sound, Barna delivered a breathtaking performance at SXSW.

Twanguero

The Diego El Cigala collaborator and a Spanish guitar hero in his own right took the crowd on a musical journey around the world, spanning the worlds of Wild West film scores, gypsy punk, Cuban music, and rockabilly, all with a Spanish twist.