I’m working on my SXSW 2026 playlist so I can share my top artists picks. Memorable moments include seeing a few UK artists play their first US shows, a very emotional Switchfoot small club set, experiencing plants make music (yes, of the green and leafy variety) and discovering new acts from across the globe.

One particular night, I was directed to a church to see a French acapella trio, Les Itinérantes, use the acoustics of the space to mesmerize the crowd. The witchy feminine energy was the cleansing boost I needed to get me through the rest of the week.  When I returned to LA, I went to see another trio of women, Tin Angel, use their folk harmonies and musical storytelling to a similar effect. It was hard not to compare the groups singing in different styles and languages but telling similar emotional tales through song.  

For more girl power next week we’ve got a couple SXSW discoveries (Linsday Eli, Avery Cochrane), two nights of Cailin Russo at the Moroccan Lounge (“Heated Rivarly,” anyone?) and a fantastic lineup for Women Crush Wednesday sponsored by SoCal Sound at the Hotel Cafe.

Monday: Jake Manzi and Star Parks FREE at Club Tee Gee (8pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at the Hotel Cafe second stage (8pm)
ALSO: rocknite.la FREE at Zebulon (8pm)

Tuesday: School Night f. Steven Bamidele, Valley Boy, The Vices FREE at the Airliner (7pm)
ALSO: Lindsay Eli at the Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Mannequin Death Squad w/ Bruvvy at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
ALSO: B-Side Vol. 2 hosted by Juju B. Goode at the Hotel Cafe second stage (7pm)
ALSO: Two Step Tuesday f. Regina Ferguson, Leroy From the North FREE at Club Tee Gee (8pm)
ALSO: Soft Spot Songwriter’s Night FREE at Desert 5 Spot (7pm)
ALSO: Lucas Flood Presents: Not Another Showcase at the Hotel Cafe (7pm)

Weds: Cailin Russo at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
ALSO: The SoCal Sound Presents: Women Crush Wednesday LIVE at the Hotel Cafe (7pm)

ALSO: Britton Buchanan & Friends at the Hotel Cafe seconds stage (7pm)
ALSO: Alexsucks w/ Dogma Society at the El Rey (7pm)
ALSO: rocknite.la FREE at the Goldfish (8pm)
ALSO: Writer’s Round FREE at Universal Bar & Grill (7pm)
ALSO: WFNM Showcase FREE at Hotel Ziggy (7pm)

Thursday: The LA River String Band at the Hotel Cafe second stage (8pm)
ALSO: We Thee at the Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Avery Cochrane at Permanent Records (6pm)
ALSO: Cailin Russo at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
ALSO: Voxtrot at Pacific Electric (7pm)
ALSO: WFNM Showcase FREE at Bar Lubitsch (7pm)

Friday: The Pretty Flowers, Ben Grey at Healing Force of the Universe (8pm)
ALSO: Saint Kid at the Hotel Cafe second stage (8pm)
ALSO: Ashes to Amber w/ Nature TV & Noah Noah at the Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: The High Kings at the Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Johnny Marr at the Lodge Room (8pm)
ALSO: Paul McCartney at the Fonda (7pm)

Saturday: Leap at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
ALSO: Louis XIV w/ Mystic Knights at the Lodge Room (8pm)
ALSO: The Sophs w/ Cheridomingo, The Sols, Joseon at Sid the Cat Auditorium (7pm)
ALSO: Worry Club at the Echo (7pm)
ALSO: Steve Carlson at the Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: White Reaper x Drug Church at the El Rey (7:30)
ALSO: Maggie Lindeman at the Regent Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Paul McCartney at the Fonda (6:30)
ALSO: The Maine w/ Nightly, Grayscale, Franklin Jonas & the Byzantines at the Novo (6:30)

Sunday: Glen Hansard at Lodge Room (7pm)
ALSO: Pretty Jane at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
ALSO: Ellie Williams at the Hotel Cafe second stage (8pm)
ALSO: Sammy Brue, Joe Kaplow at Permanent Records (6pm)
ALSO: FemFest f. Turning Jane at the Echo (6pm)
ALSO: Microwave w/ Anthony Green, Hunny, Slow Joy at the Wiltern (6pm)

