Day One of the Coca-Cola Sips and Sounds Music Festival established a vibe for the weekend. As people entered the festival, there was an electric feel(pun intended due to the huge indie music presence)– from laid back acoustic sets, all the way to high-energy headliners. You walked in and noted all of the activations from the get go… delicious drinks, food vendors, and the warm, collective vibe from Cinemark and Coca-Cola. The blend of music, culture, and connection created a dynamic beginning to the weekend that had everyone excited for all of the activity yet to happen.
In the morning, some spectacular performances lit up the festival grounds and felt vibrant. Aidan Bissett brought a fun indie-pop vibe to the Coca-Cola stage and got everyone dancing with his fun hooks and lighthearted style. Following him was Skateland, who had an edgy sound that combined alternative + garage rock influences. The Two Lips added a smooth, genre-fluid feel to the fest as they blended mellow grooves with upbeat sounds. Ravyn Lenae performed her set with ethereal vocals and a relaxed stage presence, giving a performance that was both intimate and stunning.
As Between Friends took the stage, the audience had truly settled into the flow of the day and everything came together with their set. Their ethereal and synth-based music washed over the festival grounds and fans were dancing and swaying to their tunes. Many were singing along like they had been waiting all day for this feeling. There was a very relaxed, carefree vibe throughout the audience; people were dancing together; laughter and communication were happening between each song; and the sun was shining down upon them, making this experience more magical. At the end of their set, the audience was ready to continue that energy into the rest of the night.
As the sun began to set toward the Austin skyline, Major Lazer Soundsystem took over and completely transformed the festival energy. Known as the electronic project led by Diplo, the group has long been celebrated for blending reggae, EDM, hip-hop, and Caribbean influences into massive anthems. Their signature fusion was on full display as they ran through a high-energy setlist packed with hits like “Lean On,” “Light It Up,” “Watch Out for This (Bumaye),” and “Qué Calor.” Their set included mashups that kept the momentum nonstop and aligned perfectly with golden hour.
GROUPLOVE is a SXSW staple, and they were very aware. “We’ve never played a SXSW Show like this one.” Playing at the SXSW Stage, the band performed an energetic set that delivered the same type of euphoria for which the band is known for.
They started with the song “Just What You Want,” followed by many more hits such as the songs “Deleter,” “Borderlines and Aliens,” and “Shark Attack.” However, the highlight of the concert was during “Ways To Go,” where they expressed gratitude for being together with Austin. They also performed a song from their very first EP titled “Don’t Say Oh Well,” followed by an unreleased song from their upcoming album that has yet to be announced.
For “Itchin’ On A Photograph,” the crowd broke out in sheer excitement, which was doubled when they performed their most-known hit “Tongue Tied.” Grouplove closed their set with the emotional “Colours,” solidifying that the band STILL has it going.
Closing out the night, Christina Aguilera took the stage as headliner with an unforgettable performance that was both nostalgic. As one of the major female pop stars since the late 1990s, she achieved success with her strong vocals and commercially successful hits. Fans were moved by many of Aguilera’s hits, such as “Genie In A Bottle,” “What A Girl Wants And Ain’t No Other Man” and fan favorites “Candyman” And “Lady Marmalade.”
Slower, more emotional songs (“Say Something” and “Beautiful”) allowed the audience time to take a break and sing along, while high-energy songs (such as “Fighter”) helped bring up the energy. With Aguilera’s powerful voice resonating throughout the venue and so many of her hits being instantly recognizable, it felt like everyone was having a great time at the end of Day 1 with an exhilarating conclusion.
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