It takes a lot to cut through the noise in Austin when SXSW takes over the city, and it seems the Aussie acts that made the trip this year were more than up for the task, with a handful of locals scoring praise from critics across the country.
Here are the verdicts on our homegrown talents!
Amy Shark
“A surging, uplifting quality.” – The Current
stella donnelly
“Donnelly was one of a number of artists who descended upon Austin, Texas, for the annual South by Southwest festival and conference whose art was openly frank about real life and remarkably cognizant of the audience, so much so that her songs extended a hand as much as they told a story or presented a point of view.” - LA Times
"If there was an award for the festival’s Most Charming, then Australia’s Stella Donnelly would be lapping almost all the competition. Solo and armed only with a guitar, her dry humour – both in song and off – dispels any risk of sombre singer-songwriter-dom, instead imbuing the whole thing with an easy, affable appeal." — DIY Mag
Divide & Dissolve
“Guitarist Takiaya Reed and drummer Sylvie Nehill build massive, thundering soundscapes that take sharp, surprising turns before doubling down on heaviness.” – Nashville Scene
Gang Of Youths
"This Sydney quintet seems capable of playing arenas one day..." — Star Tribune
“Springsteen darkness and drive coupled with Arcade Fire/U2 lift and David Le’aupepe’s Chris Cornell-like charisma shoot the moon.” – The Austin Chronicle
"They don’t hold back one bit from playing like the rock stars they deserve to be." — Brooklyn Vegan
"David Le'aupepe took the noise to a higher plane of debate with his earnest, preacher's cry." — Rolling Stone
Gordi
“An indie pop songwriter whose voice rings with relatable, whether she’s belting with abandon or slipping into a sweet falsetto.” - Tuscon Weekly
G Flip
"G Flip's set was so inviting and varied, so funny and meaningful, that it's hard to not to see a star in the making." — LA Times
"With killer pipes and an equally impressive drum solo (she and her band mates each rotated between instruments), her set had all the ingredients of a breakthrough." — Rolling Stone
Hatchie
“Solo project of Brisbane multi-instrumentalist Harriette Pilbeam, her live quartet plied effervescent mood music sans moodiness, a sweet hopefulness permeating the thick walls of sound.” – The Austin Chronicle
Mallrat
“Her songs turn mild rap cadences into singsong melodies, set to vamps that match guitar or piano chords with perky electronics.” - New York Times
Ruby Boots
“Ruby Boots blew us both away. The Nashville via Perth, Australia singer-songwriter was backed by a band that brought a real edge to her live performance.” - Cool Dad Music
Xlyouris White
"I didn’t expect my favorite SXSW set to come from two 50-something guys on drums and a Cretan lute." — Noisey
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