The Seminal Psych-Rock Paradise Has Returned With A Vengeance

When Austin, Texas’ Levitation festival — formerly known as Austin Psych Fest — was canceled in the spring of 2016, patrons were less than thrilled, and understandably so. In a market of unified undercards acts, ripping through the seams of all that is underground, psychedelic rock is in its heyday, albeit it in a world that is oftentimes less than willing to delve into. The ripping away of the musical oasis was disappointing, to say the least.

This is not to say rock ‘n’ roll had a bad year, on the contrary. Groups like King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizard, for example, released four albums. Desert Daze festival in Joshua, Tree California was a widely buzzed about success. And The War On Drugs released one of the best albums of the year. With this success and genre catering in mind, one would surely be kidding themselves if they were not to face the fact that rock ‘n’ roll and all of its respective subgenres are more embedded in America’s sonic consciousness than ever before.

Sure rock ‘n’ roll has always been an underground predilection, but in present day’s surging saturation of EDM-leaning pop and hip-hop, fans of rock ‘n’ roll need dive deeper than ever before.

Austin’s Levitation festival is returning to the city this April, and it seems the festival may serve as the answer for those seeking a psychedelic and alternative rock refugee.

Bolstering a healthy array of well-known venues in the city — between Stubb’s, The Mohawk, Barracuda, Empire Control Room, and Cheer Up Charlie —Austin will be enlivened by the sonic bliss that is the phenomena of pure psychedelic goodness.

Earlier this fall, the 2018 edition had announced it would include Ty Segall, Parquet Courts, and A Giant Dog, but now, they’ve more than expanded their programming. Levitation boasts the legendary Slowdive shoegazers who made their feverous return this year with a self-titled album. The festival will also include performances from some of the genre’s most sought-after acts, ones like The Black Angels, Electric Wizard, Thee Of Sees — who seem to have finally settled on a definite name — Wooden Shjips, Ministry, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Stranger Things‘ theme composers S U R V I V E, and many more.

Levitation returns to Austin, TX April 26-29, 2018. Tickets for the 15 shows over the weekend are on sale here.

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