5 Can't-Miss Artists at Sips & Sounds 2026

If you’re heading into Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival without a plan, you’ll still stumble into something worthwhile. That’s part of its appeal. But with a lineup that stretches across indie rock, pop, and everything in between, a little direction goes a long way. Whether you’re trying to catch a future headliner in a smaller slot or just want to make sure you don’t miss a set everyone will be talking about the next day, these five artists are the ones worth circling before you even step into downtown Austin.'

The Runarounds

The Runarounds feel like they’re still in the process of becoming something bigger, which is exactly what makes their set worth catching. Their songs lean scrappy and melodic, built on wiry guitars and hooks that land without trying too hard. Live, there’s a looseness to it that plays well in a festival setting, the kind of performance where a crowd can grow in real time. They’re not the most polished band on the bill, but that’s part of the draw. It feels like you’re catching them just before things click into place.

Aidan Bissett

Aidan Bissett brings a different kind of energy to the lineup, one that leans bright and sharply self-aware without tipping into irony. His songs move quickly, built on punchy hooks and lyrics that feel pulled straight from late-night overthinking, which makes them land easily in a live setting. It’s the kind of set that doesn’t ask much from the crowd but ends up getting a lot back, with choruses that stick after one listen and a stage presence that feels more natural than practiced.

Between Friends

Between Friends slot neatly into the festival’s lineup, with music that feels hazy without drifting into the background. Their blend of bedroom pop and understated electronic textures will translate well outdoors, where the songs can stretch out a bit and settle in. There’s an ease to their performances that doesn’t chase big reactions, but it still pulls people in, especially as tracks build into soft, sticky hooks that linger longer than you expect.

Caroline Hale

Caroline Hale will likely offer one of the more stripped-back sets on the lineup, cutting through the festival noise with something quieter and more deliberate. Her songs lean on clear, steady songwriting rather than big moments, which gives them a different kind of weight in a setting like this. It’s the kind of performance that can either get lost in the shuffle and chaos of the weekend, or stop you in your tracks, and when it works, it really does the latter.

Skateland

Skateland will bring a slightly off-kilter edge to the lineup, with songs that bounce between loose, guitar-driven hooks and moments that nearly fall apart before snapping back into place, which will give their set a sense of unpredictability that works well in a festival slot. It may not be the cleanest performance of the weekend, but it'll be one of the more interesting ones, the kind that pulls in a crowd out of curiosity and keeps them there by refusing to settle into anything too comfortable.