Chicago Psych Fest Brings Eclectic Lineup of Psychedelic Music

The annual festival at The Hideout features a diverse mix of local and national acts.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The 16th annual Chicago Psych Fest returns to The Hideout this weekend, featuring an eclectic lineup curated by longtime contributor Steve Krakow. The festival kicks off on Friday with a headlining set by New England folk artist Gary Higgins, making his first local appearance in nearly two decades. The rest of the program showcases Krakow's broad definition of psychedelia, including reflective singer-songwriter ballads, trance-inducing flute and drum duos, and the hypnotic grooves of Natural Information Society.

Why it matters

The Chicago Psych Fest has evolved over the years, moving away from a focus on rock music to embrace a more diverse range of 'heady' and psychedelic-leaning sounds. Krakow's curation reflects the festival's growth and his own wide-ranging musical interests, bringing together both local and national acts that push the boundaries of psychedelic and experimental music.

The details

The first night of the festival on Friday features a headlining set by Gary Higgins, whose 1973 private-press album 'Red Hash' has become a cult classic. He'll be joined by guitarist Dave VandeBogart. The rest of the lineup includes reflective singer-songwriter Anna Johnson, the string-based instrumentals of The Singleman Affair, and DJ Psychedalex Kerner. Saturday's bill opens with trance-oriented flute and drum duos by Kevin King and Shravan Rathuram, followed by the motorik boogie of the trio Glyders. The night concludes with a set by Natural Information Society, led by multi-instrumentalist Joshua Abrams, who will be joined by harmonium player Lisa Alvarado, bass clarinetist Jason Stein, and drummer Mikel Patrick Avery.

  • The 16th annual Chicago Psych Fest takes place on March 6-7, 2026.
  • The festival has been held annually at The Hideout in Chicago since 2010.

The players

Steve Krakow

A visual artist, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime contributor to the Chicago Reader, Krakow began as a regular performer at the Chicago Psych Fest and now programs and organizes the event.

Gary Higgins

A New England folk artist whose 1973 private-press album 'Red Hash' has become a cult classic. He is making his first local appearance in nearly two decades at the festival.

Natural Information Society

A group led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Joshua Abrams, who has been on a creative tear, releasing two acclaimed albums in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Historically the CPF has accommodated the capriciousness of winter weather by booking only local acts, but this year the first night's headliner is New England folk elder Gary Higgins in his first local appearance since 2008, accompanied by guitarist Dave VandeBogart.”

— Bill Meyer, Author (chicagoreader.com)

What’s next

On March 27, Joshua Abrams will release a new drone-oriented album, 'Music for Pulse Meridian Foliation,' which was originally created to soundtrack a gallery exhibition of paintings by NIS harmonium player Lisa Alvarado.

The takeaway

The Chicago Psych Fest has evolved over the years, reflecting the diverse musical interests of curator Steve Krakow. This year's lineup showcases a wide range of psychedelic and experimental sounds, from folk and singer-songwriter to trance-inducing instrumentals and hypnotic grooves, demonstrating the festival's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what 'psychedelic music' can encompass.