Austin Psych Fest is a collaboration between two organizations:
The Reverberation Appreciation Society, the record label and creative collective behind the curation, artwork and aesthetic of both Levitation and Austin Psych Fest. Since 2010, the label has released records with key bands in the contemporary psych, shoegaze and scenes. including Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Ringo Deathstarr and Night Beats. The label also launched its Live at Levitation archive series in 2021 with live releases from King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Kikagaku Moyo, The Black Angels, Primal Scream and more. Levitation Sessions, the label’s live album and film scenes has captured bands like Osees, Ty Segall, SLIFT, Goat, Windhand, Dead Meadow, Death Valley Girls and more, performing in unique locations — and pressed to limited edition vinyl.
The Reverberation Appreciation Society’s online shop offers an ever-expanding selection of LEVITATION and Austin Psych Fest official merchandise, limited edition vinyl from other labels, guitar pedals, turntables, art prints, one of a kind tie-dyes, and more.
Austin Psych Fest is presented with Austin-based independent promoters Resound Presents. Featuring the team behind Fun Fun Fun Festival, Resound Presents books and presents over 1000 shows in Central Texas each year. The company is a small team of experts, passionately working to make live music awesome across the stages of Central Texas, one club at a time. With a primary focus on bringing artists to music venues and other unique locations in Austin and San Antonio, Resound offers booking for live music, comedy, podcasts and more, as well as creative marketing and design services for national and local touring musicians, artists and brands.
The background: Founded in 2008 by members of The Black Angels and their friends, Austin Psych Fest sparked a movement, inspiration the creation of similar events across the globe. But since Austin Psych Fest’s inception, organizers have sought to create a thriving center for the independent music scene locally and internationally — in the original home of psychedelic rock: Austin, TX.
Austin Psych Fest was renamed LEVITATION in honor of Austin’s pioneering psych rock band The 13th Floor Elevators, who reunited and played at the festival’s 2015 edition to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.
Throughout it’s nearly two decade history, the festival has remained true to its original mission: to be a hub for the psych rock scene, while expanding into the worlds of metal, electronic music, punk and all manner of independent and underground music. With incredibly eclectic lineups that span psych, dream pop, punk, indie, metal, darkwave and electronic music, as well as continents and generations LEVITATION manages to carry the spirit of 1960s sonic experimentation into modern times.
For attendees, it’s a heady amalgamation of vintage gear, immersive light shows and visuals, buzzing amps, moody synths, good vibes and good times. LEVITATION will return for its 2025 edition this fall: September 25, 2025 – September 27, 2025.
Back in 2023, Austin Psych Fest returned, celebrating its 15th anniversary with a three-day throwback to the original multi-stage, single venue format, bringing an intimate gathering in the spring, preceding LEVITATION in the fall. Austin Psych Fest honors the city’s 1960s psychedelic rock heritage and brings it into the here and now — bringing indie rock icons, experimental rock and trippy sounds to a laid back South Austin setting.
The third edition of Austin Psych Fest will take place April 25, 2025 – April 27. 2025 at South Austin’s Far Out Lounge, an intimate setting for a two stage lineup. Much like its previous editions, the 2025 edition of the festival will bring another slate of indie rock icons, experimental rock and trippy sounds, from shoegaze, to psychedelic rock and cumbia.
Throughout the festival’s run, the event has taken an expansive interpretation of psychedelia, exploring the outer edges of the musical spectrum that continues to be informed and inspired by 1960s sonic experimentation and a penchant for loud guitars and tons of reverb. Friday, April 25, 2025 will be headlined by post-rock outfits Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. The lineup is rounded out with Black Mountain, KADAVAR, The Octopus Project and more. Saturday, April 26, 2025 will feature electronic psych explorers DARKSIDE, indie icon Kim Gordon, fresh off her recent Grammy nomination, electro rock outfit STRFKR, art rocker Geordie Greep, plus Wombo, SASAMI and more. Sunday, April 27, 2025 will feature co-headliners 90s guitar rock gods Dinosaur Jr. playing their landmark 1994 album Without A Sound and beloved indie rock trio Yo La Tengo. The day’s lineup will be rounded out with Peruvian cumbia legends Los Mirlos, viral UK alt rockers BÔA, Seattle’s La Luz, GALAXIE 500‘s Dean Wareham playing songs from the band’s beloved discography, The Mystery Lights, Holy Wave and more. And additional acts for the weekend will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets are on sale now! 3 DAY PASSES and SINGLE DAY tickets are available HERE.
Full festival lineup is below, y’all.
FRI APRIL 25
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR
BLACK MOUNTAIN • KADAVAR • OCTOPUS PROJECT • BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT • FEDERALE
JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER
SAT APRIL 26
DARKSIDE • KIM GORDON • STRFKR
GEORDIE GREEP • SASAMI
CORRIDOR • WOMBO • DUMMY • ALEX MAAS • COLOR GREEN • WINDOWS
SUN APRIL 27
DINOSAUR JR PLAYS ‘WITHOUT A SOUND’ • YO LA TENGO
BÔA • LOS MIRLOS • LA LUZ
DEAN WAREHAM PLAYS GALAXIE 500
THE MYSTERY LIGHTS • HOLY WAVE
GARRETT T. CAPPS & NASA COUNTRY
& MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED…
Video Art + Installations From:
MAD ALCHEMY • TV EYE
DRIP//CUTS • BILL GAZER • SLIM REAPER • VIDEO DREAM
DEEP TRIP • ATTIC SPACE • SHELUSHY • & MORE
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