Doom Gong – The Cosmic Clash

Live Music Review: Reverb Appreciators Survived the Heat at Levitation 2026

September 16, 2026 Case Cockrell 406 Views 13th Floor, Angine de Poitrine, Automatic, Cabaret Voltaire, darkwave, DITZ, Doom Gong, Earth Tongue, Far Out Lounge, Gus Baldwin, Iguana Death Cult, indie rock, Leviation, live music, mohawk, Molchat Doma, music festival, Peter Hook, Primitive Ring, psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Review, shoegaze, Spacemoth, Stubb's, Temples, The Well, Uncle Acid and the Dead Beats

Levitation Festival returned to Austin this past weekend (September 10-13), bringing a stacked international lineup back to a multi-venue format for its 2026 edition, with showcases scattered across the city. The bill pulled in longtime regulars, first-time festivalgoers, and a handful of acts making their first Central Texas appearance since they formed. Oppressive heat ran through all four days as the festival’s defining backdrop, but it didn’t stop Levitation from delivering for its loyal reverb appreciators once more, extending a run that’s outlasted a wave of beloved festivals in an increasingly unstable independent music scene. The Cosmic Clash team was on the ground for all four days. Here’s part one of what stuck with us.

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Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six bands to see as Levitation returns to multi-venue format

September 3, 2026 Case Cockrell 846 Views Automatic, Die Spitz, Doom Gong, doom rock, Greenway Records, Grocery Bag, Levitation, live music, Melt Banana, music festival, Neo-psychedelia, preview, Primitive Ring, psych-rock, punk rock, Temples

Levitation returns to Austin September 10-13. Founded by members of The Black Angels and rooted in the city’s psych scene, the fest outgrew that single genre label a long time ago, with lineups running doom metal, darkwave, punk, and electronic acts alongside the psychedelic elements. After centering 2025 at Palmer Event Center, it’s back to the multi-venue format that’s anchored the fest since 2018. The Far Out Lounge & Stage on South Congress carries 2026’s main programming, with showcases scattered across downtown filling out the rest. Here’s who’s worth building your schedule around curated by The Cosmic Clash team.