Austin City Limits Delivers Back to Back Weekends Of Musical Bliss

October 27, 2023

The 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival was an incredible experience that left attendees with memories to last a lifetime. From the moment the gates opened until the final note was played, the festival delivered a diverse lineup, exceptional performances, and an overall positive atmosphere. Also not to be forgotten the weather gods did manage to bless us with two amazing weekends of weather.

One of the standout features of this year's festival was the impressive lineup of artists. With a mix of well-known headliners and up-and-coming acts, there was truly something for everyone. From the high-energy performances of The Foo Fighters and ODESZA, to the mesmerizing sets of Shania Twain and Mumford and Sons, each artist brought their unique style and charisma to the stage. The lineup as it has the last couple years has flipped flopped some artist playing only a certain weekend which makes for some pretty tough decisions, luckily for us we got a chance to partake in both.

Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars taking it to the crowd on weekend 2 of The Austin City Limits Music Festival (Photo Credit: Molly Polus)

In addition to the headliners, the festival showcased a wide array of genres and musical talent. Fans of rock, hip hop, indie, and electronic music were all catered to, creating an inclusive and diverse environment. This variety allowed festival-goers to discover new artists and expand their musical horizons, enhancing the overall experience. Are only gripe was we wish they had more latin acts (especially since the fest lands right in the middle of Latin-Hispanic Heritage Month). Some more hip hop would have been a nice addition also since we are celebrating the 50th year of Hip Hop. But hey who are we to complain.

Furthermore, the festival grounds themselves were well-organized and provided ample space for attendees to explore. Multiple stages were strategically placed, ensuring minimal sound overlap and making it easy to navigate between performances. Various food vendors and beverage stations dotted the area, providing tasty options to fuel festival-goers throughout the day.

The beautiful Zilker Park.(Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The festival organizers also prioritized sustainability and environmental consciousness, implementing eco-friendly initiatives such as recycling bins and encouraging the use of reusable water bottles. These efforts demonstrated a commitment to minimizing the festival's ecological footprint and promoting a greener future.

The overall atmosphere of the festival was one of positivity, with attendees sharing a sense of excitement and camaraderie. The friendly and patient staff helped create a safe and welcoming environment, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable and included. One of the most delightful crowds we have had a chance to be part of in the last ten years that we have covered.

Crowds gather for headliners ODESZA (Photo Credit: Molly Polus)

Overall, the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival was a resounding success, combining a diverse lineup, exceptional performances, and a positive atmosphere that left attendees satisfied and eager for more. Whether you are a seasoned festival-goer or a first-timer, this festival is sure to provide an unforgettable experience that celebrates the power of music and community. See you next year Austin!

Words: Robert Castro

Weekend 1 Photos: Robert Castro

Weekend 2 Photos: Molly Polus

Weekend 1 Photo Gallery

Photo Credit: Robert Castro

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Shania Twain on weekend 1 of The Austin City Limits Music Festival (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

SUNDAY

Weekend 2 Photo Gallery

Photo Credit: Molly Polus

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2022 Shines With Another Successful Year

November 4, 2022

The 2022 rendition of Austin City Limits seemed to have one of the most diverse lineups in the festivals history. We saw legends like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to emo pioneers Paramore. In between new acts like Wet Leg and Larry June proved they belonged on the big festival stage. Along with great music ACL also provides some of the best festival experiences unlike others. ACL Eats gives festival foodies a chance to try some of Austin’s best local food. Barton Springs Beer Hall gives beer aficionados a chance to indulge in some of the finest craft beers around. A local market also showcases some of the city’s best artisanal goods. Activations from Wrangler, Honda, Coca Cola, Hulu provided for some amazing exponential and immersive experiences.

Friday:

Wet Leg

Buzz band Wet Leg made their ACL debut on the first day of the festival. Stemming from an amazing SXSW last year the duo of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers brought their indie rock sounds to an early Friday crowd. The band looked as if they were just enjoying the big stage often in awe of each other and the crowd. One of the highlights of the weekend.

Teezo Touchdown

We had a chance to see Teezo Touchdown for the first time at Red Rocks earlier this year and we were very intrigued. Draped with a wig of nails, he definitely got our attention. Seeing him on the lineup we were not going to miss a chance to see him again. In one of the best performances of the festival, he managed to win over some new fans as well as establish himself as a artist to keep an eye on.

