Back Beat Seattle

SXSW 2026 – Day 6, March 17th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

Time for country fans to go wild with some gorgeous photos of Lainey Wilson, who appeared at SXSW 2026, day six! The Nashville native, who’s also an actress who has been on the TV series Yellowstone and made her film debut this year with Reminders of Him, has already released five albums. Also at day six’s stages were Amy Gadiaga, a jazz singer, bassist & composer (thank you for the portrait!); Brit singer Morgan Munroe, who performed at Glastonbury last year, and Mexican-American artist Delilah. Delilah (full name Delilah Cabrera) comes from Wenatchee, Washington, and we want to say a huge thank you for the portrait session with Kirk.

US:

Jules Aurora @ Creek & Cave

Iyla @ Creek & Cave

Rosegarden Funeral Party @ Elysium

Keira Vana @ Creek & Cave

Lainey Wilson @ Stubb’s

Mexico/US:

Delilah @ Mala Fama

UK:

Mae Muller @ Palm Door on Sixth

Morgan Munroe @ Palm Door on Sixth

Karma Sheen @ Palm Door on Sixth

France/Mali/London-based:

Amy Gadiaga @ Palm Door on Sixth

Mexico:

Karina Galicia @ Las Perlas

Argentina:

Marilina Bertoldi @ Radio Day Stage

Canada:

Novul @ Swan Dive

Lainey Wilson @ Stubb’s – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Marilina Bertoldi @ Radio Day Stage – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Amy Gadiaga @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Karma Sheen @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Keira Vana @ Creek & Cave – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Jules Aurora @ Creek & Cave – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Novul @ Swan Dive – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Delilah @ Mala Fama – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Morgan Munroe @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Mae Muller @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Karina Galicia @ Las Perlas – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Iyla @ Creek & Cave – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Rosegarden Funeral Party @ Elysium – photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 – Day 5, March 16th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

An electric harpist from Italy-Switzerland? Wow. This fascinating and rare style of musician came to SXSW 2026 via the artist Kety Fusco. Fusco is classically trained, but rocks too. Also appearing on the fifth day of SXSW, a Dutch singer-songwriter named Stevie Bill, who will tour with Claire Rosinkranz beginning in mid-May. Rosinkranz’s My Lover Tour has a large number of US dates, including one in Seattle on June 1st. MT Jones, an R&B singer from Liverpool, England, is pictured too. Look out for his debut, Joy, coming out in May. And a gigantic thank you to Lola Kinsey for taking portraits!

UK:

MT Jones @ the Global Stage

Sarah Meth @ Swan Dive

US:

Sage Bava @ Marlow

Lola Kinsey @ the Hilton Austin

mer marcum @ las Perlas

Grace Sorensen @ Stubb’s

Amsterdam:

Stevie Bill @ Mohawk

Italy-Switzerland:

Kety Fusco @ Flamingo Cantina

MT Jones @ the Global Stage – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Lola Kinsey @ the Hilton Austin – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Sage Bava @ Marlow – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Grace Sorensen @ Stubb’s – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Sarah Meth @ Swan Dive – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Stevie Bill @ Mohawk – photos by Kirk Stauffer

mer marcum @ las Perlas – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Kety Fusco @ Flamingo Cantina – photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 – Day 4, March 15th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

The fourth day of SXSW coverage includes married couple singer-songwriters Thelma & James. The duo, MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge, will hit more states this summer, and they have a nomination for Academy of Country Music’s Duo of the Year 2026. That event takes place on May 17th, 2026. Other artists featured are two Welsh acts, Hana Lili (thank you for the portrait) and Panic Shack. So much coolness to check out here.

UK:

Jenna Cole @ Palm Door on Sixth

Loren Heat @ Palm Door on Sixth

TTSSFU @ Mohawk

Canada/US:

Thelma & James @ Stubb’s

US:

Saige Davis @ Antone’s

Kels @ Marlow

Tamera King @ Marlow

Mai Anna @ Marlow

Zoe Tan @ Las Perlas

Greece:

Alkyone @ Central Presbyterian Church

Wales:

Hana Lili @ Swan Dive

Panic Shack @ Mohawk

Saige Davis @ Antone’s – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Jenna Cole @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Loren Heat @ Palm Door on Sixth – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Kels @ Marlow – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Hana Lili @ Swan Dive – photos by Kirk Stauffer

TTSSFU @ Mohawk -photos by Kirk Stauffer

Panic Shack @ Mohawk – by Kirk Stauffer

Alkyone @ Central Presbyterian Church – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Zoe Tan @ Las Perlas – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Thelma & James @ Stubb’s – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Tamera King @ Marlow – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Mai Anna @ Marlow – photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 – Day 3, March 14th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

BMI, the American music licensing company, hosted an event called BMI Brunch on the third day of SXSW. A few of the excellent variety of bands, from Ben Ellis to Piao and from Magnolian to Dizzy Fae, took part. Magnolian, who comes from Mongolia, has a new track called “Woods.” It appears on the award-winning game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach! The multimedia thread continues with Nezza, a singer and dancer who garnered attention via her YouTube account.

