Standout Performances from Levitation 2025

Robbie Howard 

Music Director

Levitation 2025 just wrapped up this weekend, and what an experience it was. The three-day festival presented by Resound took place at Palmer Event Center. A change from their previous formats for Levitation. The lineup featured a mix of established and emerging artists across psychedelic rock, experimental, garage, and electronic sounds, giving fans a blend of nostalgia and fresh discoveries. 

As a first-time festival goer, I spent the weekend fully immersed in the experience. In this recap, I’ll share my favorite performances and what made them unforgettable. 

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol 

Day one brought a heavy rock vibe to the festival, and Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, a hard rock band from Austin, Texas, brought the sauce. This was one of the most energetic sets I’ve seen, especially with their set starting at 4:40 and being outside during the prime Texas heat.  

They started their set with “The Cincinnati Tilt” from their Grease Beast EP. A track that’s loud, energetic, and chaotic in all the right ways. The mix of the bold guitar riffs and the changes of pace made this the perfect headbanger song to open their set with. 

One of the memorable moments from their set happened when they started to play “Gravedigger.” The band started slower than their usual style, which was a different change in pace. Then I look behind me and see a fan lying on the dirt while others around are doing a literal gravedigging motion. Then they pick up the fan who is lying down seconds before the drop, and in unison at the drop, they throw the fan in the air. Watching it unfold up close added an extra layer of wildness to an already unforgettable set. 

Watching their set turned me into a fan on the spot. From the chaotic riffs to the dust clouds kicked up by the mosh pit, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol embodied the sweaty, raw energy that made day one of Levitation unforgettable. 

YĪN YĪN 

If Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol brought chaos, then YĪN YĪN brought the groove. The Dutch band has a blend of psychedelic funk that will get you to move your body to the beat and lose yourself to dance. 

The band started at 2 p.m. directly after one of the indoor sets. The first song that they played was “The Year of the Rabbit,” which was an instrumental song full of Catchy guitar and bass riffs that carried the melody while the drums shifted the pace, either tightening the rhythm or crashing in to add emphasis at just the right moments. It was the perfect introduction to what YĪN YĪN had in store for the rest of their set. 

As the set went on, the crowd fully fell into the groove of YĪN YĪN’s music. Each song carried a hypnotic rhythm that had people swaying, clapping, and moving in unison, almost like one giant, flowing dance. 

YĪN YĪN mentioned that this was their first time in America and that they were excited to kick off their U.S. experience in Austin at Levitation. The crowd cheered back in excitement because who wouldn’t want to start their American journey in the heart of the Texas music scene?  After the set, I got a chance to chat with Erik, who said he was excited to try some of the Texas food while they were in town. 

Watching YĪN YĪN’s set was a completely different energy from Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol. Their elegant grooves took over your body, pulling you into the music and distracting you from everything else around you. It was a perfect example of the variety and depth Levitation offers, and easily one of my favorite musical moments of the festival. 

Upchuck 

After the groovy hypnotic vibes of YĪN YĪN on day two, day three kicked off with Upchuck brought bold energy, loud vocals, and heavy beats that had the crowd moshing. 

The Band started at 5 p.m. at the outdoor stage. The Texas heat was beaming down on the crowd, but it was worth it as Upchuck commanded the audience with their chaotic, high-energy performance.  

They started with “Tired,” a track that wasted no time in setting the tone. The pounding drums and snarling vocals hit like a wall of sound, immediately sending the crowd into a frenzy. Within seconds, the pit opened, and fans were slamming into each other, matching the raw aggression pouring off the stage. 

KT leaned into the barricade during this track and the next couple of songs, screaming the lyrics inches away from fans’ faces. That direct connection with the crowd only intensified the chaos. 

Then came one of the most memorable parts of the set. Drummer Chris stepped out from behind the kit as KT handed him the mic, taking over vocals for the next two tracks. Pacing back and forth across the stage, he shouted lyrics in Spanish that gave the performance a raw, unfiltered edge and kept the crowd’s energy surging. 

Upchuck left everything on that stage, and the crowd matched them step for step. It was the perfect storm of chaos and release. It was the kind of set that sticks with you long after the dust settles. 

Levitation 2025 was an incredible introduction to my first festival experience. From the headbanging chaos of Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol to the hypnotic grooves of YĪN YĪN and the wild energy of Upchuck, each day offered a completely different vibe. Beyond the music, it was the crowd, the memories with the crew, and the pure excitement in the air that made it unforgettable. I left with new favorite artists, memories of dancing and moshing under the Texas sun, and a newfound appreciation for what a festival can truly be.