Levitation Fest Day 4 wrapped up at The Far Out Lounge with a night full of reverb, and what we’re calling it “Shoegaze Day.” The lineup featured legendary acts like Slowdive and Drop Nineteens, alongside rising shoegaze bands like Glare and hometown favorites Ringo Deathstarr.
Sad Cell at Far Out Lounge
As fans eagerly waited and rushed into the Far Out Lounge, Austin, Texas based Sad Cell, started their set at 4:30 sharp, drawing the crowd to the smaller Jannis stage. The band played a mix of fast punk rock songs and noisier tracks, keeping the audience jamming through the night. This hometown rock band was a great introduction to the rising acts in the scene, and Sad Cell is definitely one to watch. – Bryan Gudiel
Glare at Far Out Lounge
Heading over to the Willie Stage, Glare was gearing up to perform. Glare is a shoegaze band that is helping to pave the way for the rise of the local Texas shoegaze scene. They played a mix of unreleased tracks and songs that have been trending, like Void in Blue. Glare’s atmospheric and darker style of shoegaze was a great addition to the festival. The band is gearing up for the release of their debut album next year. – Bryan Gudiel
Airiel at Far Out Lounge
Ariel, renowned for their loud and immersive sound, hit the stage with a set that had fans rocking out all night. Despite one of the guitarists having a cast on his leg, they blew Austin’s mind with their swirling guitars and powerful performance. Excited fans crowded the stage as the band kicked things off with their track “This Is Permanent.” The dreamy, atmospheric song was paired with captivating visuals that elevated the entire experience. The band kept the energy high, playing hits like “In Your Room” and “The Painkillers.” Their electrifying set had the crowd headbanging non-stop, leaving everyone buzzing. – Bryan Gudiel
Drop Nineteens at Far Out Lounge
As the crowd rushed to the main stage, Drop Nineteens hit the mainstage. The stage featured a prominent yellow “19” symbol representing the band’s name, setting the tone for a night of nostalgia and excitement. Fans were thrilled to see the band, known for their revolutionary album Delaware from the ’90s, which is critically acclaimed and considered one of the greatest shoegaze albums of all time. The band played five tracks from Delaware, starting the night with the album’s title track and following up with fan favorites like “Winona” and “Nausea.” They even surprised the audience with a cover of Madonna’s “Angel,” which was a treat for the crowd.
The band members were all smiles, clearly thrilled to be performing for the Austin audience. For their final song, they played the nearly nine-minute track “Kick the Tragedy,” accompanied by fan-submitted videos that showcased moments of fans hanging out, engaging in activities, or recording their loved ones. The heartfelt video, now uploaded on YouTube, had fans embracing their loved ones, creating a moment to remember. This performance was truly unforgettable for fans, both new and old. – Bryan Gudiel
Ringo Deathstarr at Far Out Lounge
As soon as Drop Nineteens finished, Ringo Deathstarr took over the side stage. The Austin, Texas shoegaze darlings, a hometown favorite, treated fans to a night full of classics. Their sound was reminiscent of iconic bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and Ride. The three-piece band played a fun and energetic set that served as a perfect segue into the night’s main headliner. – Bryan Gudiel
Slowdive at Far Out Lounge
As fans rushed back to the main stage, many were already lined up, eagerly awaiting the headliner. As soon as the clock hit 8:40, the legendary shoegaze outfit took the stage. The moment was electric, with fans screaming in excitement, sensing they were about to witness something special. The band opened with “Shanty” from their latest album, Everything Is Alive, released via Dead Oceans. The laid-back track, accompanied by stunning visuals and vibrant colors, mesmerized the audience.
They followed up with the classic “Star Roving” from their 2017 album, seamlessly transitioning into the timeless “Catch the Breeze.” This track hit the crowd with its infamous wall of sound, full of reverb that crashed into the audience’s ears during its powerful breakdown. Fans couldn’t help but headbang and jam out; it was a beautiful sight. Throughout the night, fans of different ages erupted for classics like “Alison” and “When the Sun Hits.” With the resurgence of shoegaze, it’s amazing to see new fans discovering these icons and understanding the legendary impact of their albums on dream pop and the shoegaze scene. Every band on this lineup was, in some way, inspired by Slowdive.
