In a city known for live music, Levitation stands apart — not just as a festival, but as a fully immersive experience where sound, vision and personal style collide. Since its inception in 2008, the Austin-born event has evolved from a psych-rock gathering into a cultural cornerstone, weaving together music, art, fashion and community.
“The Black Angels had the idea of ‘let’s invite all our friends and our favorite bands and celebrate the scene,’” Rob Fitzpatrick, Levitation’s Festival Director, said. “From the beginning, the idea has been to cater to the audience. There was an underserved niche waiting to be filled — fans hungry for a place that gathered a new generation of psychedelia and rock music lovers outside the mainstream.”
That community-first approach is at the heart of Levitation’s style, both musically and visually. The lineup spans psych, garage, shoegaze, metal, electronic, punk and darkwave, but it’s all connected.
“There’s a thread that goes through all this music,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s our collective record collection coming to life.”
For The Black Angels frontman Alex Maas and co-founder of Levitation, the festival has always been about more than genre: It’s about spiritual connection and honoring the roots of Austin’s psychedelic history.
“We’re just chasing some spiritual high we get when we play music and connect with each other,” Maas said. “Making music is such a visual experience for us. It’s about making that connection between sound, emotion and experience and holding on to it for dear life.”
That blend of audio and visual isn’t accidental. The festival’s aesthetic draws inspiration from the Op Art movement and the legacy of 1960s psychedelic posters. The Levitation team collaborates with artists and designers from around the world to keep that tradition alive while allowing it to evolve naturally alongside the community.
Fitzpatrick explains that the festival’s visual style is a reflection of the audience itself — a living, changing representation of the art, fashion and culture surrounding the music.
Aaron Owens, Head of Marketing for Levitation, emphasizes the importance of visual identity in everything from posters to social media.
“People see it and go, ‘Oh yeah, that’s Levitation,’” he said. “From the main festival poster to artist-branded assets, we develop content that feels on-brand and meshes with the experience.”
This year, Levitation returns to a multi-stage setting at the Palmer Events Center while also hosting club shows across downtown Austin. It’s a nod to the city’s music history and an opportunity to revive the immersive festival experience.
“Austin has always been a focal point of creativity, free thought and art,” Fitzpatrick said. “Levitation wouldn’t have happened anywhere else.”
For Maas, the festival and Austin itself are constantly evolving. “Evolution is real. The city is changing and so are we. Come check it out and see what I mean.”
Levitation takes place from September 26 to 28, 2025. For tickets and full lineup details, visit levitation.fm.
Levitation 2025 Highlights
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Headliners: Mastodon, TV on the Radio, Pavement
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Dates: September 26–28, 2025
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Main Stage: Palmer Events Center with immersive light installations
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Night Shows: Stubb’s, Mohawk, Elysium, 13th Floor and additional downtown clubs hosting late-night sets