Win tickets to Soho's pop-up Owl Bar

The counter-culture convening point for underground artists, South by Southwest (SXSW) London lands in just a few weeks, bringing a massive line-up of music and film along with it. 

It’s pretty exciting stuff, given the festival previously launched the careers of superstars like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan at its Texas event, which has been running for 40 years.  

For its second London edition (June 1-6), the festival’s music programme will take over various Shoreditch venues including Truman Brewery, Protein Studios and Juju's Bar & Stage. Ranging from Dallas rap and Finnish bunnymetal to K-pop and Asian house, you’ll find sets from the likes of Cactus for Breakfast, Gaia, Honey I'm Home, Imlay, Kimmy Gone, Melt, Orla Rae, Rabbit Cult, Takara and Zitah, amongst many other under-the-radar acts. And did we mention critically-acclaimed US rapper Earl Sweatshirt, Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage, moody electronic producer Sega Bodega, indie-rock outfit Circa Waves, post-punk band Shame, indie-pop singer Rachel Chinouriri, veteran radio DJ Pete Tong and Time Out’s 2024 Londoner of the Year DJ AG?!

And, to get Time Out readers into these shows, we’re giving away 10 pairs of wristbands! These will get you access to all of the gigs happening around Shoreditch across six nights of music.

For those keen to splurge on the full conference ticket, there are loads of talks and panels spanning everything from AI and advertising to design and music, plus the second trend report that takes a deep-dive into eight stand-out ideas and future-facing themes. 

To enter, simply fill out your details below or here. Good luck!

Reckon you’re the next big thing in music? Now’s your chance to prove it! We’re looking for up-and-coming musicians to join the bill at our first ever live music night, Power Ballad: Live.

To celebrate the release of upcoming movie Power Ballad, we’ve joined forces with Lionsgate to champion the UK’s coolest under the radar acts, inviting them to take to the stage in front of an audience of music fans and industry pros at the Guinness Vaults at Guinness Open Gate Brewery on May 27.

That’s not all. We’ll also be inviting the Time Out audience to vote for their Fan Favourite on the night – with the winning act receiving:

• A four-hour professional recording session with an experienced producer and studio engineer
• A covetable Gibson Les Paul guitar
• Loads of vinyl and merch

Yep, this promises to be a seriously exciting evening: a celebration of the buzzing music scene that makes London – and the rest of the UK – so special.

Fancy being part of the line-up? We’re looking for acts that are over 18, with a good level of live performance already under their belt. You also, crucially, need to be available on May 27 to join us at the Guinness Vaults at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in central London. Whether you’re a singer-songwriter with a golden voice or part of the hottest new band we need to know about, nominate yourself via the form to be in with the chance of performing. And if you're not musically inclined yourself but still fancy being part of the action, you can bag a ticket to be part of the audience here.

It all ties in with the release of Power Ballad in cinemas across the UK on May 29. The feel-good film from writer-director John Carney follows past-his-prime wedding singer Rick (Paul Rudd) when he meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig. The pair bond over music and a late-night jam session – but when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the credit he believes he deserves, even if it means risking everything.

Think you’ve got a hit song of your own? We’re all ears – nominate yourself for Power Ballad: Live below. T&Cs apply.