All Songs Considered

Wish You Were There: 42 Photos From SXSW 2015

By NPR Music Staff

Published March 23, 2015 at 1:50 PM MDT

Avan Lava performs on Saturday night at Cheer Up Charlie's during the 2015 South by Southwest music festival.

South by Southwest 2015 has wrapped up, and NPR Music's team in Austin has once again begun to scatter across the United States. For some of us, these five days were amazing and exhausting in equal measure — Stephen Thompson counted 76 bands he saw and sorely needs to rest his feet — while others — really just Bob Boilen — could keep going forever.

As Bob says in the podcast at the top of this page, the festival itself may have been pleasantly subdued compared to years past — blame the rain or a reduction in corporate advertising — but we still came away with plenty to share. Start with the photos below; watch video of our concerts by Courtney Barnett and Boogie, from Stubb's; see what rituals musicians like Jack Antonoff of Bleachers and Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee observe while in Austin; see some GIFs made by the great photographer Adam Kissick; listen to the nightly All Songs Considered podcasts (from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and wrap things up with a series of lullabies performed on the streets of Austin by solo musicians in the wee hours of the night, when the city quieted down. Is it too early to say we can't wait for next year?

Photos

Tuesday

Day One DIY: Musicians load equipment in East Austin.

The Korean DJ and producer Hitchhiker plays (in an amazing reflective suit) at Highland.

The Irish singer SOAK performs at End of an Ear Records.

Wednesday

The lineup for NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's BBQ in Austin.

SXSW attendees waits for the NPR Music Showcase at Stubb's BBQ.

TV On The Radio played a powerful, career-spanning set, including songs from its excellent new album, <em>Seeds</em>, to close out NPR Music's showcase at Stubb's. — TV On The Radio played a powerful, career-spanning set, including songs from its excellent new album, *Seeds*, to close out NPR Music's showcase at Stubb's.

Stromae and company, in matching cardigans at Stubb's.

Courtney Barnett plays songs from her album, <em>Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit</em> at Stubb's. — Courtney Barnett plays songs from her album, *Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit* at Stubb's.

Shamir with band mates at Stubb's during NPR Music's showcase on Wednesday.

Boogie, on stage at Stubb's during NPR Music's SXSW showcase.

Mackenzie Scott of Torres played songs from her upcoming album <em>Sprinter</em> at The Mohawk — Mackenzie Scott of Torres played songs from her upcoming album *Sprinter* at The Mohawk

L.A.'s Girlpool performs at Cheer Up Charlie's.

Hinds, from Madrid, Spain, performs at Cheer Up Charlie's on Wednesday.

The Dublin-based quartet Girl Band plays at The Fader Fort on Wednesday.

Most vertical hair: Pianos Become The Teeth at Gypsy Lounge.

Thursday

Tanya Tagaq performs at Flamingo Cantina.

Vebjørn Guttormsgaard Møllberg of the the Oslo band Haust, playing a late-morning set at the outdoor venue Cedar Street Courtyard.

Friday

Laura Marling plays at St. David's Episcopal Church.

Swedish rock band Indevotion performs at Cedar Street Courtyard.

Festivalgoers wait in the rain outside The Fader Fort at SXSW on Friday.

Vockah Redu, from New Orleans, plays at the Volstead Lounge.

Saturday

Two guys, not so into the Ceremony show.

John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees at The Mohawk on Saturday.

The Blind Shake gets airborne at The Mohawk.

Pete Koller of the long-running New York hardcore band Sick of It All at Gypsy Lounge on Saturday.

The crowd for Sick of It All at Gypsy Lounge.

Avan Lava at Cheer Up Charlie's on Saturday.

PC Music's A.G. Cook performs at the Hype Hotel on Saturday.

PC Music's Sophie performs at Hype Hotel on Saturday.

QT, during a performance at Red Eyed Fly on Saturday.

The Lees of Memory performs at Red 7 on Saturday.

Wish You Were There: 42 Photos From SXSW 2015

Photos

South X Lullaby: Torres