Justin Zamudio is a journalist and photographer, and since 2015 one of the official event photographers at SXSW. We’re pleased to be able to bring you a gallery of his images of the SXSW 2023 music festival. Justin covered a number of events and showcases and shot a lot of bands covering a wide variety of genres. He’s a passionate storyteller, as you’ll see in this collection of photographs. First, I’d like the artist to introduce himself:
“[In my career as a journalist], I had only photographed one concert. The band was Jeska Bailey and the Platform Souls – an Austin business owner, mother and singer. The venue was at the backyard of a dimly lit bar, but it was an incredible experience. After that concert, I yearned to shoot more live music.
“I had never attended anything SXSW when I became a part of the photography crew in 2015. It was a great way to quickly learn the downtown scene and how to navigate the craziness of SXSW. It was so fast-paced; I learned so much as a photographer. For instance, I had never photographed with a flash before SXSW, but in some assignments, [a flash] is necessary to get the shot. SXSW keeps inviting me back every year since. This was my seventh stint with the photography crew, and I still enjoy doing it as much as I did that first time. I make great connections with fellow photographers, professionals across a variety of industries, and forge friendships with people from all walks of life.
“During a typical stint of covering SXSW, I will walk at least 50 miles with camera gear strung around my body. It’s a real test of endurance as I’m exposed to interesting aspects of the world around me.”
Here are twenty images that Justin captured that truly express the heart and passion of the 3,000+ artists who came to perform at SXSW 2023’s week-long festival.
BALTHVS – psychedelic rock band from Bogota, Colombia, perform at the SXSW 2023 Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 15 (Justin Zamudio)Del Castillo with special guest Gabriel Luna – Del Castillo is an Austin band that sings in Spanish and English with a Flamenco sound. Actor Gabriel Luna, of “The Last of Us” and “Terminator” fame, joined the band for the last half of the set at Cooper’s BBQ on March 15 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Hello Mary – a Brooklyn trio with a shoegaze sound performed at the Creek and the Cave on Wednesday, March 15 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Thee Sacred Souls – A soulful R&B trio with frontman Josh Lane from San Diego. They performed on the SXSW 2023 Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center on Friday, March 17 (Justin Zamudio)Hermanos Gutierrez – Ecuadorian-Swiss instrumental outfit of two brothers from Zurich, Switzerland. They performed at the SXSW 2023 Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center on Friday, March 17 (Justin Zamudio)Baba Kuboye – A jazz ensemble with Afrobeat rapper frontman Babatunmida Kuboye based out of Dallas. The band performed at the Community Concert at Auditorium Shores on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Baba Kuboye dancers – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)AJ Smith – Pop singer from Nashville performed at the Community Concert at Auditorium Shores on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)The Zombies – Renowned ’60s psych-rock band from the UK performed at the Community Concert at Auditorium Shores on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Mariachi Las Coronelas – Vanessa Del Fierro, frontwoman of Mariachis Las Coronelas, from San Antonio perform at Latina Palooza concert at Cooper’s BBQ on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Patricia Vonne – Spanglish singer and actress from San Antonio performs during Latina Palooza at Cooper’s BBQ on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)The Tiarras – The Baltierra sister Spanglish rock trio from Austin perform during Latina Palooza at Cooper’s BBQ on Friday, March 17 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Juice Box – Hardcore metal band from Houston performs at Mohawk on Saturday, March 18 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Juice Box – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Mugger – Hardcore metal band from Austin performs at Mohawk on Saturday, March 18 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Mugger – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Darkbird – Rock band from Austin performs at Parlor and Yard on Saturday, March 18 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Plain White T’s – Singer Tom Higgenson of Plain White T’s from Lombard, IL, performs at Parlor and Yard on Saturday, March 18 – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Plain White T’s – SXSW 2023 (Justin Zamudio)Fastball – Rock band from Austin performs at Parlor and Yard on Saturday, March 18 – SXSW 2023
