Austin Music Minute

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April 28, 2023

Austin Psych Fest 2023

By: Laurie Gallardo

The Black Angels. Photo: Pooneh Ghana.

Levitation followers on Instagram got the briefest onsite glimpse on a post last night. “Getting the spaceship ready for liftoff here at The Far Out Lounge and Stage. See y’all tomorrow, can’t wait!” Even that snapshot of the light projection was enough to generate excitement – but those insane pics of everybody losing their s%$t at the kickoff show at Mohawk also helped. (A Place To Bury Strangers, plus The Warlocks, plus Archer Oh, plus Austin’s own Blushing and NYC outfit Gift equals sssick.)

Since its beginnings in 2008, Austin Psych Fest has been in constant evolution, building something special from the ground up simply out of passion for the music. There were no intentions of getting huge or going global, but that’s how the story unfolded. The rebranding into Levitation brought opportunities to take the festival around the world. And now, the founders are getting back to the hometown roots that started it all.

Austin Psych Fest’s three-day event highlights some of the best in psych, dream pop, and all manner of independent music with as much reverence for ‘60s influences as for the wave of the future. The festival opens today at The Far Out Lounge and Stage with headliners Toro Y Moi, Yves Tumor, Mdou Moctar, Automatic and the legendary Acid Mothers Temple, as well as Austin bands Annabelle Chairlegs and Being Dead. Tomorrow features Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Raveonettes, and The Black Angels performing their album Directions To See A Ghost in celebration of its 15th anniversary. And Sunday includes performances by Cuco, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Los Bitchos, Vieux Farka Touré and more, along with Austin bands El Combo Oscuro, Nemegata and Little Mazarn.

More Austin Psych Fest picks on Saturday’s AMM. Stay tuned.


Episodes

October 20, 2023

Get It

Tomar and The FCs, tonight and tomorrow at C-Boy’s Heart and Soul.

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October 19, 2023

Come Around and Love Me

KUTX’s 10th Birthday Concert series presents Jalen Ngonda, tonight at Empire Control Room and Garage.

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October 18, 2023

Toda Esta Musica

¡Tan spectacular! KVRX Presenta Un Show Hispano, tomorrow night at Chess Club…

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October 17, 2023

Heavy

Seriously. It’s heavy. Acid Mothers Temple tonight at Hotel Vegas…

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October 16, 2023

What’s Yr Damage

Following the breakup of their previous psych-gaze band Creepoid, Anna and Patrick Troxell forged an electro post-punk dynamic as the duo Lovelorn. And now the ATX-by-way-of Philly outfit is ramping things up with two new additions to the line-up, guitarists Steve Pike and Kyle Harris. No doubt extra shreds will add even more discordant dimensions […]

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October 14, 2023

More Weekend Picks

The AMM’s back at it with a few more ACL Fest selections, and a couple of must-see non-festival related shows to sink your fangs into. Here’s a list. Check it twice: Gonna say this over and over: Go support the bands, even if you’re abstaining from those of the wrist variety.

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October 13, 2023

ACL Fest Friday and More

It’s round two of the Austin Music Minute‘s selections for ACL Fest 2023, along with AMM show picks off the beaten path for those not festivally-inclined. No, “festivally” is not an actual word, but you get it: And remember: Go support the bands, even if you’re abstaining from those of the wrist variety.

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October 12, 2023

5th Wheel

Wait. You missed Night 1 of Deezie Brown’s Wire Wheel Opera House series (Part II) last night?? Do not despair! The Austin-based rap artist and producer behind 5th Wheel Fairy Tale is presenting the next round tonight, Thursday Oct. 12, at Chess Club on Red River. And true to form from the previous iteration of […]

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