The third annual Austin Psych Fest at The Mohawk from April 23-25 will feature many bands that continue the tradition of psychedelic music. A part of the festival’s mission statement is to “create fertile ground for artistic expression through music and visual art,” and judging by the selection of bands, it looks like the festival organizers intend to make good on their promise. Three-day passes are only $40. Here are five of the performing groups worth checking out over the three-day span.

FridayThe RaveonettesArguably the most popular group on the bill at Psych Fest, The Raveonettes have built a reputation on noise-heavy pop songs. They use distortion and electronics in much the same vein as bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Their latest release, last year’s “In and Out of Control,” could have easily been a proverbial downer as the band took on serious subjects such as drug addiction, rape and suicide. However, the songs never wallow in their loathing, and they are structured well enough to make the message effective. Their Psych Fest performance shouldn’t be missed.WarpaintAlthough they only have an EP to their name, Warpaint have gained a considerable buzz in the music press, and for good reason. The all-female band combines dense guitar work, a tight rhythm section and layered vocal harmonies, which have drawn comparisons to Cat Power, to form songs that sound lush and dreamlike. None of the songs on their “Exquisite Corpse” EP are shorter than four minutes, demonstrating the band’s dissatisfaction with fitting the traditional three-minute pop song structure. They are a young band with enormous potential and some very strong songs—a band that will undoubtedly impress fans both old and new.

SaturdayThe Black Angels The Black Angels seem like an almost perfect choice for Saturday’s headliner. The Austin band has gained a reputation for their solid live shows and throwback sound. Stylistically, they have been compared to everyone from Austin psych pioneers the 13th Floor Elevators to the Brian Jonestown Massacre. When the band played SXSW this year, Christian Bland’s guitar work and Stephanie Bailey’s thundering drums were thoroughly impressive. Lead vocalist Alex Maas sings in a nasally voice, but it perfectly compliments the music. Instrumentation is the primary focus with the Black Angels, and on that they do not disappoint.Pink Mountaintops Pink Mountaintops is one of many side projects from singer-songwriter Stephen McBean, who is best known for Black Mountain. However, Pink Mountaintops are entirely capable of standing alone. One of the most impressive things about the group’s third album, “Outside Love,” was its musical diversity. Whether it was the stripped-down acoustic guitar and 8-track-sounding vocals of ” While We Were Dreaming,” the folk-like, sunlit haze of “Holiday,” or the wall of distorted guitars and pronounced drums in “Execution,” the side project’s songs proved that they are to be taken seriously.SundayPure Ecstasy Much like Warpaint, Austin’s Pure Ecstasy have received a lot of hype without an official album under their belts. The trio, fronted by singer-songwriter Nate Grace, uses guitar and vocal reverb to create a sound that is at once familiar and refreshing. Listeners may become easily lost in their music, as the relaxing sounds summon images akin to lazy days on the beach. Transcendence may be one of the most sought-after qualities in psychedelic music, and Pure Ecstasy have it down quite handily. They are a band that makes quality, feel-good music, and are another Austin band with the potential to make it big, given the right opportunity.