To Keep in Mind:        
March 31^st: Des Rocs at the El Rey (7pm)
April 1^st: Winder at the Venice West (8pm)
April 3^rd: Winyah at the Echo
April 3^rd: The Record Company at the El Rey (7pm)
April 3^rd: Brendan Hines at the Hotel Cafe
April 4^th: Alexander Stewart at Pacific Electric (8pm)
April 4^th: The Early November & Helloboodbye at the Echoplex
April 6^th: Borderline at the Echo
April 8^th: The Unlikely Candidates at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
April 9^th: Leslie Stevens at Permanent Records (9pm)
April 9^th: KT Tunstall at the Venice West (8pm)
April 10^th: Jon McLaughlin at the Trouabdour
April 11^th: Lenka at the Hotel Cafe
April 12^th: Dar Williams at the Troubadour
April 14^th: Lykke Li at the Fonda (7pm)
April 15^th: Ber at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
April 15^th: Pleasure Pill & Native Sun at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
April 17^th: Kate Clover at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
April 17^th: Priscilla Ahn at the Hotel Cafe
April 18^th: The Summer Set at the El Rey (7pm)
April 20^th: Langhorne Slim at the Troubadour
April 20^th: Biffy Clyro at the Belasco (7pm)
April 21^st: Maya Hawke at the Troubadour
April 21^st: Flyte at Lodge Room (7pm)
April 22^nd: Flyte at Lodge Room (7pm)
April 22^nd: Maisie Peters at the Fonda (7:30)
April 24^th: Coach Party at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
April 24^th: Alice Phoebe Lou at the Wiltern
April 24^th: Griffin House at McCabe’s (8pm)
April 25^th: Lily Allen at the Orpheum
April 26^th: Lily Allen at the Orpheum
May 1^st: Bad Suns at the Venice West (8pm)
May 2^nd: Switchfoot at the Venice West (8pm)
May 2^nd: Claire Rosinkranz at the El Rey (7pm)
May 3^rd: Barns Courtney at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
May 7^th: Wolves of Glendale at the Troubadour
May 7^th: Patrick Droney at the Moroccan Lounge (9:30)
May 9^th: Mike Doughty at Sid the Cat Auditorium
May 9^th: Verygently at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
May 10^th: Norah Jones at Pacific Electric (7pm)
May 12^th: Cardinals at Gold-Diggers (7pm)
May 12^th: Hayley Williams at the Wiltern
May 13^th: Hayley Williams at the Wiltern
May 13^th: Mika at LA Orpheum (8pm)
May 14^th: Indigo Girls at the Bellwether
May 14^th: Melrose Avenue at the Roxy (7pm)
May 15^th: Hayley Williams at the Wiltern
May 20^th: Red Rum Club at the Roxy (7pm)
May 21^st: Josiah and the Bonnevilles at the Fonda (7:30)
May 22^nd: Yungblud at the Greek Theatre (8pm)
May 22^nd: Charles Esten at the Troubadour
May 24^th: Katelyn Tarver at the Echo
May 27^th: Ivy at the Teragram Ballroom
May 28^th: The Scratch at the Echo
May 28^th: Mae at the Peppermint Club (7pm)
May 29^th: Mae at the Peppermint Club (7pm)
May 29^th: The Last Dinner Party at the Orpheum (7:30)
May 31^st: Kelsy Karter and The Heroines at the Roxy (7pm)
May 31^st: Kylekelly at the Moroccan Lounge (6:30)
June 1^st: The Cab at the Fonda (6:30)
June 4^th: Daisy Grenade w/ Vienna Vienna at the Roxy (7pm)
June 15^th: Em Beihold at the Troubadour
June 27^th: Kaleo w/ Dawes at the Novo (8pm)
June 27^th: Nikka Costa at the Venice West (8pm)
July 11^th: Wolfmother at the Wiltern
July 17^th: Low Cut Connie at the Troubadour
July 31^st: The Pretty Reckless at the Wiltern
August 8^th: Ed Sheeran w/ Sigrid at Sofi Stadium
August 8^th: Kingfishr at the Fonda (7:30)
August 15^th: John-Robert at Gold-Diggers (7pm)
September 15^th: When Chai Met Toast at the Lodge Room (8pm)
October 3^rd: Paula Cole at the Bellwether
October 3^rd: Soda Blonde at the Echo
November 6^th: Foy Vance at the El Rey (7pm)
November 7^th: Foy Vance at the El Rey (7pm)
November 12^th: Lawrence at the Novo (7pm)
November 13^th: Lawrence at the Novo (7pm)
November 14^th: Lawrence at the Novo (7pm)

~ Kristen