Things To Do

SXSW Sydney: Our Top Picks

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DJ playing at SXSW Sydney.

Get ready, Sydney, because our beloved city steps onto the world stage this month playing host to SXSW—an annual, magnetic and interactive conference and festival of creative ideas.

This year marks the first year ever the revered eight-day event has left America and it’s set to attract a flurry of local and international visitors alike. From 15-22 October 2023, guests can expect to watch and listen to over 1,000 innovative keynotes, live gigs, exhibitors and panel discussions that will challenge the way you think. 

The lineup is juicy yet slightly overwhelming, boasting a broad mix of heavyweight headliners (Nicole Kidman and Baz Luhrnamm were just announced in the final hour to premiere their reimagined mini series Faraway Downs) and emerging talent across music, tech, innovation, gaming, film and television—scope out the recently released lineup here. 

With so much to choose from and so little time, here are nine events some of our creative department heads are blocking their calendars for.

Sophia Wilcox

Head of Brand And Culture

Paul Martin: Executive Producer, Drive to Survive

I am so excited to hear from the visionary behind Netflix hits Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Full Swing, and Break Point. He is the man responsible for bringing Daniel Ricciardo to the small screen in a big way and I for one, thank him for it. I’m keen to understand how sports docuseries transcended and exploded audience appeal and how they both cut through and created brand noise.

When: 3.30pm Tuesday, 17 October 
Where: Cockle Bay 2, ICC Sydney
More info: here

Amy Webb: Futurist And CEO Of the Future Today Institute

I am an AI enthusiast and someone who is hoping to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape, so having the opportunity to hear from Webb first-hand will be a real treat. Her keynote conversation promises to dive deep into emerging tech trends and be the first to glimpse what's next for technology and how AI will be shaping everything from business to government and everyday life over the next decade. 

When: 1pm Monday, 16 October
Where: Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney
More info: here

Amy Webb

Paul Tollett, President And CEO Of Goldenvoice

Since its inception more than two decades ago, Coachella has risen to become much more than just a festival, it’s a phenomenon that shapes the music, style and culture conversation. Having the opportunity to hear from the man behind the Ferris wheel who started it all is so cool. I want to know how much of Coachella’s rise and influence was orchestrated, how much was accidental and what the next 25 years hold for this music mecca. 

When: 2pm Friday, October 20
Where: Pyrmont Theatre, ICC Sydney
More info: here

Elise Cullen

Head Of Studio Creative


Otoboke Beaver

I’ve only recently discovered Japanese punk rock garage band Otoboke Beaver but they are a major vibe—it was like I was resuscitated when I first heard them. Channelling 90s riot grrrl energy, the Kyoto quartet is reminiscent of legendary Bikini Kill and is the type of sound you need to jolt you out of your repetitive Spotify bubble. Equally growing in popularity for their underground energy and stage presence, they’re playing a number of smaller shows across the week—definitely one to catch.

When: Various times 
Where: The Factory Theatre, The UTS Underground and Soda Factory 
More info: here

Otoboke Beaver

Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror Creator

If The Simpsons can sometimes predict the future, Black Mirror is the future. And, like every Black Mirror fan, I can’t help but spiral into a fascinating existential crisis every time I watch an episode. Brooker is a one-of-a-kind Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, author and presenter, and his brain is just so goddamn intriguing. I’m yet to uncover someone like Brooker who explores the ethics, repercussions and nuances of AI in such a delightfully dark, twisted and entertaining way.

When: 1pm Wednesday, October 18
Where: Pyrmont Theatre, ICC Sydney
More info: here

Culture Shift: How The World Of Work Will Be Shaped By The Next Generation And New Technologies

When it comes to AI, we’re only just scraping the surface, and while it is already creating mass impact, the speed at which it will revolutionise the way we work—and work as we know it—is a thrilling and overwhelming thought. Here, a number of leading tech brains from the likes of Google, Mash and more come together to deep dive into the world of work and AI integration. Will Gen A rule us all? Will we become a useless society? Or will we harness the power of AI and progress like we’ve never imagined? I need to know.

When: 11am Tuesday, 17 October
Where: Room C3.6, ICC Sydney
More info: here

Sammy Preston

Sydney Editor And Head Of Affiliate

redveil 

The South By music festival has a long history of blowing up undiscovered talent—Odd Future, Amy Winehouse, Feist, Bon Iver, Kid Cudi—the list is huge. I love discovering new music and I'm excited to see the legend of SXSW play out on the streets of Sydney. There are so many mini-gigs happening across the week (like, 300+) but US rapper-producer redveil on the intimate architectural stage of Phoenix Central Park is way up there for me. 

When: 8pm Friday, 20 October
Where: Phoenix Central Park
More info: here

Chance The Rapper

Chancelor Bennet, AKA Chance The Rapper, is one of the headline talks for SXSW Sydney. Listening to Chance talk for an hour on the 50-year history of hip-hop and its transformative power and epic legacy sounds like an excellent way to spend a Thursday afternoon. I'm a fan—No Problem was one of my most-played songs on Spotify in 2016, and I really enjoyed his 2019 album The Big Day. But beyond his own music, he's also a keen supporter of up-and-coming artists and is super invested in the community in the craft, so I think this will be an insightful listen. 

When: 1pm Thursday, 19 October
Where: ICC Sydney
More info: here

Chance The Rapper

Sex, Drugs, And... Non-Alcoholic Beer

This panel chat will look at the aura of "sex, drugs, and rock n roll" and how it can survive in the Aussie music industry both now and into the future. On the panel are Chief of Staff at UNIFIED Music Group Michelle Rose, Creative Director at BLAK Social Alethea Beetson, and former Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies. Hosted by the Marketing Director of Heaps Normal, they'll get into the toxic, murky history that we need to leave behind—and how we can change—and whether there are elements of the rock n roll lifestyle worth salvaging. A super interesting topic led by some iconic and up-and-coming voices. 

When: 3.30pm Friday, 20 October
Where: Cinema Theatre, UTS
More info: here

Be sure to grab your ticket to Sydney’s SXSW here before they sell out. There are so many incredible events, speakers and live gigs to check out—we’ll see you there.

Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with SXSW. Thank you for supporting the partners who make The Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.

Image source: SXSW and Otoboke Beaver

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