SrMnSb _2 is suggested to be a magnetic topological semimetal. It contains square, 2D Sb planes with non-symmorphic crystal symmetries that could protect band crossings, offering the possibility of a quasi-2D, robust Dirac semi-metal in the form of a stable, bulk (3D) crystal. Here, we report a combined and comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of SrMnSb _2 , including the first ARPES data on this compound. SrMnSb _2 possesses a small Fermi surface originating from highly 2D, sharp and linearly dispersing bands (the ‘Y-states’) around the (0,/a)-point in k -space. The ARPES Fermi surface agrees perfectly with that from bulk-sensitive Shubnikov de Haas data from the same crystals, proving the Y-states to be responsible for electrical conductivity in SrMnSb _2 . DFT and tight binding (TB) methods are used to model the electronic states, and both show good agreement with the ARPES data. Despite the great promise of the latter, both theory approaches show the Y-states to be gapped above E _F , suggesting trivial topology. Subsequent analysis within both theory approaches shows the Berry phase to be zero, indicating the non-topological character of the transport in SrMnSb _2 , a conclusion backed up by the analysis of the quantum oscillation data from our crystals.