{"id":151289,"date":"2025-06-02T05:20:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T05:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/151289\/"},"modified":"2025-06-02T05:20:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T05:20:15","slug":"sxsw-london-everything-to-expect-in-festivals-inaugural-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/151289\/","title":{"rendered":"SXSW London: Everything to expect in festival’s inaugural year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2018London<\/a> \u2013\u00a0 I think it\u2019s the greatest city on Earth\u2019.<\/p>\n

Those are the words of SXSW London<\/a> CEO Max Alexander as one of the world\u2019s biggest festivals finally rolls into down today.<\/p>\n

Famed for its eclectic mix of music acts, film showcases, A-list appearances, and industry networking,\u00a0SXSW\u00a0makes its way from Austin<\/a>, Texas, to the Capital for a feast of innovative talks, live performances, and film premieres until Saturday.<\/p>\n

SXSW has grown into one of the world\u2019s most recognisable and vital creative industry festivals since launching in 1987.<\/p>\n

This year, more than 25 venues across Shoreditch in east London will host events including talks from Idris Elba<\/a>, Katherine Ryan, Cesc Fabregas, Ian Wright, and Sophie Turner, and live music from Erykah Badu, Mabel, Alice Glass, and Pa Salieu, among a diverse mix of emerging and established talent.<\/p>\n

Fans can buy a variety of passes tailored around what they want to see across conference, music and film \u2013 \u00a0or an individual music wristband to catch some of the 500 live performances over the week.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tSXSW CEO Max Alexander told Metro this inaugural festival will be a \u2018love letter to London\u2019 (Picture: SXSW London)<\/p>\n

Organisers hope the inaugural week will cement a legacy across London by supporting charity initiatives, shine a light on the city\u2019s grassroots venues<\/a>, and represent important issues among the community through the newly launched\u00a0SXSW\u00a0London Advisory Council.<\/p>\n

Find out more about London\u2019s grassroots venues here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tDICE’s 25 grassroots artists to see in 2025\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ticketing app DICE has put together a list of their 25 grassroots artists you need to see in London over the next six months.<\/p>\n

With tickets ranging from free to \u00a327.50, these shows will ensure a great night to suit all tastes and budgets.<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0to catch the full list.<\/p>\n

One of SXSW\u2019s annual standout events is UK House, which showcases British innovation, creativity and technology through talks and immersive experiences. It also features live performances from the UK\u2019s best rising talent thanks to the British Music Embassy \u2013 a key partner of the Department for Business and Trade.<\/p>\n

The showcase has become a staple of SXSW and helped launch international careers of Sam Fender, The 1975, Little Simz, and many more. <\/p>\n

And this year it\u2019s coming to London\u2019s Devonshire Square.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tVenues that will be hosting events during SXSW London this year (Picture: Metro.co.uk)<\/p>\n

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: \u2018Our creative industries are a powerhouse of global innovation and it\u2019s a real vote of confidence in the UK\u2019s attractiveness for investors that\u00a0SXSW has chosen us as its first ever European location.<\/p>\n

\u2018I am proud that our UK House at\u00a0SXSW\u00a0London will reflect our position as a truly global destination for business.<\/p>\n

\u2018With creative industries\u00a0being\u00a0identified\u00a0as a key growth sector in our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, we\u2019re not only helping to attract and secure investment, but delivering long-term growth that supports skilled jobs and raises living standards across the UK,\u00a0backing our Plan for Change.\u2019<\/p>\n

Max Alexander, who was also CEO of Secret Cinema, told Metro<\/strong>: \u2018SXSW\u2019s ambition is to become part of the cultural fabric of London.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a love letter to London, but being incredibly respectful for what London already is, which is just a profound nexus of culture, business, creativity, ideas, technology, finance, and philosophy.<\/p>\n

\u2018We want to help amplify for London, for Britain, and indeed for Europe, technologies, business models, art forms, and music creatives, and give people a really explicit platform for presentation, discovery and investigation.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tMayor Sadiq Khan on SXSW London\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"London
\n\t\tMayor of London Sadiq Khan poses next to the London Music Grassroots Venue Tube Map, supported by Metro (Picture: Belinda Jiao)<\/p>\n

I was lucky to be a part of SXSW in Austin in 2018, and I saw first-hand the electric atmosphere of innovation that the festival creates. <\/p>\n

From helping to shape the future of tech and AI, to providing a platform for major new artists, SXSW London is a significant opportunity to generate new ideas, promote our capital and help inspire the next generation.<\/p>\n

This week the creative eyes of the world will be on London as our capital becomes the first European city to ever host SXSW.<\/p>\n

Leaders from the tech, media, gaming and creative industries are descending on Shoreditch in East London as the world-renowned Texas festival comes to our capital.<\/p>\n

Across 34 venues there will be hundreds of talks, live music, and film and TV screenings, as some of the world\u2019s most exciting talent come together.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great addition to our cultural calendar and another boost to our creative industries. These vital industries generate more than \u00a363bn for the UK economy, having significantly surpassed pre-pandemic levels. They help define how London is perceived around the world, and provide young people with positive opportunities and access to training and jobs.<\/p>\n

SXSW is also the start of the biggest ever month for business and investment in London, with the Concordia Europe Summit, London Tech Week and London Climate Action Week all taking place in June.<\/p>\n

This series of major business events will attract thousands of dealmakers, investors, CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives from all over the world, demonstrating that London is truly the best city for creativity, talent and business in the world.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tPhotographer Misan Harriman premieres his new film Shoot the People at SXSW London<\/p>\n

Globally renowned photographer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Misan Harriman will be premiering his new film Shoot the People at the festival on Tuesday (June 3) before taking part in a UK House panel named Storytelling as a Force for Change on Wednesday (June 4).<\/p>\n

He told Metro<\/strong>: \u2018Shoot the People is a feature-length documentary on what it means to be an artist that refuses to look away in the age of apathy, what it means to document protest movements and how important protest is in our age and I can\u2019t wait to share that with the world.<\/p>\n

\u2018We added two extra screenings as all the seats sold out within 24 hours so a lot of people are excited to see this film because they have also been on a journey of understanding that their voice matters.<\/p>\n

\u2018We are the change that we are looking for \u2013 if there are things you are unhappy about maybe your whisper is actually a roar when you realise there is a community of thousands, if not millions, that are also whispering about something. And that\u2019s what this film is about.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tSXSW has become one of the world\u2019s biggest industry festivals in the world since launching in Austin, Texas, in 1987 (Picture: Tina Rataj)<\/p>\n

This Morning\u2019s Rochelle Humes, a former member of The Saturdays, will be hosting her Ladies Who Launch Lunch that celebrates the podcast at UK House on Tuesday (June 3).<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m really excited that we\u2019re going to have a presence there\u2019, she told Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m so passionate about connecting women in business, and that\u2019s the very reason that the podcast exists. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s quite quickly built a community organically. I know that\u2019s such a buzz word now, but actually, that\u2019s what I love. We hosted a walk the other day that saw lots of female founders to go on a walk together \u2013 it\u2019s so nice to see women connecting in that way.<\/p>\n

SXSW London takes place from today (June 2) until Saturday (June 7) at venues across London.\u00a0 For more information and tickets, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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