SXSW Sydney has officially launched, celebrating with an event held beneath UTS tower.
On Thursday night people from all walks of life headed to The Underground, part of the Univeristy of Technology Sydney, for a sneak peek into what’s to come in October. Guests were greeted with neon lights, smoke machines, and a separate gaming room in reference to the newly announced SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival. Over 100 local and international independent games will be playable across Showcase venues and the other festival venues in the SXSW Sydney precinct, and the launch was just the beginning.
After grabbing a drink and some snacks, guests lined up to see speeches from SXSW Sydney Managing Director, Colin Daniels and Minister Ben Franklin.
Colin Daniels
The party really got started afterwards, as musical acts 1300, Jacoténe, Milku, and RONA took to the stage.
Jacoténe
The launch came after a press conference earlier in the day, unveiling a first look at the tech festival’s speakers, performers, and precinct.
See Also: SXSW Sydney: First look at speakers, performers, and precinct
It was announced that the Conference program’s first Keynote Speaker would be American futurist, author and CEO/Founder of Future Today Institute, Amy Webb. Named ‘one of the five women changing the world’ according to Forbes in 2022, one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2020, and ranked on the Thinkers50 list of the 50 most influential management thinkers globally, Webb has been celebrated for her pioneering data-driven, technology-led foresight methodology which advises hundreds of leaders and organisations on how to prepare for complex futures.
Amy Webb
The first batch of musical acts include Nigerian-British indie-pop songwriter Connie Constance, Canadian new-wave breakthrough solo artist Ekkstacy, London-based quartet Los Bitchos, Japanese punk four-piece Otoboke Beaver, and American rapper-producer teenager redveil.
To access what SXSW Sydney has to offer, you need a badge. Platinum and Industry badges are now available at Early Bird prices here.