South by Southwest 2026: March 16th Recap

South by Southwest 2026 took place for Day 5 on March 16th, and the day included showcases from Noah Kahan in an intimate setting, to an acoustic set by Passion Pit in the freezing cold.

Passion Pit // Take Action @ SXSW 2026

The ‘Take Action’ showcase is a partnership between Artists for Action + Let Music Fill My World, in collaboration with SXSW. Passion Pit was set to perform in 2025, but dropped due to unknown circumstances. This year, they were able to perform an exclusive acoustic session to help the cause, which was one of the most anticipated sets of SXSW 2026. Passion Pit is known for their eclectic stage energy, and unfortunately, despite the acoustic performance, their set fell flat. 

There was definitely a sense of excitement in the crowd to hear the classic songs from Manners again, and it was nice to revisit them in a live setting. That said, the performance sometimes felt a bit under-rehearsed, with a karaoke-like quality that took away from the polish fans might have been hoping for. At points, the vocals and instrumentation didn’t fully come together, making a few of the songs harder to recognize than expected. While that could have been an attempt to reinterpret the material, it didn’t always land clearly.

Still, there was some enjoyment in simply being there and hearing the band revisit their catalog. It may not have been their strongest showing, but it was a reminder of how much those songs still resonate with fans. – Keylee Paz

Hana & Pretty Jane 

On Saturday night, Feugostine presented a six-artist showcase at Valhalla, featuring Hana Eid, The Animeros, Arroba Nat, Pretty Jane, The Band Loula, and The Braymores. Hana Eid, a Nashville-based Indie singer, was first to play. With her latest album, Trains Running Backwards, her music focuses on relationships with others and herself. After this stop, she’s headed back on the road opening for Foxtide. 

Towards the end of the night, another Nashville-based band, Pretty Jane, took the stage. This was one of their first stops on their “Public Intimacy Tour.” If you missed them this time, you can catch them next month as they’re ending their tour back in Austin along with Callum Scott! – Taarena Rathore

Edgehill @ Rocknite Showcase

If you’re wondering what all the buzz was about at Hotel Vegas on 6th street, it was Rocknite, the hottest showcase of the night. With artists like Rehash, Edgehill, Aka BK, Annabelle Chairlegs, Bloodsports, Chatterton, Couch Dog, CQ Wrestling, Feet, Fime, Girl Tones, Glaze, Grrrl Gang, J’Cuuzi, Marni CT., Modern Cult, MX Lonely, Radium Dolls, Swamp Meet, Trophy Wife, Victoryland, and Wessley Wolffe, the crowd never saw a dull moment.

Edgehill, a fan-favorite, took the stage towards the end of the night. This Nashville-based band is currently on tour with Winyah, but we were lucky to catch them on their stop at SXSW. They played songs off their recent album release, Ode to the Greyhouse, and songs like “Doubletake” were sure to get the crowd going. This showcase featured a variety of talented artists worth checking out. – Taarena Rathore

Photo Gallery: British Music Embassy (March 16th)

Photos by Lauren Grover

Photo Gallery: Hope Outdoor Gallery Showcase

Photos by Lauren Grover

Photo Gallery: Joyeria + Panic Shack @ Swan Dive

Photos by Lauren Grover