Thundercat, Black Midi, Japanese Breakfast, the Hives to Play Levitation
Chicano Batman, Crumb, and Andy Shauf also top October fest
By Kevin Curtin, 10:00AM, Tue. Jun. 29, 2021
Filling Austin’s club space for an extended Halloween weekend of psych, indie rock, R&B, world music, metal, electronic, drone, and noise programming, Levitation 2021 comes into focus with 75-plus acts, including fusion genius Thundercat, avant-garde post-punks Black Midi, and indie pop mainstay Japanese Breakfast.
The long-running Austin festival, returning Oct. 28-31 after a pandemic gap year, also reps Swedish garage-rock breakouts the Hives, psychedelic funk quartet Chicano Batman, tripped-out and catchy indie rock from Crumb, Tuareg droners Tinariwen, retro rock unit Shannon & the Clams, Arooj Aftab’s enchanting New Age meditations, Andy Shauf’s illuminative folk-pop, stoner beasts Red Fang, and Levitation’s flagship band the Black Angels.
Since 2018, the event persists as an umbrella of curated club shows, sold à la carte. Venues on the Levitation 2021 map include Stubb’s, Mohawk, Empire, Hotel Vegas, Cheer Up Charlies, and the beautiful Central Presbyterian Church. Having shifted a week back from its early November slot in 2019, the string of concerts now ropes in the excitement of Halloween night, which falls on Sunday, the last day of Levitation.
Start planning your costume now!
The phase one lineup stacks a quality cache of Austin acts besides the sponsoring Black Angels, including Holy Wave, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Sweet Spirit, Portrayal of Guilt, Sun June, Ringo Deathstarr, Blushing, Kalu & the Electric Joint, Calliope Musicals, Think No Think, Sailor Poon, Buffalo Hunt, and Urban Heat.
Additional bands and visual artist announcements are forthcoming. For now, you can buy tickets here and peruse the day-by-day offerings below.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27
Red Fang Nothing Starcrawler Frankie Rose Here Lies Man EnumclawTHURSDAY, OCT. 28
Chicano Batman Crumb Fuzz Boy Harsher Drab Majesty Post Animal Octopus Project The Well Nation of Language No Joy The Vacant Lots Public Practice Pearl Ear Angelica Garcia Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band Being DeadFRIDAY, OCT. 29
Black Angels Tinariwen Black Midi Connan Mockasin A Place to Bury Strangers La Luz George Clanton L.A. Witch Ringo Deathstarr The Paranoyds Ami Dang Negative Gemini Magdalena Bay Blushing Death’s Dynamic Shroud Equip Caroline LoveglowSATURDAY, OCT. 30
Thundercat Andy Shau Yves Tumor Kikagaku Moyo Shannon & the Clams Shabazz Palaces Cloud Nothings Frankie & the Witch Fingers Arooj Aftab Levitation Room Holy Wave Acid Dad Uniform Portrayal of Guilt Sweeping Promises Glove Hooveriii Anabelle Chairlegs Silver Synthetic Sun June GanserSUNDAY, OCT. 31
Japanese Breakfast The Hives Sasami Golden Dawn Arkestra Sweet Spirit Kalu & the Electric Joint Calliope Musicals Think No Think Sailor Poon Buffalo Hunt Urban Heat
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Clara Wang, Oct. 29, 2021
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Levitation 2021, Black Angels, Black Midi, Japanese Breakfast, The Hives, Chicano Batman, Crumb, Andy Shauf, Tinariwen, Thundercat
