Official SXSW 2023 event at Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation

The Whole Foods Market flagship store in Austin, Texas will host an official SXSW event on March 17, 2023 benefiting the Whole Planet Foundation, a Whole Foods Market non-profit dedicated to alleviating poverty through microcredit in the USA and worldwide where the company operates sources dedicated products.

The event will be a soul-boosting convergence of music, technology, health-conscious gastronomy, connectivity and community engagement. Presented by Bitchin’ Sauce, KeVita, Andalou Naturals and Mineral Fusion, the event will bring together artists, brands and innovators to support a impactful cause.

The Whole Planet Foundation funds microcredits – small loans with no formal contract or collateral – made available to micro-entrepreneurs living in poverty to generate income for themselves and their families. This official SXSW event aligns perfectly with Women’s History Month as the most marginalized women entrepreneurs are women who can use a microcredit loan to start or expand a business, often from home. Joy Stoddard, director of development and public relations at the Whole Planet Foundation, emphasized: “This year’s event has already raised $30,000 to support the Whole Planet Foundation’s impactful programs in 25 cities across the United States, including Austin, and 80 other countries. These funds will go directly to providing an additional 1,000 people – women entrepreneurs and their families – with income opportunities.“The current average first loan size supported by the Whole Planet Foundation is $180 globally with a 97% payback rate.

On the music front, this year features a carefully curated lineup that showcases the depth and diversity of modern music. Opening with NYC singer-songwriter Jessica Carter Altman, then throughout the day are performances from SoCal’s up-and-coming alt-rock trio LA Edwards, German dream-pop styles from Philine Sonny via NYC-based hyper-pop duo Frost Children to Catalan folk. Pop composer Núria Graham, to alternative K-pop collective Balming Tiger (known for her collaboration with BTS’ RM) to gregarious Canadian TikTok sensation TALK, acclaimed Filipino indie-pop duo Dream, Ivory and legendary alternative Southern rap group Nappy Roots (known for their infectious hit “Good Day”). Rounding out the eclectic lineup are SLC indie rockers Krooked Kings, esoteric AZ power pop stars Ponderosa Grove, Gibson Guitars-backed punk-blues rocker Devon Thompson, and nouveau disco-rap prodigy Ric Wilson, the just got the EW&F/Arrested Development inspired stoker “Pay It No Mind” with Chromeo and A-Trak.

The event is supported by more than forty brand partners sold in select Whole Foods Market stores, including partners EVOLVE Plant-Based Protein, Gimme Seaweed, MaryRuth’s Organics, Nova Naturals, nutpods, ORIGIN Spring Water, RightRice® and RXBAR.

Presenting Sponsor KeVita is a longtime supporter of the Whole Planet Foundation. KeVita National Sales Leader Monica Hardy describes this: “The Whole Planet Foundation is important to us because its programs primarily support women entrepreneurs who grow, build and dream. KeVita was founded by Chakra Earthsong, a pioneering woman who has always had a strong desire to discover and create new, innovative approaches to wellbeing. As such, we are so aligned with the mission of the Whole Planet Foundation!”

Supporters sampling products at the event include Applegate, Betty Buzz, Bubbie’s Ice Cream, Cleveland Kitchen, Culture POP Soda, Death Wish Coffee, De Lune, FAGE, FLOW, Forager Project, GoGo Squeez, GoodPop, Grandy Organics, Honey Mama’s, lil’ Gourmets, LOVE CORN, Mauna Loa Macadamia Milk Ice Cream, Mother Kombucha, MUSH Overnight Oats, Oishii, Petit Pot, Repurpose, Shire’s, Spinster Sisters Co, Sunwink, Tia Lupita, and WishGarden Herbs. Other supporters include ALO, Bluapple, Bossa Bars, D’Angelico Guitars, Health-Ade Kombucha, Hiyo, Lopaus Point, Mad Hippie, Saint James Tea, Seattle Gummy Company, SweetLeaf and Tea Botanics.

This year marks the event’s exciting return to SXSW 2023, one of the biggest weeks in music, film, entertainment and technology. The event is produced by Manic Monkee and Planet LA Records, who are among the original co-founders of the Quantum Collective, which first organized the showcase in 2012.

Whole Foods Market’s Lamar store is located at 525 N. Lamar Boulevard in Austin, Texas. Admission to the Showcase is free and open to all ages, with priority given to SXSW badge holders.

Updates: #WholePlanetSXSW, @WholePlanet

Relay a message:
11:00 a.m. – Jessica Carter Altman
11:35 am – Devon Thompson
12:05 p.m. – Philine Sonny
12:45 p.m. – Ponderosa Grove
1:25 p.m. – Frost Children
2:05 p.m. – Ric Wilson
2:50 p.m. – Nuria Graham
3:30pm – Embalming Tigers
4:15 p.m. – Krooke Kings
5:00 p.m. – LA Edwards
5:45 p.m. – TALK
6:30pm – Dream, Ivory
7:20 p.m. – Diaper roots

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

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