In 2024, a new memorial music festival debuted in Austin; more than 1,000 fans attended and the festival raised $40,000 for mental health initiatives. Now, MeadowFest is returning to the Far Out Lounge and Stage on Saturday, August 23, featuring local favorites like Golden Dawn Arkestra, Brownout, and Night Drive.
The festival honors the memory of Meadow Goodman, the 15-year-old daughter of local musician Greg Goodman, and a musician herself. Meadow died in 2023 and her family started the Meadow E. Goodman Foundation for Mental Health Awareness to reduce mental health stigma and prevent suicide in young people.
Now more than ever, communities are in urgent need of accessible mental health support. MeadowFest proudly benefits two vital local nonprofits: The Sims Foundation, which provides mental health and substance use recovery services for Austin’s music community and Out Youth, which supports LGBTQIA+ youth with affirming services and resources. After covering event expenses, 100% of proceeds will go directly to these organizations.
A press release announcing the 2025 lineup calls the event a "mini-festival," but this is an impressive lineup with lots of recent buzz and longtime appeal. The fest benefits from the curatorial power of local music station KUTX, which is the annual presenter.
The lineup (with the press release's colorful descriptions intact) is as follows:
- cosmic funk spectacle of Golden Dawn Arkestra
- Grupo Fantasma-spinoff / Latin funk powerhouse Brownout
- popular dark synthwave trio Night Drive
- “hardest working woman in American roots music” (Huffington Post) Carrie Rodriguez
- “soaring and soulful pop music” (KUTX) of Mobley
- indie punk trailblazers Girl In A Coma
- sultry soul-pop artist Lew Apollo
- buzzy funk/afrobeat newcomer Cazayoux
- the “unmistakable ferocity” (Austin Chronicle) of rapper Cha’Keeta B
- School of Rock’s finest
Although the Meadow E. Goodman Foundation organizes the festival, 100 percent of proceeds after expenses will benefit two other local organizations: The Sims Foundation, which helps music community members with mental health and substance use recovery, and Out Youth, which supports and affirms LGBTQIA+ youth.
In addition to musical performances, the festival will include local vendors, raffles, speakers from the community, and tabling by other mental health organizations and nonprofits.
Tickets ($25 in advance with a complimentary $20 Postmates voucher) are available at tickettailor.com. VIP passes ($100) will include access to an air-conditioned lounge with food and drinks.
MeadowFest is emerging as an important local festival not just because of its mission, but because of its lineup. In 2024, the festival featured Grupo Fantasma, Superfónicos, Como Las Movies with Sabrina Ellis of a Giant Dog, Nemegata, The Point, Somebody Someone, and School of Rock. It looks like MeadowFest is poised to offer a great annual snapshot of both evergreen and newly notable Austin acts.
