Day 2 at SXSW Sydney was like a symphony in motion—each moment, conversation, and performance blending into a crescendo of creativity and innovation.
It was a day where sparks of inspiration turned into roaring fires, and you could feel the pulse of the city beat a little louder with every event.
Let’s rewind and catch you up:
The Music Festival Opening Party at UTS Underground was no mere gathering—it was a sonic storm. Voice of Baceprot hit the stage with a thunderous roar, their music crashing over the crowd like waves, leaving everyone soaked in adrenaline.
Over at Jorja Smith’s show, it was a different kind of magic—a garden of sounds where her voice bloomed, serenading those lucky enough to hold a golden ticket. For the rest? The SXSW allocation may have been exhausted, but that didn’t stop the FOMO from growing like wildflowers.
Meanwhile, the Tech & Innovation Opening Night Party at Fortress was like a high-tech wonderland where gadgets and minds intertwined over drinks, and the future felt within arm’s reach.
Dell Technologies hosted a celebration where tomorrow’s innovations were toasted as if they were already today’s legends. And if you strolled into India Cinema Through the Years at Rouge, it was like entering a time machine powered by reels of Bollywood dreams and iconic films, each scene transporting you across eras.
At Dendy Newtown, Never Look Away captivated audiences, its title ironically speaking for itself—eyes glued to the screen, hearts locked into every scene.
By now, you could have wandered over to The Ace Hotel, where the Creative House Party wasn’t just a party, but a living, breathing think tank disguised as a soirée. Imagine a room where every conversation felt like an idea sprouting wings. It was a place where creatives mingled, sipped inspiration, and brainstormed under the dim lights of possibility.
But what’s in store for tomorrow, you ask?
Like a grand unveiling, the Tech & Innovation Expo opens its doors—think of it as walking into the future itself, where every step you take is toward some mind-bending new discovery.
Feeling a little scatterbrained?
Don’t worry, Johann Hari will hand you the key to unlocking focus in his talk Stolen Focus, a quest to find out why attention is slipping through our fingers like sand. And if you’re ready to shoot for the stars, Katherine Bennell-Pegg will show you how a single space moment can spark an entire movement—prepare for liftoff.
For those whose hearts beat to the rhythm of sports, Craig Tiley will be there to share how the Australian Open is shaping its future, transforming a tennis match into an epic saga. Gamers? The Games Festival Opening Party at Abercrombie is calling—imagine a neon-lit realm where controllers are the swords of a new age and every pixel is a portal to adventure.
Don’t forget to listen for the sounds of undiscovered talent with triple j Unearthed, where raw creativity flows like a river, ready to carve new channels in the music landscape. And as for self-improvement? Osher Gunsberg will take you on a journey in Better Than Yesterday, a session that promises to be part confessional, part motivational, and entirely transformational.
But that’s not all—Zeekr is showcasing their luxury electric mobility at the Z-Track, where sleek machines hum with the future’s promise. If you’re craving a slice of Americana, USA House is the oasis you didn’t know you needed, with cocktails and cultural experiences that are like a cross-country road trip for the soul.
Not to be outdone, UTS House is where you’ll find Australia’s leading minds lighting the path forward, and WPP is back to prove that creativity is the currency of the future, with sessions that’ll make you feel like you’ve just been handed the keys to the innovation kingdom.
Day 3 is waiting, and it promises to be a chapter you won’t soon forget.
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Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of SXSW Sydney.