Jazmine Sullivan

This was our first time seeing Jazmine Sullivan, her sultry vocals and unique take on r&b made us new fans. The Philly native has won many accolades in her short time putting her in some exclusive company. Her set was vibrant and she often chatted with the crowd giving fans an intimate experience on day one. Look for bigger and better things in 2023.

Arlo Parks

Hailing from London, England, Parks recently won us over with her debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams”. The indie-pop songstress played down a perfect set as the crowd caught a glimpse of one of music newest and brightest stars. She definitely made for one of our favorite sets of the festival.

Phoenix

A trip down memory lane would be the only way to describe Phoenix’s set on day one of the festival. The Parisian indie rockers had a late afternoon dancing to all the familiar hits that have established the bands prominence over the years. Led by frontman Thomas Mars, one of the more animated lead singers of any band, the set itself made for one of the best. Mars has been know to take the performance into the crowd and he did not disappoint as festival goers got the intimate experience.

Omar Apollo

Named one of Apple Music’s “Up Next” artist Omar Apollo continues to grow his star power with his take on Indie music. With latin roots heavily influenced in his music, Apollo interwinds language and genres wit a conniving appeal. His set was a perfect example, settling in for a amazing performance that will make festival attendees reminisce about the time they same him perform on one of the smaller stages at ACL.

SZA

Friday night headliner SZA had Zilker buzzing all day as the much anticipated performance closed out the first night of ACL. Adorned with a seaport backdrop and commencing down a lighthouse tower SZA played a near flawless set as she entertained the masses for almost two hours. Hits such as “Broken Clocks” and “Love Galore” along with Black Panther soundtrack standout “All The Stars” stood out the most. With a new album on the way the momentum is only beginning for what SZA has in store for 2023.

Saturday:

Lido Pimienta

Day two of the festival started with the Colombian sound from Lido Pimienta. We had done our research beforehand and was looking very forward to their set, that did not disappoint. Meshing latin infused sounds with a flair, the band won over a handful of new fans during their early set on Saturday. We expect this group to continue to grow and add to the folklore of ACL bands who played smaller stages early in their career.

Tai Verdes

This was our first time seeing Tai Verdes, hailing from California, Verdes brings a fresh approach to R&B and Pop. With hit single “Stuck In The Middle” on a majority of Best of playlists in 2021. No stranger to the big stage, Verdes played for a rather decent crowd with many die-hard fans making their way to the very from to catch a glimpse of the up-and-coming star. We expect nothing but big things in the future from one of our favorites of Saturday.

Princess Nokia

As the sun was beginning to hit mid-day stride, it was only fitting Princess Nokia came out on stage with a water gun to cool the crowd. Destiny Nicole Frasqueri, known professionally as Princess Nokia can be described as emo rap meshing all elements of hip hop to create a sound that makes you want to dance. Fans who caught her set vibed to the duration of her set as she played crowd favorites from her catalog. Often interacting with the crowd, Nokia fed off the crowd and delivered a knockout.

Boy George and Culture Club

Known for such hits as “Karma Chameleon”, “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me”, and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya”, the legendary singer and his band Culture Club have earned legendary status among the music industry for decades now. With a style fitting for the decade of the late 70’s and early 80’s, the songs brought about a certain nostalgia that has always been part of our music listening pleasure. Known for his flamboyant nature, Boy George reminded us all of the fun one can have with music. Easily one of out top three performances of the weekend.

Sofi Tukker

Sofi Tukker is a musical duo based in Florida consisting of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern. The duo managed to give their all hype-influenced performance during their Golden Hour set. The band is known for their customary hype-induced sets that get the crowd going. Alternating between a plethora of instruments on stage, the duo knows how to hit all the right chords and their live shows are always entertaining. Adorned in a orange to pink gradient pant and matching shirt ensemble, the band was hitting on all cylinders ahead of their set. A perfect wind-down set yet enough energy to take us into the evenings headliners.

