North American Space Ritual day two w/ Moonhawks (Alan Davey, Michael Moorcock, Nik Turner), Spaceseed, Head Cat 13, Devil's Daughters, Fraktal Phantom

South by Southwest dominates spring in Austin, but March also hosts a mini festival of a very distinct bent. Organized by Athens, Ga., superfan Matt Callen, North American Space Ritual 2019 presents members of Hawkwind and related acts for two days of space rock mania, including former ’wind bassist Alan Davey and his Motörhead tribute band Ace of Spades, Austin’s own ST 37, and more. Most significantly, the event boasts headliners Moonhawks, a mothership tribute starring Davey, ex-Hawkwind saxophonist/Space Ritual principal Nik Turner, and science fiction author and ’wind collaborator Michael Moorcock.

“Those guys are the spirit of Hawkwind from the days we would rather do a free benefit gig than take a paid TV gig,” the British-born, Bastrop-based Moorcock emails. “I loved the feeling of those good times – the best of the Sixties and Seventies ethic – [with] a strong sense of equality between band and audience. Very similar to the Grateful Dead gigs.”

Moorcock, who’s been a musician since the Fifties, became acquainted with Hawkwind “pretty much from the start,” his most collaborative project being 1975’s Warrior on the Edge of Time.

“I went into the studio and performed some of the material I’d do onstage when [Hawkwind leader Bob Calvert] couldn’t do it. It took me half a day, one take for each number.”

Saturday’s Moonhawks show will be Moorcock’s last live performance: “I’m in my 80th year and I have serious neuropathy, so can only play harmonica, but I bet I can belt out a few of my favorites – like ‘Sonic Attack’!”

Read the full Michael Moorcock Q&A at austinchronicle.com/daily/music.