It’s not too late to join in for Levitation’s 2025 edition at The Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas, from Friday, September 26th to Sunday, the 28th. Incredible pre-show billings start as early as Wednesday, and multiple night shows are slotted throughout the entire affair, allowing for many options when it comes to your platter of psychedelic sensory goodness.
The festival and night show schedules are stacked with international names, local up-and-comers, and epic visual installation artists. Stacked with DJ sets in the Levitation Lounge, local vintage thrift dealers and record slingers, we definitely plan on heading to the fest early.
We’ve put together a list of artists that may be flying under your radar – consider checking them out ahead of Levitation and catch their sets throughout the weekend!
TICKETS ARE GOING FAST. Snag yours now.
This Canadian psych-rock trio from Montreal, Quebec, released their first full-length album À la Ô Terre, on Deathgod Records (previously Castle Face Records) in 2020, and most recently released Maintenant Jamais, which was shortlisted for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. Delivering lyrics in French atop their heavy rock sound, Population II’s songs transcend language, refusing to get lost in translation for non-French speakers.
The band is made up of Pierre-Luc Gratton (vocals and drums), Tristan Lacombe (guitar and keyboard), and Sébastien Provençal (bass). With a foundation of heavy psychedelic rock, they layer funky cataclysms, jazzy improvisations, and a punk-ish spin that is irresistible upon first listen.
Catch them ripping on the Outdoor Stage, Sunday 2:10-2:50 PM
This blooming Psych machine is not to be missed – their signature stylings of space rock can be heard in full force on their newest album MANHUNTER. Released through Reverberation Appreciation Society, Hooveriii’s sound fuses demanding lyrics, fast-paced fuzz, and hard-hitting drum grooves, filtered through a retro kaleidoscope that brings you back to the raw feel of the seventies.
Born as a solo project by founder Bert Hoover, this Los Angeles-based band is now composed of Gabe Flores (lead guitar and vocals), Kaz Mirblouk (bass and synths), James Novick (synths), and Owen Barrett (drums).
Catch them tearing down the Indoor Stage, Friday 1:20-2:00 PM
A husband-wife duo formed during the pandemic, SKLOSS features a drum-forward sound infused with distorted riffs and droning vocals. Sandy Carson (guitar and vocals) and Karen Skloss (drums and vocals) first made their Levitation debut in 2022 and then recorded and released their debut LP, FUZZ CLUB, in March of this year.
Their larger-than-duo sound has been championed by Iggy Pop himself on BBC 6 Music, and their album was engineered by Charles Godfrey, who has previously worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Swans.
Catch them playing on the Outdoor Stage, Friday 3:00-3:40 PM
With roots in both Mexico City and Austin, Demons My Friends melds together heavy room, hard rock, and post-punk to create a uniquely dynamic and psyched up sound that is just getting started. Their first full-length album, Demons Seem To Gather, was released in 2023 and produced and mixed by Jeff Henson, who’s worked with bands like Clutch and Greenbeard.
This power trio is repped by Ripple Music label and consists of Lu Salinas (bass and vocals), Tarro Martinez (drums), and Pablo Anton (guitar and vocals).
Catch them burning down the night show on Friday at the 13th Floor with Duel and The Well. [TIX]
Heavily influenced by a span of artistic and cinematic icons such as Nan Goldin, David Lynch, and Wong Kar Wai, Bambara are drawing a bridge between the past and the present to create sonic experiences that are uniquely their own.
Formed by brothers Reid Bateh (lead vocals), Blaze Bateh (drums and vocals) and William Brookshire (bass and vocals) in 2007, Bambara have become known for penning songs with a novel-esque tone, bringing conceptual storytelling to life through their energetic post-noise sound. A new literary saga exploring love and death is embedded in their latest full-length, Birthmarks, released this past March.
Make sure to experience their electrifying live set on Sunday September 28 at 13th Floor with Omni and Malice K. [TIX]
