Austin Psych Fest Freakout

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I have a incredibly high level of jealousy towards those lucky people in America who intend on attending the Austin Psych Fest in April, and I’m pretty-bloody-certain that you will too after reading this. It’s the sixth incarnation of the festival this year, continuing to foster appreciation, of course, for the psych genre as well broadly encouraging general creativity and artistic expression, and helping homegrown business in Austin boom. Yahda yahda, wait till you read who is playing… 

It’s as if the curator collated all of the bands that I have loved (no doubt through a trawl of my Lastfm, yes I use it and no, it’s not for dorks) and threw them all together into a total banger of a music festival lineup. Another thing that makes this festival stand out from similar international offerings is the location choice, in 2011 they held it in a creepy steam power plant, this year the camping festival will reside tucked away from prying eyes nestled off the Colorado River at the Carson Creek Ranch.  

The mind blowing array of artists includes: BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB • THE BLACK ANGELS • DEERHUNTER (gah!) • TINARIWEN • CLINIC • WARPAINT • BLACK MOUNTAIN • BORIS • SPECTRUM • MAN OR ASTROMAN? • THE KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW • THE MOVING SIDEWALKS FEATURING BILLY GIBBONS OF ZZ TOP • OS MUTANTES • ROKY ERICKSON • THE RAVEONETTES • OM • SILVER APPLES • KALEIDOSCOPE (UK) • TAMARYN • SUUNS • BESNARD LAKES • THE GROWLERS (double gah!) • ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE • QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT • THE SOFT MOON • WHITE FENCE • DIIV • DEAD SKELETONS • THE WARLOCKS • VIETNAM • GOAT • BLACK BANANAS • THE BLACK RYDER • LUMERIANS • ELEPHANT STONE • THE LAURELS • GARY WAR • WOODSMAN • THE CULT OF DOM KELLER • GOLDEN ANIMALS • HOLYDRUG COUPLE • VINYL WILLIAMS • TTOTALS • DREAMTIME • INDIAN JEWELRY • BASS DRUM OF DEATH • NIGHT BEATS • NO JOY • YOUNG MAGIC • WALL OF DEATH • HOLY WAVE • RIDE INTO THE SUN • HEARTS IN SPACE

Now, calm down dear, clear your calendar for the weekend of the 26th-28th of April and get yourself a ticket. Check the website for more details.

carol bowditch
Words by Carol Bowditch