NEWS
The British Music Embassy announce SXSW 2025 with over 80 performances
19 February 2025
The British Music Embassy (BME) is returning to SXSW in Austin to spotlight some of the leading musical talent from the UK, including acts such as Alt Blk Era, Big Special, Confidence Man, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Mary in the Junkyard, Sam Ryder and Steam Down. Now in its 17th year, the BME will feature 80 performances, including twelve showcases and parties over an eight-day period. Since launching at SXSW in 2008, the British Music Embassy has hosted shows for 659 UK acts.
The British Music Embassy is a collaboration from BBC Introducing, UK record labels association the BPI, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the British Council, and music licensing company PPL. The BME forms part of UK House bringing together the world's most innovative minds to spark ideas, forge partnerships, and shape the future of the creative economy.
Moving to a new home for 2025, the BME will take over the 700-capacity Palm Door on Sixth (508 E. 6th St.) with a two-stage indoor and outdoor venue, programming the very best of UK music from Saturday, March 8 until Saturday, March 15. UK House and the BME will also host music events during SXSW Interactive including an opening night show on Saturday, March 8, and a special takeover event on Sunday, March 9 with the Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GREAT) Campaign, bringing together the finest American and British talent for a series of exclusive collaborations. This includes performances from Adjua, Jurassic 5’s Soup (aka Fullee Love) Kimberly Zielnicki, Mr. Switch, Spiderhorse, The Beatbox Collective, The Beatbox House, The Petebox and special guests.
The BME is also working with a range of programming partners for day parties and evening showcases throughout the week. Evening showcases will be hosted by Beyond the Music Manchester (Monday), Future Arts & Culture with curators PIAS and Ristband (Tuesday), BBC Introducing (Wednesday-Friday) and Chris Hawkins’ Awesome Friends (Saturday), while daytime events will be hosted by Northern Sounds (Wednesday), Band Share & Output Belfast (Thursday), Fatsoma (Friday), Bonza Music and Omen Magazine (Saturday). Media partners for this year’s shows include BBC Introducing and Selector Radio, run by the British Council.
On Tuesday, Future Art and Culture are teaming up with award-winning creative studio Ristband who return for a brand-new Future x Music showcase, their biggest at SXSW to date. Taking over UK House, which Future Art and Culture are sponsoring for the first time, it includes a groundbreaking live music mixed reality concert performed by artist and producer Venice Bleach, a diverse lineup of live bands and DJs, and an entirely new spatial audio installation that pulls the audience into a world of digital distortion and immersive soundscapes. The event also kicks off the SXSW Music Festival and closing XR Festival, bringing together the music, tech, film and gaming communities, and offering a window into the future of entertainment.
The BME line-up includes:
Alt Blk Era • Amelia Coburn • Annie-Dog • Antony Szmierek • Baby Said • Beth McCarthy • Big Special • Black Fondu • Blackgold • Casey Lowery • Cloth • Confidence Man • Cortney Dixon • corto.alto • CVC • Deja • Dilettante • Delivery • Emmeline • Ellur • Essii • Finn Forster • Fourth Daughter • Freak Slug • Gurriers • Himalayas, Honeyglaze • INSXGHT • Jacob Alon • Jasmine.4.t • JC Stewart • Jo Hill • Korda Korder • Lizzie Berchie • Man/Woman/Chainsaw • Maruja • Mary In The Junkyard • Master Peace • Nature TV • Ny Oh • OneDa • Pivots • Sam Ryder • Shao Dow • Sir Jude • Steam Down • Summer Pearl • The K's • The Molotovs • Tokio Myers, University • Venice Bleach • Venus Grrrls • Vital Powers • Winnie Ama • Wynona Bleach • Yoshika Colwell
The main stage will once again be powered by the Bowers & Wilkins Sound System, with the world-renowned audio brand’s custom built, one-of-a-kind high-performance PA system bringing its revered True Sound to the live music stage. Production Park’s Academy of Live Technology will bring their craft and expertise to Austin to ensure UK artists benefit from world class stage production and design.
There will also be networking opportunities for those looking to build business connections worldwide, with a week-long program of panels and roundtables featuring top UK executives and industry experts.
The British Music Embassy is a collaboration from BBC Introducing, UK record labels association the BPI, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the British Council, and music licensing company PPL. The BME forms part of UK House bringing together the world's most innovative minds to spark ideas, forge partnerships, and shape the future of the creative economy.
The BME is also working with a range of programming partners for day parties and evening showcases throughout the week. Evening showcases will be hosted by Beyond the Music Manchester (Monday), Future Arts & Culture with curators PIAS and Ristband (Tuesday), BBC Introducing (Wednesday-Friday) and Chris Hawkins’ Awesome Friends (Saturday), while daytime events will be hosted by Northern Sounds (Wednesday), Band Share & Output Belfast (Thursday), Fatsoma (Friday), Bonza Music and Omen Magazine (Saturday). Media partners for this year’s shows include BBC Introducing and Selector Radio, run by the British Council.
On Tuesday, Future Art and Culture are teaming up with award-winning creative studio Ristband who return for a brand-new Future x Music showcase, their biggest at SXSW to date. Taking over UK House, which Future Art and Culture are sponsoring for the first time, it includes a groundbreaking live music mixed reality concert performed by artist and producer Venice Bleach, a diverse lineup of live bands and DJs, and an entirely new spatial audio installation that pulls the audience into a world of digital distortion and immersive soundscapes. The event also kicks off the SXSW Music Festival and closing XR Festival, bringing together the music, tech, film and gaming communities, and offering a window into the future of entertainment.
The BME line-up includes:
Alt Blk Era • Amelia Coburn • Annie-Dog • Antony Szmierek • Baby Said • Beth McCarthy • Big Special • Black Fondu • Blackgold • Casey Lowery • Cloth • Confidence Man • Cortney Dixon • corto.alto • CVC • Deja • Dilettante • Delivery • Emmeline • Ellur • Essii • Finn Forster • Fourth Daughter • Freak Slug • Gurriers • Himalayas, Honeyglaze • INSXGHT • Jacob Alon • Jasmine.4.t • JC Stewart • Jo Hill • Korda Korder • Lizzie Berchie • Man/Woman/Chainsaw • Maruja • Mary In The Junkyard • Master Peace • Nature TV • Ny Oh • OneDa • Pivots • Sam Ryder • Shao Dow • Sir Jude • Steam Down • Summer Pearl • The K's • The Molotovs • Tokio Myers, University • Venice Bleach • Venus Grrrls • Vital Powers • Winnie Ama • Wynona Bleach • Yoshika Colwell
The main stage will once again be powered by the Bowers & Wilkins Sound System, with the world-renowned audio brand’s custom built, one-of-a-kind high-performance PA system bringing its revered True Sound to the live music stage. Production Park’s Academy of Live Technology will bring their craft and expertise to Austin to ensure UK artists benefit from world class stage production and design.
There will also be networking opportunities for those looking to build business connections worldwide, with a week-long program of panels and roundtables featuring top UK executives and industry experts.
