Live music preview: Levitation 2026 genre bending lineup and schedule is out
Levitation returns to Austin on September 10–13, 2026, bringing another epic four-day weekend of music and art to the city’s
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metal
Live music preview: Six bands to see at Kilby Block Party 2026
Utah’s most exciting music festival, Kilby Block Party is entering its seventh year in 2026 with its most ambitious lineup to date. The fest runs May 15-17 at Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. It feels like this unassuming fest which began on a closed-off road behind Kilby Court, the beloved DIY venue it’s named for has become something else entirely with a lineup featuring a pop star (Lorde), a rocker turned pop star (Hayley Williams) and a melodic hardcore act (Turnstile) which shows just how far this independent music fest has come in a relatively short time. Rather than focus on the obvious headlining sets to profile, we’ve selected seven bands to see at KBP 2026. Before we dive in, fans should know some ticket options are already sold-out or nearing sold-out. If you’re considering attending, grab tickets here.
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Live music review: Eyehategod at Little Darlin 10th Anniversary
Thanks to the power of social media, bands like Crowbar and Eyehategod are drawing bigger crowds than they have in years—and honestly, good for them. Get that bag, dudes. You earned it. Somehow, the algorithm has decided the ultra-heavy hardcore riffs of the two New Orleans kingpins are worth worshiping, and the clips are endless; people talking about how chaotic EHG is and how gnarly Crowbar riffs are. And it’s not just old head nostalgia. The kids are showing up. And they’re selling venues out. The two bands went out on the road together, and if the show Sunday, April 26 at The Little Darlin’ is any indication, those rooms are filling up fast. Radio-friendly Metallica these bands are not.
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Live music review: Philly Sludge legends Baroness stopped at Radio East on Friday
The band, Baroness came into Texas on the circumstances of opening for Louisiana sludge legends Acid Bath in Dallas, but the great folks at Resound Presents couldn’t let them leave Texas without an Austin appearance. With longtime drummer Sebastian Thomson having to opt out days before travel, the band had to find a fill-in drummer to stand in for the run. Despite this, the veteran Georgia born, Philly-based quartet arrived at Southeast Austin’s Radio East and delivered a jam-packed show.
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Live music review: Author & Punisher delivered relentless spectacle to Far Out Lounge crowd
The industrial hardcore underground thundered into Austin on Sunday March 8, bringing a stacked bill to South Austin’s The Far Out Lounge and Stage showcasing some of the genre’s heaviest and strangest acts. Author & Punisher, the project of San Diego’s Tristan Shone, employs custom “drone” and “dub” machines. Formerly a solo act, Shone now collaborates with guitarist Doug Sabolick (A Life Once Lost, Ecstatic Vision). With a table of unique contraptions, Author & Punisher delivered a relentless spectacle to a Sunday night crowd.
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Interview: Hard living writer Robert Dean has gotten sober and his work is better than ever
Robert Dean is sober, home by eleven most nights, and still writes about the years he wasn’t. The author, reporter, and jack-of-all-trades commentator arrived in Austin after a lengthy stint in the gnarliest place in the United States – New Orleans. A place like Austin, despite its lingering issues, doesn’t even come close. Born in Chicago, Dean’s interests revolve around social issues, transgressive humorism, and an undying loyalty to the greats of hardcore punk and heavy metal. With roots in the likes of Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, and Jack Kerouac, the Midwestern raconteur immersed himself in a hard-living lifestyle to channel the antics of his literary heroes. Now, Dean has surrendered the bottle for the better part of two years. In his latest book, “Red Eye,” a collection of stories recounting world travels, drunken mistakes, and commentary about the best, and worst, parts of Austin, leads to a fulfilling life that leaves the barfly regrets behind – for good. We sat down with Robert Dean on 7th Street in downtown Austin to discuss his writing career, posting up in Austin, and the vices that come with them.
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Live music review: Levitation 2025 ramble with Pavement, Mastodon, The Black Angels and more
Levitation Festival 2025 took place September 26 – 28 and marked another successful installment in a new location, with more than 30 acts making their way to Austin for yet another Black Angels-sponsored party featuring talent from all over the world. With a new HQ at Palmer Events Center on Barton Springs Road, the convention center turned into Levitation’s psychedelic playground for three days over the last weekend. Each day of the event brought unique vibes that spanned the festival’s usual suspects, first-timers, and legacy acts, all of which helped bring the star-studded booked talent to life for the three-day, two-stage rager. The Cosmic Clash team made their way to the convention center for the weekend to capture the action and highlight every moment that stood out to us at Palmer.
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Live music review: Acid Bath, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol led Levitation 2025 metal day
Hats off to the folks behind the scenes at Levitation Festival. They pulled off a diverse event at a little-used location to great effect. The Palmer Events Center sounded great and showed a lot of promise for what the festival can be in the future. Keeping parking at $10 a day was a smart move that kept fans happy. The food and drink options were crazy expensive, but I understand that goes with the territory of putting a festival on – but on the real? $19 for a brisket sandwich is banana town. Just walk down the street to Whataburger next year.
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Opinion: The kids are alright (they’re just getting their metal from TikTok now)
The passage of time is strange. One minute you’re crate digging for a Fugazi tape at the local record store, and years later, you’re the guy with gray in his beard, noticing a kid in a Misfits hoodie who’s never owned a CD but knows his “She Rides” because the TikTok algorithm keeps feeding them Danzig. Have no fear though. The kids are alright, they’re just getting their metal from TikTok now.
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Live music preview: Levitation Can’t Miss with Acid Bath
One of the biggest draws to this year’s Levitation Festival in Austin this month is New Orleans’ swamp weirdos, Acid Bath. If you’re reading this and underground metal with a Louisiana flair ain’t in your wheelhouse, lemme get you right: this is the band everyone at the festival can’t miss.
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Music News: The Mighty Lost Well Returns from the Dead
After a tumultuous few months, the cavern in our hearts is about to close: The Lost Well is finally ready to (re)open. After some nefarious Austin money shit went down, the famed heavy metal haven for weirdos and castaways was forced to close, leaving many in the city feeling like a friend had died. Yet, the mighty Lost Well returns from the dead.
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