Portugal:

Jo Alice @ BMI Brunch

Wales:

Ben Ellis @ BMI Brunch

United States:

Aivila @ Mala Fama

The Band Loula @ BMI Brunch

Julia Blair @ 13th Floor

Dizzy Fae @ BMI Brunch

Claire Hinkle @ Continental Club

Horsepower @ BMI Brunch

Ella Langley @ Stubb’s

Little Luna @ BMI Brunch

Lucaa @ Presbyterian Church

Nezza @ BMI Brunch

She Returns From War @ BMI Brunch

Anna Shoemaker @ BMI Brunch

Mongolia:

Magnolian @ BMI Brunch

United Kingdom:

TTSSFU @ Palm Door

Columbia & United States:

Henao @ Cedar Door

Hong Kong:

Piao @ BMI Brunch

Canada & United States:

Lindsay Ell @ 3Ten Austin City Limits Live

Ella Langley @ Stubb’s – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Dizzy Fae @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Jo Alice @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Nezza @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

TTSSFU @ Palm Door – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Lindsay Ell @ 3Ten Austin City Limits Live- photos by Kirk Stauffer

Piao @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Julia Blair @ 13th Floor – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Little Luna @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Anna Shoemaker @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

She Returns From War @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

The Band Loula @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Aivila – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Lucaa – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Ben Ellis @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Henao @ Cedar Door – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Horsepower – all photos by Kirk Stauffer

Magnolian @ BMI Brunch – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Claire Hinkle @ Continental Club – photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 – Day 2, March 13th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

Day two of SXSW 2026 brings us some wonderful country music showcased in the CMA Songwriters Series, with Wyatt Flores, Chase McDaniel, Ingrid Andress and Tiera Kennedy all in one evening. Other unique scheduling included Rejay, an artist from Hokkaido, Japan and the United Kingdom’s Sofia and the Antionettes, who released her debut album WOMEN WHO LOVE TOO MUCH last year. Thank you to Devon Gabriella for taking time for a portrait!

United Kingdom:

Jim Evans @ the Courtyard

Sofia and the Antionettes @ Palm Door

USA:

Wyatt Flores, Chase McDaniel, Tiera Kennedy & Ingrid Andress @ Central Presbyterian Church as part of CMA Songwriters Series

Devon Gabriella @ Elysium

Olivia Morreale @ Las Perlas

Runo Plum @ Valhalla

Stella Prince @ the Courtyard

Anna Shoemaker @ Las Perlas

Georgia Webster @ Central Presbyterian Church

Japan:

Rejay @ Global Stage

Sofia and the Antoinettes – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Devon Gabriella @ Elysium – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Stella Prince @ the Courtyard – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Runo Plum @ Valhalla – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Jim Evans @ the Courtyard – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Anna Shoemaker @ Las Perlas – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Olivia Morreale @ Las Perlas – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Rejay @ Global Stage – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Georgia Webster @ Central Presbyterian Church – photos by Kirk Stauffer

Wyatt Flores, Chase McDaniel, Tiera Kennedy & Ingrid Andress @ Central Presbyterian Church as part of CMA Songwriters Series – photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 – Day 1, March 12th
Photos by Kirk Stauffer

SXSW 2026 had its annual music festival earlier in March. Photographer Kirk Stauffer attended the event, capturing gorgeous shots of so many fantastic bands it’s mind-boggling. From the USA to Australia, enjoy day one coverage, including Seattle’s own Avery Cochrane! Also, check out Welsh singer Gwenno, formerly of the Pipettes.

USA:

Angela Autumn @ the 13th Floor

Bershy @ Swan Dive

Jesse Chambers @ Las Perlas

Avery Cochrane @ Yeti

Jessica Healey @ Batch

Horsepower @ the 13th Floor

Aubrie Sellers @ Waterloo Records

Wilby @ Swan Dive

Australia:

Ella Ion @ Wanderlust

Lucky @ Elysium

The Tullamarines @ Yeti