6 Austin music festivals coming in fall: ACL Fest, Seismic, more

If I remember correctly, Johnny Cash sang: “I hear the fests a-comin’/ they’re rolling ‘round the bend / and I ain’t seen live music since I don’t know when.” That’s the sound of “Austin Music Blues.” Despair not, festival season is right around the corner. Yes, we can see live music every night in town if we want to and we’re definitely blessed because of that, but there’s a certain ease and comfort to hearing a carousel of bands in one place. From psychedelic jam acts, electronic dance music and a certain three letter acronym that takes over Zilker Park, get ready to test your endurance at these six upcoming music festivals.

Music meets mental health awareness at the second annual MeadowFest at The Far Out Lounge on Saturday. The fest honors Meadow Goodman, 15-year-old daughter of Austin musician Greg Goodman, who passed away following her battle with mental illness in August 2023. Proceeds from the show will go to the SIMS Foundation and Out Youth Austin in support of mental health services in our community. Split between two outdoor stages, performances promise an evening of musical artistry: eclectic powerhouse ensemble Golden Dawn Arkestra, longtime local Latin funk innovators Brownout, Night Drive, Carrie Rodriguez, Mobley, Girl in a Coma, Lew Apollo, Cazayoux, Cha’keeta B and School of Rock. Come out to support a worthwhile cause with local music scene setters. — Mars Salazar

Info: All ages, $36 and up, tickettailor.com.

Levitation spawned in the tour van of Austin psych heavies the Black Angels. Launched in 2008 as Austin Psych Fest — now resurrected as a separate spring music festival — musicians Christian Bland and Alex Maas and their friend Rob Fitzpatrick have made it their mission to put on a grassroots psych showcase with music from around the globe. Levitation has existed in several formats, and this year, organizers shifted programming from a multi-venue structure to a centralized location at the Palmer Events Center. However, the fest will continue to host individually ticketed late-night shows in the Red River Cultural District during the four-day event. There are too many amazing acts coming to town for me to name them all, so check out the full lineup on the fest’s website. — M.S.

Info: All ages, $115 and up; tickets for night shows vary, levitation.fm

Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) is classic Austin. It scratches every itch, whether you came for mosh or mood. You can dance to hits from Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat, get your indie and rock fix with the Strokes and Cage the Elephant, or tap into country energy for Luke Combs over two weekends. Bring a scheduling app because, with over 100 artists across six stages, you’ll be making some tough “which set to see” decisions. Some ACL tickets are still available, but you have to act fast. General admission three-day tickets for both weekend one and two are currently on waitlists, however limited single-day Friday and Sunday tickets for both weekends are up for grabs. — Ana Gutierrez

Info: All ages, $170 and up, aclfestival.com.

This race weekend blends roaring engines with banging beats. This year’s F1 at Circuit of the Americas headline sets start with Kygo’s electronic set under the Friday night sky. Attendees then get to ride into Saturday with Garth Brooks — the country music superstar’s only planned concert of 2025 — and then let the Turnpike Troubadours wrap it all up on Sunday. 

Info: All ages, $103 and up, circuitoftheamericas.com.

Introducing Wicked Oaks, the convergence of Freaky Deaky, Summoning Fest and Illfest in one single place. The “superfestival” features more than 60 artists playing at the scenic Carson Creek Ranch, where you can get your groove on at a waterfront amphitheater shaded by old pecan and oak trees. Wicked Oaks will feature camping areas, light displays, fire performances and large-scale interactive installations. The music will span multiple genres, including world beats, house, techno, electro-funk and more genre-defying hybrids. Programming splits between three stages: the Freaky Deaky Stage, the Summoning Stage and the Illfest Stage. Most 2-day GA, GA+ and VIP tickets are sold out, but you can still try your luck with single day passes. — M.S.

Info: 18 and up, $100 and up, wickedoaksfest.com.

Seismic Dance Event feels like being welcomed into the city’s most intentional underground party. If you care about house and techno music, this is  Austin’s answer to the best warehouse raves. DJs for this year’s event include Charlotte de Witte, Duke Dumont, Four Tet, and Underworld. Attendees can expect generous set times (usually over 90 minutes) that allow DJs to craft a proper arc from start to finish. — A.G.

Info: 18 and up, $115 and up, seismicdanceevent.com.