Buttercup deliver their quirky brand of art-pop during an outdoor performance. Credit: Jaime Monzon

While the debut of the Sunset Festival at The Espee boasts impressive headliners, including Spoon, Band of Horses, Santigold and Warren G, it’s worth arriving early to catch the full breadth of its musical offerings.

A bevy of talented San Antonio-based artists will grace the stage during both days of the event, which runs Friday, March 7-Saturday, March 8. Here’s a quick rundown:

Buttercup: Friday, March 7

It’s hard to imagine any music fest showcasing San Antonio artists not including long-running avant-pop outfit Buttercup. Known for its brand of off-kilter showmanship, the band treats every show as a one-of-a-kind event. For one, it’s unafraid to seek out strange venues — a gay bar at 7 a.m., an empty warehouse, the Japanese Tea Gardens to name a few. On top of that, its antics range from frontman Erik Sanden being driven onto the stage on a moped to having the audience watch the band perform in a separate room via TVs embedded in trash cans. Mix in catchy-as-hell pop tunes, spot-on harmonies and infectious melodies, and it’s no wonder Buttercup has emerged as one of SA’s homegrown musical treasures.

Elnuh: Friday, March 7

Elena Lopez, known by the stage name Elnuh, fronts a trio specializing in “dreamy trashgaze,” as she describes it. As the name suggests, the sound harkens back to the ’90s shoegaze stylings of Ride or Lush, but Lopez’s piercing lyrics and beckoning tone bear a hint of Harriet Wheeler, simultaneously sweet and sad. The vocal anguish ties in effortlessly with the band’s lush sonic textures. Delicate layered guitars float over a strong backbone of bass and drums provided by Luke Mitchell and Daniel Puente, respectively.

The Daisy Killers: Saturday, March 8

Existing to remind everyone that San Antonio remains a rock ’n’ roll town, The Daisy Killers offer exquisitely written, highly polished and well-produced alternative songs. At the same time, the band’s use of tricky time signatures and complex melodies will make fans of Tool and Queens of the Stone Age feel right at home. The group’s latest release, View Drive Sessions, belongs as much on 99.5 KISS as it does KSYM. A growing recognition of The Daisy Killers has also elevated the band toward a bright national spotlight, suggesting it may be the next I-remember-them-when act to come out of San Antonio.

Los Juanos: Saturday, March 8

Los Juanos seamlessly blend a captivating tapestry of traditional Tejano and American pop punk, making the act a San Antonio mainstay. The band’s ability to navigate a wide range of genres also suggests it stands to expand on its already-solid fanbase. Founded by dream-pop singer Baldemar, who’s opening Saturday with a solo set of jangly originals, Los Juanos extend beyond labels while embracing South Texas’ rich musical roots.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

This article appears in Mar 5-18, 2025.