The 40th anniversary of South by Southwest hit its stride on Friday, March 13, proving that even without a central convention center, the festival’s heart still beats in fan-favorite Austin venues.
Rolling Stone Future of Music: Fuerza Regida
At South by Southwest 2026, Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase spotlighted Fuerza Regida as a defining force in modern música mexicana. Headlining the event, the group delivered a hit-packed set that highlighted their stage presence and cultural impact, blending traditional corridos with a bold, rockstar edge. The group performed fan favorites like “La Neta,” “Tu Tu Tu,” and “Como Capo.”
The night doubled as a showcase for their Street Mob collective, introducing rising acts and signaling a new wave within the genre. Fueled by crowd enthusiasm and a confident stage presence led by frontman JOP, Fuerza Regida’s performance stood out as one of SXSW’s most talked-about moments. – Keylee Paz
Catch Fuerza Regida on tour this summer, get your tickets here.
BMG Showcase: Devon Gabriella
In her SXSW debut, Devon Gabriella left the crowd in awe with a stunning acoustic set at the BMG Showcase. Dressed in a long white dress and bathed in soft blue and white lighting, she gave a performance that genuinely felt angelic. During her set, she performed her new single “Old Time Sake,” which has already been gaining traction among fans, along with a cover of “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish that drew in even more listeners into the venue. After the show, I had the chance to sit down with Devon to talk about her passion and motivation. She shared that her ultimate goal is to connect with fans through her lyrics, emphasizing how important self-expression is to her as an artist. She also expressed deep gratitude for her growing fanbase, adding that she hopes to continue evolving as an artist for as long as her fans will have her. – Lauren Grover
BMG Showcase: Winona Fighter
Closing out the night or kicking off the early morning with a bang, Winona Fighter gave an insane performance during their 1:00 AM slot at the BMG Showcase. Despite it being so late, fans stuck around to catch the energizing set and the band did not disappoint. Lead singer Chloe Kinnon immediately set the tone by sprinting across the stage and colliding into both the guitarist and bassist within the first minute of the show. They played hixts from their 2025 album My Apologies to the Chef, including “Swear to God That I’m Fine” and “HAMMS IN A GLASS” keeping the crowd fully engaged from start to finish. The set was fueled by crowd interaction moshing, stage dives, and even the bassist ditching his shirt which caused a ripple effect as the male fans followed suit. It was a fantastic performance and a standout show. – Lauren Grover
Radio Day Stage: Runo Plum + Mariae Cassandra
The afternoon at the Radio Day Stage for day two of the festival was full of so many great singer-songwriters. runo plum gave a very heartfelt performance that had a mix of slow-indie and folk aspects. Her lyrics were also very vulnerable, allowing the audience to connect greatly with the singer in just thirty minutes. Shortly after Plum’s set, Australian singer Mariae Cassandra took the stage. Cassandra’s set was a bit more pop-oriented, but still hard-hitting. At only eighteen years old, the singer was sure to make an impression on the crowd, inviting them to sing and dance along with her. – Amarylis Rodriguez
Fur Will Fly Fest
Over at Cherrywood Coffeehouse, the Fur Will Fly Fest took place to raise money and awareness for the Austin Bat Refuge (there were even baby bats for people to see!). Artists such as Tyne Darling and the Heather Bishop Band played for a great cause. Around 4:30pm, Houston’s The Omies played their first SXSW showcase of the week. Their forty-minute set brought a great vibe to Cherrywood as songs like “I Dream of Dee” and “Bummer” had the crowd dancing. – Amarylis Rodriguez
Spaace Caamp Showcase @ Hotel Vegas
Hotel Vegas partnered up with Space Agency to bring together the SXSW psych line-up of our dreams at Spaace Caamp. Using the big patio stage, each artist was given half the stage to perform on while the other half was being prepped for the next act, maximizing the amount of music the audience was able to enjoy. Acts like Tropa Magica, Strange Lot, and Sun Atlas gave amazing sets. Towards the end of the night, Osees used the full stage to give a high-energy performance featuring two drummers and lots of crowd surfing. – Amarylis Rodriguez
Additional Photos: Switchfoot @ Elysium
Photos by Lauren Grover
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
I am an Austin, TX based concert photographer with roots in Houston, TX. I graduated from Texas Tech University with both my BA and MBA. In my spare time, I photograph shows in the local Austin scene, buy way too many plants, and go bouldering. Some of my favorite local artists are NSFWho?, Chancla Fight Club, and Nolo.
I am from Houston, Texas and currently attending the University of Houston as a marketing major! From attending concerts, playing guitar, and collecting vinyl, I love anything that has to do with music. Some of my favorite artists include The Strokes, Omar Apollo, and boygenius. Besides that, I really like shopping, watching Pitch Perfect, and discovering new places in Houston!
