My 9th year at SXSW. A good time to name the top performances since 2016 and go a little deeper into my 2026.
· 2016: Tickle Torture @ The Iron Bear with a lubed up set more erotic than Prince.
· 2017: Duckwrth @ Banger’s playing a most vibrant day-party set.
· 2018: Joey Dosik @ Zilker Park. A pop up in the park was picnic perfect.
· 2019: Celeste @ St David’s Church. One of the greatest voices of our time, performing at a church.
· 2022: Annabelle Chairlegs @ The Creek and The Cave. What fun energy, always.
· 2023: Thee Sacred Souls & Hermanos Gutiérrez @ Radio Day Stage. Best back-to-back set I’ve seen since.
· 2024: Estevie @ Mohawk was the last set of the week, in the rain. Grade A atmosphere.
· 2025: Edgar Alejandro @ Mala Fama. See him live. So much potential.
I’ve seen a lot of Americana at SXSW, it is in the soul of Texas, but none that have been my #1 pick of the year until 2026.
Haylie Davis, like Estevie in 2024, was my last performance of the week, and also like Estevie, the best.
I don’t usually care about lyrics until long down the road with a musician. It was the first thing I notice with Haylie. It doesn’t speak to my experience, but something much deeper.
Her sound is something I dabble in when I’m in Texas, but Haylie may be the first I’ll be listening to for decades.
