Take Action x SXSW: A Music Movement for Change

Artist for Action, a coalition of musicians united by a shared mission to end gun violence, and Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing violence in schools and communities, have joined forces to present Take Action x SXSW. This event series will take place on March 10th and 11th in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.

The Take Action x SXSW event series will feature live performances, interactive art installations, and an insightful Music & Social Impact Summit. The festivities will be held at two iconic venues: Mohawk (912 Red River St) on March 10th, from 7 PM to 2 AM, and Empire Control Room & Garage (606 E 7th St) on March 11th, from 11:30 AM to 2 AM. Along with live music, the summit will host panels, community gatherings, and provide complimentary brunch and happy hour for attendees. SXSW festival-goers can RSVP for the event here.

Some of the featured performances include an eclectic lineup of artists such as Passion Pit, Ginuwine, Everclear, Sexpop, The Dumes, Mark Barden & Friends, Artie Tobia & Redtail Revival, Tribe Friday, King Cruff, JC Stewart, Revenge Wife, Jo Alice, Of Good Nature, and Lvvrs. The event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music, art, and advocacy for a crucial cause.

For many, the event holds deeply personal significance. Mark Barden, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, as well as Co-Founder of Artist For Action, is a former professional guitarist whose life was tragically altered when his 7-year-old son, Daniel, was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Since that heartbreaking day, Mark has dedicated his life to preventing gun violence, first through the creation of Sandy Hook Promise and, more recently, by founding Artist For Action in 2023. This coalition of artists, including Billie Eilish, Sheryl Crow, Peter Gabriel, Nile Rodgers, and others, is working toward creating safer communities and ending the epidemic of gun violence.

In collaboration with Bandsintown and the Music Managers Forum-US, Artist for Action and Sandy Hook Promise will also curate the Take Action x SXSW Music & Social Impact Summit. This summit will gather artists, industry leaders, managers, executives, activists, and organizations to engage in discussions on crucial topics such as mental health and music, the social power of music, live fan engagement, and navigating music rights and royalties. Organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, HeadCount, SoundExchange, MusiCares, and many others will be represented.

With a light brunch before the summit, a happy hour afterward, and ample opportunities for networking throughout the day, Take Action x SXSW aims to foster meaningful connections within the independent music community while driving forward the conversation around social impact and violence prevention.

This event is more than just music—it’s a movement, and it stands as a powerful reminder that together, we can create safer, more compassionate communities.