Coachella CEO Paul Tollett, Hot Hip-Hop Act Flyana Boss Tapped For SXSW Sydney 2023

Just three months before the curtain raises on the inaugural SXSW Sydney, organisers add another wave of featured speakers and performers.

Joining the line-up of international speakers is Coachella CEO Paul Tollett, fashion icon Tan France, Slack co-founder Cal Henderson and AI expert Amy Webb.

Also, the SXSW Sydney programming team announces more than 100 artists to the updated bill, including U.S. acts Flyana Boss and almost monday, homegrown up-and-comers South Summit, Chanel Loren and Gut Health, along with internationals SORRY (U.K.), ADOY and Lil Cherry & GOLDBUUDA (all South Korea), Daily J, MELODOWNZ and Molly Payton (New Zealand), Isyana Sarasvati (Indonesia) and Lunadira (Malaysia).  

They join previously announced performers, who include local artists Alter Boy, Dean Brady and Teenage Joans.

Speaking with The Music Network, SXSW Sydney head of music Claire Collins says her team has sifted through more than 2,500 artist applications from around the globe, for what should ultimately number 400 showcase performances.

The debut event is “not just about music,” she continues, “it’s about culture, technology, the future screen and gaming,” with themes of AI and its applications, tech transparency, re-imagining news media, and more built into the programme.

“Everything is coming together,” Collins explains.

Set to roll out Oct. 15 to 22, SWSW Sydney will comprise of 1,000-plus events, speakers and music acts.

"A festival like this truly couldn't have come at a better time,” says John Graham, minister for jobs and tourism, minister for the arts and minister for music and the night-time economy.

The NSW Government “is currently in conversation with the creative community to develop the state’s first arts, cultural and creative industries policy." 

According to reps, SXSW Sydney should look and feel like a “city-wide music festival, futurist think tank, a showcase of the latest games, alongside film and TV world premieres, a next-gen technology expo,” and more.

Sydney is the first city outside of the event’s original home, Austin, Texas, to host the gathering. 

It’ll serve as the official Asia Pacific instalment of SXSW, which has been held in the Lone Star State each March since 1987 and is set to showcase music, screen, gaming, tech and innovation from across the region. 

“After 19 visits to SXSW in Austin over the years,” says SXSW Sydney managing director Colin Daniels. “I can’t wait to see what we think of as ‘the United Nations of the creative industries’ here in Sydney.”

SXSW Sydney is a collaboration with TEG, the NSW Government and Destination NSW.

For more on SXSW Sydney, click here.