SXSW 2016 Late-Night Dispatches: Thursday

D∆WN captivates Hype Hotel on Thursday at SXSW.

Adam Kissick for NPR

It's our third All Songs Considered podcast of SXSW 2016, recorded long after midnight in the streets of Austin. Robin Hilton is considering having former interns carry him around; Stephen Thompson is measuring distances by the length of his collapsed body. Yet youthful Spanish band Hinds perhaps best encapsulated the overall feeling of our group at the start of their set yesterday: "You know that feeling where you are very excited and very drunk and very hungover at the same time? We are having this."

It was another great day at SXSW. Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Katie Presley and Stephen Thompson saw breakout young acts like Marina Kaye, Declan McKenna, Car Seat Headrest and, of course, Hinds. There was time for the classics, too. Katie & Stephen saw Loretta Lynn at Stubb's, and learned the maximum distance at which Loretta Lynn is still recognizable by her sparkly red dress (any distance). Listen to the podcast above, read our staff picks for best set of the day and let Maren Morris sing you a South X Lullaby at the bottom of the page.

Thursday Highlights

Declan McKenna at The Yard

You could hear the songwriting wheels turning in this 17 year old British boy. His song lean both rock and pop; they're intricate but not overworked. —Bob Boilen

Lewis Del Mar at House Of Vans

Apart from finally seeing Car Seat Headrest (which, no joke, will release the album of the decade later this year) Thursday's most memorable show came from Lewis Del Mar. Originally from Washington, D.C. and now based out of Rockaway Beach, the duo features drummer and producer Max Harwood along with frontman Danny Miller, a magnetic and thrilling performer who at one point leapt from the stage and prowled through the crowd, unnerving everyone around him. The music is a arresting mix of found sounds, strange samples, intricate polyrhythms and rock. Sometimes dark and foreboding, sometimes anthemic and celebratory, this is definitely one group to watch for this year. —Robin Hilton

The Mariachi Ghost at Friends

What? Your first time playing SXSW? That's what The Mariachi Ghost announced to their very enthusiastic crown at Friends last night. A Mexican mariachi/jarocho/rock band from Winnipeg?? Absolutely. And it works seamlessly. Dressed in traditional mariachi traje with their faces painted a la dia de los muertos, they powered through their very energetic and rock-inspired jarocho. A new band for me and I'm glad I found them. I can't wait to hear more. —Felix Contreras

Loretta Lynn at Stubb's BBQ

The highlights were thick on the ground Thursday, from the perfect pop-punk of toyGuitar to the Sia-approved booming pop of French singer Marina Kaye, but ... I mean, Loretta Lynn. How often do you get to see a country legend of Lynn's caliber in any setting? Before a huge crowd at Stubb's, the iconic singer interspersed classics like "Fist City" with songs from her new album Full Circle. —Stephen Thompson

Sevdaliza at The Sidewinder

A beautiful singer and dancer/performer backed by powerful electronic textures. She's based in Holland but with an Iranian background and a stunning voice. —Bob Boilen