Austin
fromEsquire
4 hours agoThe 5 Best Things We Saw at SXSW 2026
SXSW 2026 dispersed across downtown Austin due to convention center renovations, transforming the entire city into a festival venue with spread-out activations, panels, and events.
It's easy to get a little cynical about the very concept of CBGB Fest. When one of the side stages - the Young Punks Stage - is presented by Ed Hardy, it's even easier. Is corporate integration and brand licensing really "punk?" Surely someone else can write that dissertation. Besides, the idea of counter culture in 2025, where monoculture is so fragmented it barely even exists, is rarely decoupled from capitalism.
Magdalena Bay turns up the rock Miami-by-way-of-LA duo Magdalena Bay became an SFGATE staff favorite over the past year for their candy-coated synth pop. At Portola, they expanded into an explosive four-piece live band, bringing an energetic rock edge worthy of its place on the main festival stage. Bonus points for four costume changes from singer Mica Tenenbaum. - SFGATE senior culture editor Dan Gentile