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Back for its second year as a springtime complement to Downtown Halloweekend romp Levitation, Austin Psych Fest once again sets up shop down south, at the Far Out Lounge. Friday headliner Courtney Barnett, Sunday big-names Alvvays and Kurt Vile, and founders the Black Angels – playing Saturday – appeal to a certain indie-favoring, millennial crowd, but smaller acts represent both ends of the psychedelic spectrum. On Friday, Colombian songwriter Lido Pimienta pairs Spanish lyrics and tribal percussion with glitchy synths. On Sunday, Boston duo Sweeping Promises recalls the infinitely catchy, bass-driven post-punk of the Eighties. (See interview with Friday performer, psych-soul outfit Chicano Batman, in print this week.) –Carys Anderson

UK doom storm Conan summoned a who’s-who of ATX heshers to the Lost Well recently, including an Oblivion Access principal who confirmed the avant-extreme fest is on hiatus. Chaos in Tejas ceased in 2014. Austin’s thus ripe for a dedicated metal fest. Between a matrix of local venues including Empire, Come & Take It Live, and now the Parish, the scene currently enjoys a metallic renaissance stoked here by Mohawk’s two-day, 18-act death metal decanting. San Jose longhairs Mortuous and Pennsylvania sledgehammers Outerheaven top Friday, and Ontario trio Tomb Mold imports top 2023 prog prize The Enduring Spirit. Horns up! – Raoul Hernandez

Only narrow-headed fools might grumble that Austin Blues Fest doesn’t have enough blues, when faced with a broad mix of gospel, second line brass, Afro-Cubanism, bounce, soul, jazz, funk, and zydeco that represents both the roots and outgrowths of America’s definitive genre. Purists will dig living treasures Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush (performing with Blind Boys of Alabama; see interview on p.16) as well as Jimmie Vaughan, while Cuban showstopper Cimafunk, NOLA bounce queen Big Freedia, and Southern soul septuagenarian Robert Finley are assured to elicit multi-generational dancing. Meanwhile, Houston-born pianist/producer Robert Glasper – who precedes Sunday’s headliner, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes – serves as ABF’s lodestar, synthesizing a variety of disciplines into one Black Radio. – Kevin Curtin