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Austin's Levitation Fest day 1 pics: Tame Impala, DIIV, METZ, Spiritualized, Lightning Bolt, White Fence & more

photos by PSquared; words by Bill Pearis

Tame Impala / Metz / Spiritualized / White Fence @ Levitation Fest 5/8/2015
2015 Levitation Fest Day 1
2015 Levitation Fest Day 1
2015 Levitation Fest Day 1
2015 Levitation Fest Day 1
2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

When it rains it pours. Last year, Austin Psych Fest was a duststorm. This year (renamed Levitation), literal dark clouds hung over, threatening thunderstorms all three days even though it only ended up raining on Friday (5/8), and before bands started playing. But it was enough to turn Carson Creek Ranch into a mudpit on that first day. Add lack of lighting on much of the grounds and it was slow and treacherous moving around between Levitation’s three stages. People were a little cranky, a little dirty, but good vibes were mostly maintained thanks in no small part to the great lineup of bands.

Among Friday night’s highlights were Tame Impala, Spiritualized and DIIV on the main stage; METZ, The Sword and Lightning Bolt in the Levitation Tent (which was covered but still muddy); and The Soft Moon, White Fence and Holy Wave on the Elevation Stage which had been moved up the hill from it’s usual creekside location because of the weather. (The move was disappointing to some, as usually they project trippy visuals on the trees across the water, but they still positioned the stage near foliage to use as a screen.)

The night before, Levitation had kickoff parties at Austin venues Mohawk (Ariel Pink, Octopus Project, and more) and Red 7 with Brian Jonestown Massacre members Joel Gion and Matt Hollywood, plus sets from Brooklyn’s Christines, Sweden’s Les Big Byrd, Austin’s Golden Dawn Arkestra and more.

Pics from the 13th Floor Elevators’ Sunday night set are HERE. Stay tuned for pics from the rest of the fest, but a few instagrams from Red 7’s kickoff party and more from Levitation Fest Day 1 pics, below…

Levitation Fest kickoff party at Red 7 on 5/7/2015

Brooklyn band Christines giving off major Swervedriver vibes at Levitation kickoff party.

A photo posted by BVAustin (@bvaustin) on

Matt Hollywood, can you DiG!?

A photo posted by @soundbitesnyc on

Golden Dawn Arkestra are hard to resist. Levitation kickoff party.

A photo posted by @soundbitesnyc on

at Austin's Levitation Fest, proper ear protection is advised.

A photo posted by Brooklyn Vegan (@brooklynvegan) on

LEVITATION FEST DAY 1

Holy Wave

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

Indian Jewelry

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

DIIV

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

White Fence

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

Lightning Bolt

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

Spiritualized

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

Tame Impala

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

Metz

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1

2015 Levitation Fest Day 1