Austin Psych Fest is set to make a springtime comeback, commemorating its 15th anniversary with a lineup featuring over 20 diverse artists from April 26th through 28th.
Austin Psych Fest is back once again for what is now the 15th year. The festival, which began in 2008, brings together musicians across North America to celebrate indie, pop, and psychedelic rock genres. Put on together by Levitation and Resound Presents, the three-day festival will take place at The Far Out Lounge with a star-studded lineup that includes Yellow Days, Kurt Vile, The Black Angels, Blondshel and morel. Check out these ten artists to watch out for at this year’s Austin Psych Fest.
The Black Angels
Directly from Austin, The Black Angels are known for their psychedelic rock style of music. The band is composed of four instrumentalists and one vocalist, and their use of organ and drone machines adds to the strong musicality within their songs. They formed in 2004 and immediately released their first self-titled EP in 2006. Since then, they have put out eight albums, one being Live at the Levitation. The Black Angels aren’t new to this Austin festival – in fact, they were the ones to help conceive and organize this festival. The band is set to perform another year at the festival, this time headlining the stage on Saturday evening.
Blondshell
Sabrina Teitelbaum, better known as Blondshell, released her debut album last April, which contains nine songs that explore themes of friendships, romances, and adulthood. Her music genre is labeled as indie/alternative rock, as her music features a mix of heavy instrumentals and guitar solos. Recently, Blondshell served as an opener for Suki Waterhouse throughout 18 shows in 2023, played numerous solo sets and already has plans for a 2024 headline world tour. Her use of storytelling and emotion woven into the tracks of her album make them worth singing along to.
Yellow Days
With plans to release a new album soon, British performer Yellow Days will be going on his 2024 ‘Hotel Heaven’ tour in North America and Europe starting in April. George van den Broek, who goes by the moniker Yellow Days, began his music career at the age of 17, which is when he released his first single, “Your Hand Holding Mine.” Since then, he has put out four albums, with influences from artists like Tame Impala and Mac DeMarco. Yellow Days had his last album released in 2022, so seeing his new music live is not something you would want to miss.
Still Corners
In 2009, English artist Tessa Murray crossed paths with American-born musician Greg Hughes at a London train station, leading them to form a dream/pop band. A few years later, they put out their debut album, Creatures of an Hour, and since then have released four more albums. Their songs take listeners on a journey amidst nature through long drives and cloudy skies. Seeing Still Corners is a must, as the band has plans to release their 6th album on April 5th.
Kurt Vile
Solo artist Kurt Vile is known for his blend of indie, folk, and rock genres in the nine albums he released from 2008 to 2023. In 2005, he formed the band The War on Drugs with vocal artist Adam Granduciel, although he is no longer a part of the project. While the band rose to fame, Vile remained an underground artist as he continued making solo music on the side. Though when he signed with a more prominent label in 2008, he left the band shortly after their European tour to pursue his own musical career. Vile’s classic rock and folk influence is inspired by musicians such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. His newest album, Back to Moon Beach, even features a song called “Tom Petty’s Gone (but Tell Him I Asked for Him).” Whether you’re a fan of the oldies or modern hits, Kurt Vile is the artist to see.
Frankie and the Witch Fingers
L.A. rock band Frankie and the Witch Fingers is known for its unique musical approaches. On their recent album, Data Doom, the band drew inspiration from West African drumming to create complex rhythms and vibrant guitar solos. In fact, “Empire,” the first song on the album, is composed mainly of instrumentals. Besides the band’s production and studio work talent, they are also known for their live shows. Frankie and the Witch Fingers know how to keep up the crowd’s energy, so don’t be the one to miss their thrilling performance.
Earthless
The band Earthless is a psychedelic rock band with predominantly instrumental songs. Earthless was formed in 2001 by a drummer, bassist, and guitarist. Their inspiration comes from German krautrock, a genre of experimental rock, and Japanese heavy blues rock. The band initially began by playing Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath covers but quickly went on to write and produce original tracks. Their rock influence traces back to their name, “Earthless,” which was inspired by a song from the American rock band Druids of Stonehenge. Prepare to see an electrifying performance by Earthless in just a few months.
Levitation Room
Levitation Room, a band from East L.A., will soon become the face of modern rock. Their inspiration comes from British groups such as The Beatles or The Kinks. This 60s influence is not only seen in their music but also in their brightly colored album cover designs. Their songs blend warm instrumentals and vocals, instantly taking your mind to a new dimension. The band will be releasing their third album in the Spring called Strange Weather, which features new songs “Revelation” and “Heaven.” On top of going on a co-headline tour with Boogarins, Levitation Room is making moves in the scene and seeing them live is a great opportunity to hear a fusion of modern and classic rock styles.
Alvvays
The indie-rock band Alvvays (pronounced Always) is bringing along their euphoric sounds all the way from Canada. If you like The Smiths, this band is for you, as much of their inspiration comes from bands from the 80s and 90s. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the band struggled to produce music through border separations between the members. They made a comeback in 2022 with their album Blue Rev, a 14 tracks project that explores life through nostalgia, change, and growing up. With Alvvays’ unique sound and catchy beats, their performance will be one to hear this April.
Brainstory
From psychedelic tunes to jazzy instrumentals, Brainstory is the Californian band to see. This group is made up of two brothers and a close friend, and their songs reflect the close nature of their brotherhood through the days they spent together touring and making music. The band takes inspiration from Chicano soul music, which can be seen in both their albums, Buck and Ripe. While they have strong vocals in many of their songs, heavy instruments are commonly seen across their discography, primarily through their album Buck, in which they released an instrumental version. Spending a weekend in Austin dancing along to these songs is the perfect way to enjoy the spring weather.
I am a Dallas-based photographer who has an appreciation for both the arts and music! Besides photographing concerts, I also enjoy doing creative portraits and working in Photoshop. I spend my free time either playing the cello, guitar, or piano or collecting CDs and vinyls. I would say my top three favorite artists are Peter McPoland, The Beatles, and Harry Styles! I’m currently a senior in high school, but I plan to major in graphic design and one day turn concert photography into a career.
