Our Top 5 SXSW 2026 Performances We Hope You Saw Too
- Mars
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
SXSW wrapped up a few weeks ago, and we are still recovering from the seemingly endless music sets across seven nights. We attended at least 20 different performances throughout the week, navigating from venue to venue with a highly calculated walking schedule. If we could have been in two places at once, we would have attended twice as many shows. In this story, we are going to break down the top five showcases we had the opportunity to attend. You will recognize some of the names, while others might be new to you and that is exactly what makes SXSW so special.
5. Bricknasty
Honestly, we couldn't understand much of what they were saying during the set, but the music and presentation were so incredible that it became one of our favorite performances to watch. The band made the long trip to Austin, Texas, from Ireland and delivered an amazing blend of jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. We know we just named four genres, but they seamlessly blended all of them on stage with a saxophonist, pianist, drummer, and a lead singer playing the electric guitar. We are sure their music incorporated some Ireland-rooted sounds as well, even if we couldn't quite identify those specific sonics.
Additionally, whoever was operating the lights at the Great Britain House elevated the show, as they were perfectly on point with matching the lighting to the music. If you are a returning visitor to our site, you know we cover hip-hop, R&B, and jazz; that is how Bricknasty landed on our radar, and they are a cold-blooded group with a lot of promise. We believe they will eventually create a project that demands attention here in the States, and SXSW was just the first step. Sonically, we would say they have the potential to make a project reminiscent of Mac Miller's Faces. They heavily utilize instrumentation while maintaining a great balance of intentional lyricism.
4. Neptune XXI
Coming in at number four is Neptune XXI, who put on an electrifying set in a venue packed from wall to wall, with an overflow crowd outside on the patio. We pride ourselves on being an underground music-based platform but we had previously missed Neptune, and she easily delivered one of our favorite sets. There is just something beautiful about seeing a true artist on stage in their purest form. It's captivating, and she absolutely delivered during this event at Vic Mensa's showcase; Mensa discovered these artists doing livestream sessions, invited them down to Austin, and definitely threw one of the most vibrant showcases of the week.
Even though we were completely new to her music, she showcased a solid balance of her artistry. Her set ranged from rap-heavy tracks to dance-heavy records, and everything in between. Her skin was glowing, her hair was done up, her jewelry was shining, and her music was incredibly empowering. It was a deeply fulfilling set to watch, and since a large portion of the crowd knew the words, it's clear she isn't strictly underground anymore. For crying out loud, Erykah Badu follows her on Instagram. She is a special artist, and we can't wait to see what is next for her.
3. AJ McQueen
AJ McQueen is one of the most intentional rap artists in the game right now and a highly decorated independent artist. He has been featured on BET, Sway's Universe, REVOLT, On The Radar, and Fox, and has also done an interview with 19 Keys, among other accomplishments. Shortly after his SXSW set, he performed a sold-out show at the legendary Blue Note in LA, so it was incredible to see him in an even more intimate setting at SXSW just weeks prior.
One thing that helped popularize him on social media was the way he completely obliterated classic R&B beats. We don't mean samples; he took the exact beats and rapped over them mixtape-style. He kept his lyrics just as soulful as the original songs, which added another layer of symbolism to his artistry. Being able to hear some of those tracks performed alongside his original records made for a truly inspiring set. He mentioned that he had been invited to perform at other SXSW shows, but he chose to throw his own showcase instead to help highlight up-and-coming artists trying to navigate the industry.
2. Ray Vaughn
Taking the number two spot is TDE's Ray Vaughn, making his second appearance in Texas but his very first at SXSW. Ray Vaughn had one of the biggest years in rap following his battle with Joey Bada$$, which took place right after the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle. From there, he dropped The Good, The Bad, The Dollar Menu, which became one of the most celebrated projects of 2025. That project ended up in the top ten rap lists for three of the largest hip-hop media platforms at the time:
The Joe Budden Podcast, Apple Music's Rap Life Review, and The Bigger Picture Podcast. As a West Coast platform, we were curious to see how the South would respond to him, but the venue was packed from wall to wall. As soon as we got inside, we had to wiggle our way to the front, which was no easy task. As for the performance itself, he completely killed it by playing hits from his project, as well as a newly dropped single featuring AZ Chike.
We can confidently say that the energy of his music perfectly matches the energy of his live performance. The ability to box jump while holding a microphone and still rap cleanly with no backing vocals is incredibly difficult. Since a lot of West Coast music has a dance-party energy, seeing the crowd react with that same level of enthusiasm was amazing to witness. There is often a stigma attached to West Coast artists suggesting they can't tour past New Mexico, but that definitely does not apply to Ray Vaughn.
1. Max B
Our number one spot goes to the waviest himself: Max B. He was at the peak of the Blog Era mixtape download wave before being released from prison in the fall of 2025 after serving 16 years; his set at the Revolt House marked his first performance outside of New York since coming home. This was one of those experiences we never thought we would witness in our lifetime. The two-story venue was packed from the ground floor to the second level, with a line of people outside who couldn't get in.
` Although he has dropped at least four projects since his release in November 2025, including the song "Ever Since U Left Me," which earned him his first No. 1 Billboard record on the Rhythmic Airplay Chart, everything else he performed came from his early mixtapes, and the crowd knew every single word. The atmosphere was filled with people who were genuinely thrilled to be there. The crowd was happy, Max B was happy, and even the security guards were happy to be there. You could see them smiling at the stage, looking just as pleasantly surprised to be part of the moment as everyone else involved.
While he didn't jump into the crowd, he did a walkthrough that clearly made his security team a little nervous, especially considering all the jewelry he was wearing but he was giving out hugs to fans while people yelled, "Happy you're home!"
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