Neo-psychedelia – The Cosmic Clash

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

September 3, 2026 Case Cockrell 665 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.

Big Bill BBB 8 6 Radio East Troy Gonzales

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Big Bill Ball 8 at Radio East offered accurate snapshot of Austin music scene

December 4, 2025 Case Cockrell 1833 Views art punk, Austin Music, Big Bill, Big Bill Ball, concert, Cormae, experimental rap, Haha Laughing, hardcore, indie rock, live music, mini fest, Neo-psychedelia, noise rock, Pooneh Ghana, Pooneh Presents, Porcelain, post hardcore, psych-rock, punk rock, Radio East, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze

The eighth annual Big Bill Ball at Radio East in the Southeast part of town, marked another celebration of the Austin scene, offering a snapshot of local music in 2025 with a six-band bill featuring some of the best active acts in the Austindie sphere. For this year’s installment, the philosophical art punk mainstays celebrated the release of their new studio LP, Sick Myth. Continuing the Big Bill way of inclusive activism through comedic lyrical punchlines and a variety of punk rock angles, the one-day event gave attendees one of the most coveted evenings of live music in 2025 during Saturday night’s (November 22) gig at the southeast Austin backyard venue. The mini-fest was co-sponsored by famed photographer and show promoter, Pooneh Ghana for the annual showcase.