Live, in Photos: FLOODfest 2025 with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Confidence Man, Gurriers, and More

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Live, in Photos: FLOODfest 2025 with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Confidence Man, Gurriers, and More

Shots of jasmine 4.t, Baths, Delivery, Wishy, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Cardinals, OneDa, Sierra Spirit, and Sedona from our 10th anniversary celebration at the Mohawk at SXSW.

Words: FLOOD Staff

Photos: Daniel Cavazos and Kenn Box

March 15, 2025

FLOODfest has been holding it down in Austin, Texas at SXSW since 2015, and we were back at it again to celebrate FLOOD Magazine’s 10th anniversary with another blowout event on Friday at the Mohawk.

Fans lined up early and picked up limited FLOODfest KiTbetter albums at the door, before shuffling into the indoor stage where LA’s own Sedona kicked off the festivities, followed by Tulsa-based singer/songwriter Sierra Spirit. Despite the 95-plus degree heat, the FLOODfest faithful were ready to roll outside, with Will Wiesenfeld’s shirtless one-man show Baths opening the outdoor stage (several guys on the Mohawk staff also took their shirts off in solidarity for his set).

One of the most-talked about new bands at SXSW this year, Dublin punks Gurriers spent most of their exhilarating show in the audience, in the air, on the stairs, or leaping from the balcony. Manchester drum ’n’ bass emcee OneDa had the indoor stage crowd going off, as did Australian post-punks Delivery, Irish indie rockers Cardinals, and dynamic London art-punk six-piece Man/Woman/Chainsaw.

Saddest Factory signee jasmine 4.t was awarded the Grulke Prize for Best Developing Non-US Act at SXSW 2025. (We’re on a roll—it’s the fourth year in a row that one of the Grulke winners played at FLOODfest, following Horsegirl, Blondshell, and Estevie.) Their mid-day set focused on songs from their boygenius-produced debut album, You Are the Morning, with Jasmine reminding the crowd of the fear they felt as an all-trans girl band traveling from the UK to Texas, revealing that they even took self-defense courses in preparation.

Confidence Man / photo by Daniel Cavazos

Wishy’s shoegazey-tinged indie pop kept the outdoor stage buzzing in the heat, while Australian duo Confidence Man came out in a fury, with multiple outfit changes and wild synchronized dance moves, leaving fans gasping with joy or wondering “Are they for real?!” We’re still not sure.

It was truly an honor to not only host the historic Preservation Hall Jazz Band, but to also have their 92-years-young member Charlie Gabriel join them for their headlining performance. The jazz legends took the stage with their take on the Mardi Gras standard “Iko Iko” before bringing Gabriel out to sing on the classic ode to their hometown, “New Orleans,” and later closing with their inspiring anthem, “Keep Your Head Up.” We couldn’t have asked for a more special band to close out our 10th anniversary.