Lead singer Rachel Goswell took a moment to thank the Austin crowd before performing “Golden Hair.” This track began with Rachel’s echoing vocals and built up to a crushing climax that had fans roaring. After leaving the stage, the crowd begged for an encore, and Slowdive returned to deliver a powerful send-off with “Machine Gun” and “40 Days” from their magnum opus, Souvlaki. Slowdive continues to reinvent themselves with their latest record, reaching new fans and leaving a mark on pop culture—whether through features in films by director Gregg Araki or trending sounds on TikTok. Headlining what was essentially a shoegaze day at Levitation, Slowdive proved once again why they’re considered one of the best shoegaze acts of all time. – Bryan Gudiel
Quiet Light at Mohawk
Texas native Quiet Light kicked off the final night of Levitation at Mohawk’s outdoor stage. Quiet Light is the solo project of artist Riya Mahesh, who has found much success in the indie music space. Levitation was lucky enough to be one of Quiet Light’s first performances since the release of her latest album, Going Nowhere, which came out on the 25th of October. Between Riya’s smooth vocals and the Mohawk’s dreamy lighting, her set put the crowd in an indie dreamscape. – Lauren Stephens
Nilüfer Yanya at Mohawk
The night at Mohawk carried on with a stunning performance from Nilüfer Yanya. Yanya is a genre-bending singer-songwriter from the UK, whose most recent full-length album, My Method Actor, came out in September of this year. Nilüfer’s performance was one that truly showcased the breadth of her musical influences–from jazz to rock to psychedelia–and kept the audience captivated by her uniqueness. – Lauren Stephens
Farmer’s Wife at Parish
Night four of Levitation continued across town at Parish with an incredible performance from Farmer’s Wife. Farmer’s Wife is a central Texas raised rock band that has been a true staple of the Austin music scene for the past few years. The group initially found great success with the release of their 2022 single, “Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad,” which has accumulated over 1 million streams. Since then, they’ve toured around the US and have released a variety of singles, as well as their 2023 EP, There’s a Monster.
Farmer’s Wife’s set was one of energy and emotion. They performed their most recent release, a cover of “Season of the Witch,” which showcased the power of frontwoman Molly Masson’s raw vocals, as well as the band’s ability to play so passionately together. Their performance conveyed the eeriness of Halloween weekend and truly felt like a must-see. – Lauren Stephens
Hello Mary at Parish
Shortly after Farmer’s Wife’s set concluded, Hello Mary took to the Parish stage. Hello Mary is an all-girl alternative rock trio, hailing from New York City. The band had a very unique set up, with their drummer being in the center of the stage and leaning very heavily into vocals while drumming. The group brought a mix of commanding vocals, high energy playing, and moody tunes–always keeping the crowd on their toes to see what they had next. – Lauren Stephens
Illuminati Hotties at Parish
The night closed out late with a set from Illuminati Hotties. Illuminati Hotties is an LA-based indie rock band created and fronted by Sarah Tudzin. The band came out in nearly matching outfits, showing a unity amongst them. Throughout their set, they played a combination of songs from their latest album, POWER, as well as 2021’s Let Me Do One More. Despite their performance being one of the last of the weekend, it was certainly one of the most spirited, as they kept the crowd dancing all night long. – Lauren Stephens
I am a Houston-based photographer who has been attending concerts since MP3 players were a thing. I graduated from the University of Houston in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in advertising. In my free time, you can find me headbanging at hardcore/rock shows, collecting movies, and training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu!
I am a photographer and live music lover based in Austin and raised in Houston. I recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where I studied Marketing and co-led the photo team at Afterglow ATX. I feel most at home where people are moshing, thrifting, or sipping coffee. My favorite artists include The Maine, Pierce The Veil, 5SOS (+ Luke's solo work), Waterparks, MCR, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles.
