Levitation Announces 2019 Fall Lineup

Announcing 41 acts spanning psych, metal, indie, experimental, and world music, Levitation today begins building anticipation for the traditional spring festival’s jump to the fall calendar.

The series of individually-ticketed performances, running November 7-10 throughout clubs in the Red River Cultural District, signals the return of marquee indie darlings Angel Olsen and Kurt Vile & the Violators, while also placing an emphasis on heavy sounds: blackgaze favorites Deafheaven, Dallas thrash menace Power Trip, Swedish doom hammer Monolord, and Grammy-nabbing metal warlords High on Fire to name the most obvious.

Avant-garde composer, punk rock producer, and co-founding Velvet Underground violist John Cale confirms as the notable heritage booking for the 11th annual convergence once known as Austin Psych Fest. After all, Levitation’s flagship act, the Black Angels, took their name from VU’s “The Black Angel’s Death Song.” Veteran of both South by Southwest and the Austin Music Awards, the Welshman counts as a longtime friend to Austin music beginning at his decades-long association with late Chronicle music writer emeritus Margaret Moser.

Speaking of cutting edge women, Levitation 2019 boasts a strong vein of female rockers: Cali “doom boogie” gals (and guy) Death Valley Girls, the Bay Area’s Lori Steinberg-led stoner rock legacy Acid King, and Oregonian drone women foursome Blackwater Holylight. On the Far East tip, Tokyo krautrock quartet Minami Deutsch make the journey, as does Japan’s Kikagaku Moyo, who christened Austin fans with a brilliant daytime performance at Psych Fest 2014.

Exquisite Vancouver riffers Black Mountain are also on board, as is soft-voiced, yet heavy-handed guitar hero J. Mascis with Dinosaur Jr.. Electronic addled noise-pop agents Black Moth Super Rainbow, who played APF in 2011, return for what may be their last Austin show since leader Tobacco promised on Twitter that the band will go dark after their current calendar of performances. Meanwhile, eclectic songster Devendra Banhart makes his Levitation debut.

This year finds Levitation co-presenting nights with local promoters Margin Walker Presents and a slew of sweet independent labels: Relapse Records, Death By Audio, Riding Easy Records, and especially Sargent House, whose overflowing Levitation roster includes electronic doom-folk conjurer Chelsea Wolfe, Los Angeles tension sensualist Ionna Gika, singer and mixed media maven Emma Ruth Rundle, outspoken anti-abuse activist Lingua Ignota (Kristin Hayter), and burgeoning Belgian power trio Brutus, whose singing drummer Stefanie Mannaerts is leaving jaws on the floor in the wake of their second LP..

Today’s reveal amounts to Levitation’s phase one lineup. More artists and shows are promised. Grip tickets here and peep daily lineups below.

Thursday, November 7
Angel Olsen, Devendra Banhart, High on Fire, Power Trip, Kikagaku Moyo, Stonefield, Holy Wave, Minami Deutsch, Hoover III

Friday, November 8
Deafheaven, Black Mountain, Kikagaku Moyo, Russian Circles, Broncho, Brutus, Emma Ruth Rundle, Death Valley Girls, Frankie & the Witch Fingers, Jaye Jayle, Lingua Ignota

Saturday, November 9
John Cale, Black Angels, Chelsea Wolfe, Allah Las, Red Fang, White Fence, Torche, Acid King, Monolord, Here Lies Man, Ionna Gika, Zig Zags, Warish, Blackwater Holylight

Sunday, November 10
Kurt Vile & the Violators, Dinosaur Jr., Black Moth Super Rainbow, A Place to Bury Strangers, KVB, Dallas Acid, Number