The best bands we saw at SXSW 2025
Julien Baker and Torres
“Who needs excellence when you’ve got charisma?” Julien Baker quipped at Wednesday’s SXSW performance with Torres. The pair both oozed charm and exuded greatness at their inaugural festival set, offering a sneak peek at their forthcoming album, Send A Prayer My Way. The duo’s musical chemistry was obvious as they traded leads on country-tinged tunes, harkening their Southern roots while forging spaces for queer stories. —Michelle Bacon, 90.9 The Bridge
Case Oats
Led by Casey Gomez Walker, the Chicago-based act Case Oats performed captivating sets at SXSW on the heels of signing to Merge Records. Walker’s creative writing background was on full display with her deft lyricism, buoyed by the accompaniment of Spencer Tweedy on drums, Max Subar on guitar and pedal steel, Jason Ashworth on bass and Scott Daniel on fiddle. Based on a short story Walker wrote in college, lead single “Seventeen” captures the worldview of that formative time in her life. The outfit’s debut album is due out later this year, and I can’t wait to see how these songs take on new life on the road. —Desire Moses, WNRN
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson took the stage for the first time in 15 years with a surprise set at Luck Reunion, one of the ancillary events to SXSW that takes place at Willie Nelson’s ranch. No stranger to reinventing herself, Simpson performed songs with a new country/Americana sound, shaped in part by producer JD McPherson, a collaborator on her forthcoming EP Nashville Canyon. Simpson’s striking performance was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd, who seemed drawn to the artist’s authentic self-expression. —Lindsay Kimball, The Current
La Sécurité
What a difference a year makes! At last year’s SXSW, Montreal artsy dance punk band La Sécurité was like a souped-up muscle car made for a drag race: one long straightaway without any turns. After a year of touring and refining its craft, the band landed back in Austin more like a Formula 1 race car: even faster, but now able to handle hairpin curves. Confident, spry and balletic, La Sécurité is on top of its game this year. —Rick McNulty, KUTX
Delivery
It made sense that I’d discover a band from the Live Music Capital of Australia (Melbourne) ripping through sets in the Live Music Capital of the World (Austin). The band’s second full-length album, Force Majeure, aptly describes mining the best elements of punk and glam riffage (and eye shadow) with three alternating vocalists. There’s a lot to be loud about right now, and Delivery makes “shouting it out loud” fun. —Jeff Sweatman, WNRN
Edgar Alejandro
As he crooned and charmed his way through an early morning set, 23-year-old Edgar Alejandro captivated the KUTX Live at Scholz Garten audience. You may recognize the Los Angeles artist’s standout single “A Tu Lado,” which went viral on TikTok last year. At SXSW, he performed with just an acoustic guitar and trumpet — but this fall, Alejandro, who was born to a family of mariachis in Guadalajara, will be touring with a 14-piece orchestra in support of his forthcoming album. —Deidre Gott, KUTX
Sedona
Performing with a sensibility that combines a Southern California/Fleetwood Mac vibe with modern pop, San Fernando-native Sedona is making waves with her new record, Getting Into Heaven. I caught her last performance at SXSW at a swanky bar in Austin and was struck by her well-crafted songs, like the single “Best Kept Secret.” —Alejandro Cohen, KCRW
Taylor Rae
Despite having lived in Austin for seven years, Taylor Rae made her SXSW debut this year. Her new intimate and groovy album, The Void, will be released next month. —Jessie Scott, WMOT
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?
Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.
Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act
It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.
