Three years after losing his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow, to suicide, Austin musician Greg Goodman is transforming personal tragedy into a powerful community movement centered on music, hope and mental health awareness.
Goodman founded MeadowFest: Music for Mental Health, an annual Austin music festival designed to encourage open conversations about mental health and reduce the stigma that often keeps people from seeking help. Now entering its third year, MeadowFest returns on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at Radio/East, bringing together internationally recognized artists, local musicians, nonprofit organizations and community members for an evening focused on connection and belonging.
Presented by KUTX 98.9 in partnership with Resound Presents, this year’s festival features an impressive lineup that includes Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban funk sensation Cimafunk, Puerto Rican breakout band Chuwi, tropical psych innovators Combo Chimbita, acclaimed singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia, Dallas-based alternative hip-hop group Cure For Paranoia, Nigerian artist Jon Muq, Grammy-nominated Austin favorite Gina Chavez, and rising alt-pop performer Quentin, a recent KUTX Artist of the Month.
The festival will once again open with performances by young musicians from School of Rock, giving aspiring artists an opportunity to share the stage with internationally touring acts.
A Festival Inspired by Meadow’s Legacy
Meadow Goodman was a high school student, drummer and aspiring musician who loved animals, social justice and music. Following her death, her family established the Meadow E. Goodman Foundation for Mental Health Awareness, dedicated to reducing stigma around mental illness and supporting suicide prevention efforts among young people.
For Goodman, MeadowFest has become the most visible expression of that mission.
Rather than creating an event solely focused on loss, he wanted to build something that celebrates life and the connections that help people navigate difficult moments.
“There’s a stigma that is tied to suicide,” Goodman says. “We feel like in order to get help and attention to this issue, it needs to be discussed, and it can’t be tucked away.”
He adds, “I can think of no better way to celebrate Meadow’s life than a day filled with music, community, and hope.”
The Healing Power of Music
Goodman believes music can play a meaningful role in supporting mental well-being.
“I know that for me personally, performing, practicing, learning music has just been remarkable for maintaining my mental health,” Goodman says. “And imagine learning that as a kid at a young age.”
That philosophy extends to the festival’s partnership with School of Rock, which has opened MeadowFest each year since its launch.
“School of Rock is a safe place for kids who are dealing with the difficulties of being a teenager in this day and age,” says Alex Vallejo, Director of Operations at School of Rock Southwest Austin and Round Rock. “Music is healing, and this is a place for them to meet like-minded people their own age and learn how to navigate group dynamics in a positive way.”
Goodman says showcasing young musicians alongside professional artists is intentional.
“We want to be able to showcase young musicians, give young musicians the opportunity to be able to perform together on a bill with touring artists,” he says.
Artists Bringing Their Own Mental Health Stories
Among the festival performers is Cure For Paranoia, the Dallas alternative hip-hop collective recently named the winner of the 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
Frontperson Cameron McCloud founded the group after navigating challenges associated with bipolar depression and paranoid schizophrenia. McCloud has described music as a therapeutic outlet and hopes it can become “therapy for someone else.”
For Goodman, stories like McCloud’s reinforce the festival’s purpose: creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and connected.
Building Community Through Music
At its core, MeadowFest asks a simple question: Can music help people feel less alone?
The festival seeks to answer that question by bringing together musicians, families, young people, nonprofit organizations and community members for a shared experience that encourages connection.
Mental health organizations will be part of the event experience, helping integrate conversations about emotional well-being into a setting many people already love and feel comfortable attending.
Since launching in 2024, MeadowFest has raised $80,000 for Austin-area nonprofits SIMS Foundation and OutYouth, organizations that provide mental health services and support for musicians, young people and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“When music is a vehicle for community, it’s a vehicle for strengthening your own sense of belonging,” says SIMS Foundation CEO Derrick Lesnau. “It builds relationships.”
Continuing a Larger Conversation
The Austin music community has embraced MeadowFest from the beginning. This year’s event will be emceed by Alex Marrero, host of KUTX’s Horizontes and member of Austin Afro-Latin collective Brownout, which headlined the festival in 2025.
While the festival remains deeply rooted in Austin’s music culture, Goodman hopes its message reaches beyond Central Texas.
His goal is not simply to host another successful music festival, but to show how communities can use shared experiences to encourage conversations around mental health long before a crisis occurs.
Three years after losing Meadow, Goodman continues working to ensure her story becomes part of a larger effort to reduce stigma and help people seek support when they need it most.
“In order to get help and attention to this issue, it needs to be discussed, and it can’t be tucked away,” Goodman says.
All facts from this article were gathered by Studio 512 employees. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by Studio 512 staff.
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