The 15 best things to see at SXSW London 2025
SXSW London isn't just the debut South by Southwest festival in London but the first in all of Europe. This week the event – for which Time Out is an official media partner – is taking over dozens of iconic Shoreditch venues for a week-long feast of talks, panels, music concerts and film screenings.
Between June 2 and June 7 SXSW London will host literally hundreds of events: a total of 420 talks and panels, 250 film screenings and over 500 gigs. The lineup for the Texan festival's first London event is stacked with big names: included are talks by the likes of actor Idris Elba, comedian Katherine Ryan and footballer Cesc Fàbregas, and gigs from names such as Tems, Mabel and Erykah Badu (the latter performing under her alias DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown).
Heading to SXSW London but still undecided on who or what to see? Here's Time Out's list of the top things to look forward to at SXSW London, featuring the insights of our global film editor Phil de Semlyen and music expert Georgia Evans.
Music
Chosen by Georgia Evans.
Uncle Junior
These kids are far cooler than most of us were at 17 (did we all dress like we were desperate to be in Skins?), bursting onto the London underground music scene in a frenzy of harsh noise, hardcore and experimental rock. Erratic performances at The George and Shacklewell Arms have earned Uncle Junior cult status, despite only dropping two singles so far. The first, 'I Love You, Kenneth Copeland', is a fantastic summation of what the three-piece is all about: ironic lyrics, jagged production and chaotic, youthful energy.
Jaguar Shoes (Main Room), June 2 2025, 7-7.30pm.
Village Underground (Village Underground), June 3 2025, 4-4.30pm.
Pa Salieu
Rapper Pa Salieu first made headlines with his single 'Frontline', which was the most-played track of 2020 on BBC Radio 1Xtra. The following year he released the Ivor Novello-nominated mixtape Send Them to Coventry, cementing his place as one of the UK's most exciting emerging acts. Despite a break in releases (due to being incarcerated) Salieu is still making hits, such as the dancefloor-ready Disclosure single 'King Steps'. Catch him at SXSW to hear his blend of afrobeats, grime and UK drill in an intimate setting at Village Underground.
Village Underground (Village Underground), June 4 2025, 8-8.40pm.
TWST
Informed by the likes of AG Cook and Charli xcx (who played her lead single from the TWST0002 (Upgraded) EP, 'Upgrade (Crook's System Update)' in a DJ set), twst is a hyperpop protégé ready for global domination. Growing up in rural Wales, they spent their early years working at their father's chicken factory. Eventually, twst swapped the countryside for supporting slots with MØ, interviews on BBC Radio 1 and writing with K-pop powerhouse record label, HYBE. Prepare for a dynamic live performance that's filled with glistening electronic flourishes and ethereal vocals.
Jaguar Shoes (Main Room), June 6 2025, 10-10.35pm.
Jasmine 4.t
Manchester-based singer-songwriter Jasmine 4.t's debut album You Are The Morning was produced by US supergroup boygenius and received widespread critical praise upon its release earlier this year. The first UK act to be Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory Records, Jasmine uses her music to shine a light on the saving graces of queer friendship and formative experiences of being a trans woman in this country. Her production methods span sorrowful string arrangements to ferocious guitar solos, all backed with intimate lyrics that make her an absolute must-see.
93 Feet East (Live Room), June 7 2025, 6-6.30pm.
DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown aka Erykah Badu
Performing as DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, Erykah Badu will be performing alongside multi-instrumentalist Henry Lau on the House of R&B stage. Expect a cosmic blend of jazz, R&B, pop and experimental dance music closing the day of DJ Ace's carefully curated programme Everything R&B. This is an enticing and unusual way to catch the five-time Grammy winner in an intimate setting.
Shoreditch Town Hall (Shoreditch Town Hall Stage), June 6 2025, 11-11.59pm.
Film
Chosen by Phil de Semlyen.
The first ever SXSW London film programme offers a typically provocative, edgy and enticing array of movies, shorts and talks from the UK offshoot of the world-famous Austin arts festival. You'll find new films and new voices in its line-up – all of them exciting, all carefully curated to fit the new festival's ethos of discovery. There are two world premieres and 30 UK premieres at the festival – but plenty to look out for across the programme. Here's four films to look out for.
The Life Of Chuck
Love Stephen King? SXSW London is here for you with two new adaptations of the Maine horror legend's work. Alongside a serialisation of his 2019 sci-fi horror The Institute, a spiky sci-fi horror about telekinetic kids being experimented on in a mysterious facility, you'll find Mike Flanagan's (Doctor Sleep) take on this short story from the cheerier end of the King oeuvre. Tom Hiddleston plays an ordinary joe called Chuck Krantz who may hold the key to an impending apocalypse. Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan co-star.
June 7. Rich Mix Screen 1, 8.40pm-10.30pm and Curzon Hoxton Screen 1, 9.15pm-11.15pm.
Stans
The film strand of the festival kicks off with a sideways look at fan culture courtesy of Slim Shady himself, Eminem. The rapper co-produces a doc that turns the camera on fans and fan culture – from the enthusiasts to the obsessive stans – in a 'revealing, edgy, and disarmingly personal journey into the world of superfandom'. Its SXSW London world premiere should give the film programme a turbo-charged lift off.
June 2. Barbican Centre, Cinema Screen 1, 6.30pm-8.55pm.
