Moontower Adds More Big Names

From Portlandia to popular podcasts: Moontower Festival adds more big names to 2014 lineup

The Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival has added even more big names to the already star studded lineup.

Just added to the schedule of comedians is Fred Armisen, Saturday Night Live alum and co-creator of IFC's hit show, Portlandia. Armisen will also be appearing during SXSW Comedy in March with his Portlandia counterpart Carrie Brownstein, but he'll be joined by another guest when he returns for Moontower in April. Ian Rubbish (formerly of the classic British punk band Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros) is set to take part in Moontower alongside Armisen.

Also added to the list is Marc Maron, who was a fixture at last year's Moontower Fest and will make his grand return to the Paramount Theatre. Maron recorded his hit podcast series, WTF with Marc Maron, twice last year in Austin, first during SXSW and again during Moontower. Maron is also coming off the recent success of his own IFC series, Maron.

Both Maron and Armisen are welcome additions to the year's impressive lineup, which includes Hannibal Buress, Maria Bamford, Demetri Martin, the Kids in the Hall sketch comedy gang, Dennis Miller and many more. Moontower also estimates that there are around 50 early bird Fan Badges still available at discounted prices. And due to crazy demand, Aziz Ansari will perform a third show on April 19 the week before Moontower, so grab those tickets before they also disappear.

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Moontower Comedy Festival will take place from April 23 - 26.

Fred Armisen will keep a busy schedule in Austin, returning to SXSW Comedy in March and then Moontower Comedy in April.

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New Releases

Austin duo Almost Heaven expose their brains in dreamy new EP Raw Cranium

Photo by Kylie Bly

Almost Heaven's Jaelyn Valero and Stefan Barraza.

Austin-based duo Almost Heaven are stepping into a bold new chapter with the release of their debut EP, Raw Cranium, arriving on all streaming platforms Friday, January 30. They'll celebrate the same day at an EP release show starting at 8:30 pm at Brushy Street Commons.

Known for their blend of indie dance, post-punk, and electro-pop delivered with an infectious, high-impact live presence, the duo introduces the project alongside focus track “Baby Teeth.” The EP will be released via their newly launched label, Raw Cranium Records.

Almost Heaven is now a duo: West Texas native Stefan Barraza and Austin-born drummer Jaelyn Valero, who has previously toured with local act Farmer’s Wife. The project began as a solo endeavor by Barraza in El Paso before his move to Austin in 2024, where it evolved into its fully realized form. The duo has spent the past year refining a distinct identity and cultivating an enigmatic, high-energy performance style that has quickly earned attention within Austin’s music scene.

Raw Cranium follows a strong run of singles that introduced listeners to Almost Heaven’s wide range of sounds. The double-single release of “Hypnoxia” and “Fever Trying to Blow” arrived in November 2025, with the latter accompanied by a fun, early 90s-esque music video. “Oscillation” in January 2026 and was highlighted as Song of the Day by KUTX.

These early tracks established the EP’s "bloghouse revival" influence and experimental electronic core, marked by thumping drums, plenty of cowbell, and vocals that oscillate between spoken-word, softer melodies, and cathartic screams. The result is a club-ready EP that nods to influences like LCD Soundsystem, Crystal Castles, and a dash of Daft Punk.

The EP gets started with a dystopian electro opener that feels like Daft Punk’s “Technologic” dropped into Blade Runner. "Power Music (Elektrik Revival)" is pop-influenced but ominous as Barraza's vocals deliver a dark, tongue-in-cheek warning about the state of things.

Two tracks have a dreamy, sweeter feel: "Oscillation" and closing track "Baby Teeth." The former drifts in Postal Service territory with Valero's vocals floating over muffled tones. The hazy, sleepy trip gently presses in instead of exploding, and is easily one of the EP’s most intimate moments. The latter sounds like an homage to MGMT's "Kids," including the refrain "Control yourself."

Some more driving dance tracks fill out the meat in the middle. "Fever Trying to Blow" offers a sweaty release about shaking off the week and letting the floor take over, while the hypnotic pull of "Commotion" sounds more like it's surfacing from underwater. The trance continues through "Hypnoxia," featuring jungle-style drums perfect for late-night darkened dancefloors.

All of these songs were written by Almost Heaven, produced and mixed by Ernesto Grey — known for his work with Alma Muñeca, Farmer’s Wife, Font, and more — at his Austin studio, and mastered by Greg Obis. The EP release also doubles as a debut for Raw Cranium Records.

“It really feels like more than just music that we're putting out right now, but we're also initiating a big shift in our creative ecosystem," said Barraza and Valero in a press release. "We’re excited to share it and invite people into the world of Raw Cranium."

The EP release show at Brushy Street Commons includes bands Amelia's Best Friend, Witches Exist, Almost Heaven, and The Opera. Doors open at 8 pm and music begins at 8:30.

Fans can pre-save Raw Cranium via Distrokid.

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