Thundercat and Magdalena Bay to Headline 2026 Holiday Hootenanny

A bit of Christmas in July arrives this morning in the form of Holiday Hootenanny’s color-packed, groove-pop lineup. The winter mini-festival will return to Radio/East on December 11 and 12 for a third year, with two days of vibrant psychedelic and electronic-inspired national acts headlined by psychedelic artist/producer Thundercat and alternative-pop duo Magdalena Bay.

Bass virtuoso Thundercat tops Friday’s lineup, preceded by soul and Latin-inspired 54 Ultra and dream pop duo the Two Lips. Seventies swank-inspired collective Drugdealer and electro-pop pair Sports take the afternoon stage. Folk-rock songwriter Hannah Cohen, nomadic psych-pop act Twen, Seattle mando-pop duo Chinese American Bear, and indie rocker Mini Trees also join the lineup.

Saturday’s tinsel-strewn schedule twinkles with electronic and art-forward groups, with sci-fi-inspired theatrical performers Magdalena Bay as the final act. Hyperpop siblings Frost Children play the holiday-themed spectacular this year, alongside Atlanta hip-hop duo Coco & Clair Clair. Electronic producer and DJ Avalon Emerson & the Charm and avant garde dance-pop act Gelli Haha play earlier in the day, as does local bedroom pop sensation Quiet Light, and more. 

Co-presenters Resound Presents, KUTX, and photographer-turned-booker Pooneh Ghana welcome Special Delivery to their booking team this year. The Texas-based production company is best known for its annual street art and electronic musical festival ILLfest, and their rave-savvy attitude can certainly be seen in this year’s festive plans.

Last year’s Hootenanny featured one day of revelry with Shannon & the Clams, Tune-Yards, Rubblebucket, Improvement Movement and four local acts: Fuck Money, J’cuuzi, Club Coma, and Variety. Quiet Light, the project of Texas-launched songwriter Riya Mahesh, is the only Austinite act slotted to perform in this year’s return to 2024’s two-day format as the festival finds its footing as a pre-holiday tradition. 

Additional music acts, event activations, and information will be announced in the months to come.

One and two day tickets are now on sale here.

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