10 Great SXSW Performances Revisited

Paste Magazine looks back on its favorite moments from over 20 years of hosting day parties at the annual music festival.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Paste Magazine is highlighting 10 of its favorite musical performances from the annual SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas over the past two decades. The list includes both up-and-coming acts like The 1975 and Of Monsters & Men as well as established artists like Built to Spill and Daniel Johnston who have graced the stages of Paste's day parties at venues like Stage on Sixth, the Pershing, and High Noon.

Why it matters

SXSW is one of the most influential and unpredictable music festivals, drawing thousands of artists and industry professionals to Austin each year. Paste's day parties have been a fixture at the festival, helping to break new acts and celebrate established ones in the intimate settings of local clubs. This list provides a nostalgic look back at some of the most memorable Paste Party performances over the years.

The details

Over the past 20+ years, Paste Magazine has hosted day parties at SXSW featuring a wide range of musical acts. Some of the standout performances highlighted in this list include indie rock veterans Built to Spill in 2012, the up-and-coming indie pop group The 1975 in 2013, Icelandic folk-pop group Of Monsters & Men in 2012, and the lo-fi indie rock of Cheekface in 2023. The list also features appearances by acclaimed singer-songwriters like Daniel Johnston in 2009 and J Mascis in 2011, as well as other rising stars like Mac DeMarco, Tennis, Shannon & The Clams, and The Lumineers.

  • Paste Magazine has hosted day parties at SXSW for over 20 years.
  • The 40th year of SXSW programming kicks off later this week on March 14-17, 2026.

The players

Paste Magazine

A publication that covers music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more, known for discovering and celebrating emerging and established artists through its annual SXSW day parties.

Josh Jackson

The founder of Paste Magazine, who has championed the magazine's SXSW day parties as a way to discover new favorite bands in intimate club settings.

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What they’re saying

“I'll take discovering my new favorite band in a tiny rock club over watching the latest superstars on a screen behind a giant stage with 80,000 other people.”

— Josh Jackson, Founder, Paste Magazine (Paste Magazine)

What’s next

Paste Magazine will be hosting "The Best Paste Party Ever" at SXSW 2026, which attendees can RSVP for on the publication's website.

The takeaway

Paste Magazine's SXSW day parties have become an integral part of the festival's ecosystem, providing a platform to discover emerging artists and celebrate established acts in the intimate settings of local Austin venues. The publication's commitment to championing new music and giving fans a chance to experience their favorite bands up close has made their Paste Parties a must-attend event for SXSW attendees over the past two decades.