June 5. Barbican Centre, Cinema Screen 1, 9.15pm-11pm.
Queer as Punk
One of the joys of any good film fest is the chance to dive into new cultures and learn a thing or two about what makes them tick. In the case of this raucous rock doc, it's raw, punk energy as embodied by queer Malay band Shh…Diam ('shut up'). It's a perceptive, empathetic and high-energy journey into what it's like to be trans and queer in a country where same-sex relationships remain illegal. Expect a music doc like no other as this unique four-piece lets rip.
June 5. Rich Mix Screen 1, 8.30pm-10.23pm.
June 7. Curzon Hoxton Screen 3, 2pm-3.38pm.
Everyone Is Lying To You For Money
Crypto bros come under the spotlight in The O.C. star-turned-filmmaker Ben McKenzie's cryptocurrency exposé, another SXSW London world premiere. Filmed over three years and spanning New York, London, Austin, El Salvador and Miami, it'll open your eyes to the shadowy corners of the crypto industry. McKenzie even tracks down big-name fraudsters like Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky to get the scoop on the dark side of crypto. Planning on investing your life's savings in Bitcoin? Book a ticket.
June 6. Rich Mix Screen 1, 6pm-7.55pm.
Cielo
A British film shot entirely on location in Bolivia, Cielo offers SXSW-ers an upliftingly spiritual escape from the hubbub of London life and a passport into the clouds of the Andean altiplano. The movie tells the story of Santa (Fernanda Gutiérrez Aranda), an eight-year-old girl who must transport her body across the desert and closer to heaven. This'll be the film's UK premiere and director Alberto Sciamma and his lead actress will both be there for post-screening Q&As. June 6. Curzon Hoxton, 8.30pm.
June 6. Curzon Hoxton screen 1, 8.30pm-10.42pm.
June 7. Rich Mix screen 2, 3.10pm-5.22pm
Talks and panels
Idris Elba
Award-winning actor and household name Idris Elba is one of SXSW London's headline conference speakers. The actor, who is also a musician, entrepreneur, anti-knife crime campaigner and rumoured future candidate for London's mayoralty, will be speaking in a talk named 'Creativity as Capital for Change'. He'll be talking about how creativity can be used as fuel for real economic and social transformation, as well as to 'challenge injustice and unlock new economic models'. If you can't get enough of Elba, he'll also feature in a Q&A alongside rappers Giggs and Nas after a showing of Meji Alabi's film Victory on Saturday (June 7).
Idris Elba in Conversation. Creativity as Capital for Change: Truman Brewery (SXSW London Stage), June 4 2025, 4.45pm-5.30pm.
Victory + Q&A. Shoreditch Town Hall (Shoreditch Town Hall Stage), June 7, 2025, 2pm-3.20pm.
Dame Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Goodall has spent over six decades studying chimpanzees, and at SXSW London she'll impart some of that wisdom upon lucky Londoners. What's more is that Dame Jane won't just be chatting chimps – the 91-year-old ethologist, conservationist and UN Messenger for Peace will be talking (with CNBC broadcaster Tania Bryer) about a wider range of topics including 'hope, humanity, and the future of our planet'. Couldn't be timelier and more essential, if you ask us.
In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE. Truman Brewery (SXSW London Stage), June 3 2025, 3.10pm-3.55pm.
Bimini
Former Time Out cover star Bimini Bon Boulash will host a live episode of podcast The Pieces with Bimini at SXSW London, with reality TV star Olivia Attwood (of Love Island and The Only Way is Essex) as their guest. Drag queen, author, recording artist and model Bimini's podcast is all about revealing the moments that shaped their guests' identities, and the live edition will be at Shoreditch Town Hall on Friday.
The Pieces With Bimini. Shoreditch Town Hall (Shoreditch Town Hall Stage), June 6 2025, 12.05pm-12.35pm.
Dina Asher-Smith
Former world championship gold medal-winning runner Dina Asher-Smith will be joined by ELLE editor-in-chief Kenya Hunt to talk about the relationship between women in sport and luxury fashion. Asher-Smith, who is currently a contributing editor at ELLE and has been on the cover of the mag several times, will talk about the 'growing relationship between sport and luxury fashion', as well as delve into her career on and off the track.
How The Power of Women in Sport is Influencing Luxury Fashion. Shoreditch Town Hall (Shoreditch Town Hall Stage), June 6 2025, 1.05pm-1.35pm.
Various AI talks
Still baffled by AI? Over its six days SXSW London will host some of the biggest cheeses in artificial intelligence, here to discuss how AI will impact stuff like videomaking, business, journalism and industry, as well as talk about AI ethics. Our picks? 'The AI Voice Revolution' with Mati Staniszewski (CEO of AI audio firm ElevenLabs), 'AI in 2030' with Azeem Azhar (founder of future-focusing newsletter Exponential View) and 'The Video Revolution' with Victor Riparbelli of AI video company Synthesia.
The Video Revolution. Truman Brewery (SXSW London Stage), June 5 2025, 12.40pm-1.05pm.
The AI Voice Revolution. Truman Brewery (SXSW London Stage), June 4, 2025, 11.45am-2.10pm.
AI in 2030. Shoreditch Electric (Shoreditch Electric Stage), June 2, 2025, 10.15am-10.45am.
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