Austin, it’s so good to be back. We returned this week for the sixth annual FLOODfest at SXSW—our first year at the legendary Mohawk club—for two action-packed days headlined by Perfume Genius and Pussy Riot, along with performances from Self Esteem, Girlpool, Petey, Geese, Horsegirl, Just Mustard, and many more. The music never stopped with back to back sets alternating from the outdoor stage to the inside club, where everyone from revered rapper bbymutha to indie legend Kristin Hersh to a surprise rap set from comedy great Hannibal Buress transfixed the room.

Day one saw a riveting set indoors from Japanese rapper/singer/screamer Haru Nemuri, who later ended up being invited to join her heroes Pussy Riot onstage for an emotional moment providing surprise guest vocals on their opener, “Police State.” On day two, magnetic British singer Self Esteem—aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor—wowed the crowd outdoors, then found a prime spot to witness the spectacular closing performance from “the only artist she’s cared about since Peter Gabriel,” Perfume Genius. It was one special moment after another.