Magdalena Bay Credit: Lissyelle

A bit of Christmas in July arrives this morning in the form of Holiday Hootenanny’s color-packed, groove-pop lineup. The winter mini-festival will return to Radio/East on December 11 and 12 for a third year, with two days of vibrant psychedelic and electronic-inspired national acts headlined by psychedelic artist/producer Thundercat and alternative-pop duo Magdalena Bay.

Bass virtuoso Thundercat tops Friday’s lineup, preceded by soul and Latin-inspired 54 Ultra and dream pop duo the Two Lips. Seventies swank-inspired collective Drugdealer and electro-pop pair Sports take the afternoon stage. Folk-rock songwriter Hannah Cohen, nomadic psych-pop act Twen, Seattle mando-pop duo Chinese American Bear, and indie rocker Mini Trees also join the lineup.

Saturday’s tinsel-strewn schedule twinkles with electronic and art-forward groups, with sci-fi-inspired theatrical performers Magdalena Bay as the final act. Hyperpop siblings Frost Children play the holiday-themed spectacular this year, alongside Atlanta hip-hop duo Coco & Clair Clair. Electronic producer and DJ Avalon Emerson & the Charm and avant garde dance-pop act Gelli Haha play earlier in the day, as does local bedroom pop sensation Quiet Light, and more. 

Co-presenters Resound Presents, KUTX, and photographer-turned-booker Pooneh Ghana welcome Special Delivery to their booking team this year. The Texas-based production company is best known for its annual street art and electronic musical festival ILLfest, and their rave-savvy attitude can certainly be seen in this year’s festive plans.

Last year’s Hootenanny featured one day of revelry with Shannon & the Clams, Tune-Yards, Rubblebucket, Improvement Movement and four local acts: Fuck Money, J’cuuzi, Club Coma, and Variety. Quiet Light, the project of Texas-launched songwriter Riya Mahesh, is the only Austinite act slotted to perform in this year’s return to 2024’s two-day format as the festival finds its footing as a pre-holiday tradition. 

Additional music acts, event activations, and information will be announced in the months to come.

One and two day tickets are now on sale here.

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Caroline is the Music and Culture staff writer and reporter, covering, well, music, books, and visual art for the Chronicle. She came to Austin by way of Portland, Oregon, drawn by the music scene and the warm weather.