CJLO X SXSW 2024: Festival Preview

This year, the team at CJLO is returning to SXSW in Austin, Texas for the first time since 2019! With a festival where the whole world seems to meet over the span of just 9 days, where does one even begin?

We here at CJLO want to bring the best new talent back to you here at the station! As Head Music Director, I’ve meticulously analyzed and dissected the schedule to find the most exciting performances, talks, and special events!

First, let’s talk about the Jaded presents Friends:Forever Showcase presenting the best in Asian talent from across the globe! Se So Neon and Thuy are headlining, but there are about a million and one other great artists you won’t want to miss. There’s Alice Longyu Gao, Subsonic Eye and Ako to name a few, not to mention Canadian and CJLO favorite Pony Girl as well. 

While we’re on the subject of emerging Canadian talent, we should talk about the amazing artists from Montreal who will be proudly showing what our city is made of. Mothland and M for Montreal will be presenting Corridor, Population II and N Nao, while POP Montreal will be presenting Janette King, Sorry Girls, NOBRO, La Securite, and the list goes on! Canada House will also showcase Shaina Hayes, Le Couleur, Living Hour and you guessed it, so much more!

This year, SXSW is platforming bold female singer-songwriters whose latest releases have been powerful, personal, and have flipped all conventions on their head. Mali Velasquez, Frances Chang, Eliza McLamb and Folk Bitch Trio are some of these innovative artists. But if you’re more of a shoegazing indie rocker, you’ll be stoked to see Dry Cleaning, Bar Italia, and Horse Jumper of Love shred up the scene. 

With all this happening at once, how will CJLO staff survive? Good question! You’re just going to have to stay tuned!

Lisa Rupnik is the head music director at CJLO and co-host of The Last Stop. She is also an avid record collector, a “no nonsense” film lover and feels that her personality can be best defined by her two favourite bands: YMO and Sparks.