Concert Review: flipturn at the Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival 2026

Indie rock unit flipturn took the SXSW Stage on Saturday of the Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival on March 14. 

Written by Claire Hookstra

Photo by Charles Reagan / Coca-Cola Sips and Sounds Music Festival

Formed in Florida in 2015, flipturn has become one of the most anthemic and promising voices in indie rock today. Having debuted their second studio album, Burnout Days, in January 2025, the group recently released Burnout Days (Reimagined) on March 13, 2026, collaborating with other artists such as Winyah and Odie Leigh to recreate the original album’s tracklist. After having headlined multiple legs of tours last year, along with several festival dates, the group is back on the road this spring with more festivals and a headline date at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. 

At exactly 7:30 p.m., flipturn took the SXSW Stage for what would be the stage’s final set of the night. The sun was just beginning to set as the lights dimmed and the staccato beats of  “Sad Disco” swelled through the speakers and through the thick Texas air. With the iconic Austin skyline serving as a backdrop, the LED screen flashed with the group’s logo as the audience threw their hands into the air, singing “What the fuck is up with my life?!” loudly back to lead vocalist Dillon Basse. The rapid guitar riff of Burnout Days’ title track, “Burnout Days,” began as the crowd started to fill in empty gaps around the stage. The upbeat track kept the energy up as the sun set, casting a gorgeous hue across the sky that seemed to be there to purposefully complement the band’s performance. 

The dreamlike “Whales” followed suit, with looping synth and mellow vocals from Basse. The audience intently swayed back and forth to the beat, taking in the beautiful night. The percussion-heavy track, “Moon Rocks,” showcased the talent of drummer Devon VonBalson, keeping up with the rapid drum line without missing a beat. The climactic beat drop of the song showcased flipturn’s dynamics as a group, with each member pouring their heart into the song. “Swim Between Trees,” (my personal favorite) came next, with some die-hard fans in the audience looking at one another with excitement. The track feels sonically tingly, with electronic keys and fluttering sounds playing throughout. Fans raised their hands to the sky during the ethereal outro of the song with the lyrics, “Washing over you / Every afternoon.” 

“Rodeo Clown” picked up the pace, with more funky guitar riffs and danceable beats. The fan-favorite “August” never fails to be a cathartic moment at a flipturn show, but on this night, it felt particularly prominent. Maybe it was the open air of the festival or the eagerness in the SXSW air, but it felt like every person at the festival joined in to yell the iconic line, “August, honey, you were mine.” 

“Playground,” a track off the group’s first record, Shadowglow, was next, and it truly seemed like the group was just a group of friends jamming with one another. Smiles on their faces and excitement in the air, the performance appeared to be effortless. This led to the iconic part of any flipturn show, where VonBalson jumps down to the barricade and plays the drums while a fan holds it for him. He jumped back onto the stage, sat down, and placed the drum over his head before the rockers transitioned into their final song of the night, “Space Cowboy.” The end of the set ended in thunderous applause, with the audience cheering for the group until they had completely left the stage. 

Still to this day, this group puts on one of the most mesmerizing live performances I have ever seen, with a dynamic unlike any other. They know how to feed off of one another’s sound, creating live jams that are powerful enough to make you forget everything on your mind and just enjoy the music.