Lil Nas X

For us the most anticipated set we had been looking to all weekend. Lil Nas X exploded onto the scene just a couple years ago and aside from a few live appearances here and there has been hard to capture his live show. As the saying goes “good things come to those who wait” couldn’t have been more true. Flanked by a production that could easily make for a stadium tour, Lil Nas X ripped through his small but amazing catalog with sing-alongs and dynamic wardrobe changes. You can tell many of those in the crowd had been waiting all day for this and he did not dissapoint.

Diplo

We have been following Diplo’s career for a,ost a decade now, since our early days covering SXSW. Throughout the years he has blessed us with some of the most amazing heat seeking dance numbers that have ever existed. From production credits on some of the biggest artist in the world, he has always pushed the envelope to pioneering the “new” sound we all have come to love. His set was simple, to the point, and flawless, just as we would have expected.

Flume

Hailing from Australia, Harley Streten known to the world as Flume has made leaps and bounds to get to where he is today. Headlining a major festival does not come easy, especially in the EDM world. Flume has grown and matured with each album he had released to become a household name. Flanked by an array of mood setting lighting, Flume came out the gates with no hesitation exploding into an all out dance party for the masses who took position on the Honda Stage.

Sunday:

Larry June

We got off to an early start on Sunday to check out Larry June, hailing from the Bay Area. June has made a name for himself within the last year creating a buzz amongst the hip hop world.Although June has been honing his craft for a few years his recent work has been well received and is truly one to keep an eye out for in the coming years. June even had a famous celebrity in attendance during his set as Craig Robinson from The Office was seen vibing out to the rappers West Coast sound.

Urban Heat

The term buzz band is always thrown around the festival circuit from time to time, sometimes the act pans out, sometimes they fizzle. In the case of Austin locals Urban Heat, we feel like they will definitely hang around for the long term. They're set at the BMI stage set-off a trajectory path that will see the band continue to shine and introduce themselves to the music world. With a retro sound reminiscent of bands such as Depeche Mode and The Cure, the band rides the New Wave sound with absolute perfection and style.

BIA

Puerto Rican rapper BIA has been enjoying the success of her breakout hit “Whole Lotta Money” in 2021. Garnering several hip hop song of the year awards, BIA reminds us of the 80-90’s era of hip hop, raw, catchy and a penchant for style. Now living in Los Angeles BIA has a future on which to shine as she continues to impress. The future is bright and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Paramore

When the ACL lineup was announced, nobody created a bigger buzz than Paramore. Having played together as a band since 2018 the band sent shockwaves across the industry by not only announcing a new album but also a tour with a few prominent music festivals along the way. Led by emo-queen Hayley Williams, the band has earned noteworthy success by being one of the first successful emo, pop-punk bands of its generation. With sing-along anthems at their disposal, the ACL crowd (some who had waited hours to get a from row seat) ate it all up. Probably our favorite set of the festival as we had imagined.

Kacey Musgraves

The best way to end our festival was from Texas’s own Kacey Musgrave. The country pop singer took us through a career spanning set that included all her number one hits and some other well known gems. At one point the singer was joined on stage by Beto O’Rourke who is currently running for state governor. The crowd seemed to eat it up as he brought her out a beer as she stated she was thirsty. We had a chance to see Musgraves a couple years ago at this same festival and she only continues to climb the ranks of some of. the best to ever do it.

This brought our festival to an end and once again we cannot stress the importance of why this has been our favorite festival to cover. From the amazing food and beer options, to ease of coming into the park, the amazing hospitality and most important the well curated lineups that bring us back year after year. Until next year ACL.

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2019: Best Of Highlights

November 9, 2019

In a unusual twist of weather change our first day of weekend two at the Austin City Music Festival found us scouring for our warmest hoodie as temperatures dipped into the mid to low 50’s. In fact it was the first time in covering the festival that we saw blankets and hoodies sprawled out all over Zilker Park. Being from Colorado (where we just escaped a winter storm the day before) it was right in our element. The festival once again was highlighted by amazing music, food and just about anything else you could think of at a music fest.

Black Pistol Fire

Loud, raw and infectious, Black Pistol Fire has all the elements to become one of the next big rock bands. The Austin based duo didn’t disappoint with their set as they drew various on-lookers with their unique penchant and showmanship of rock and roll.

King Princess

Easily one of our favorite acts of the day was King Princess. Mikaela Mullaney Straus, whose moniker King Princess stole the show with her bubble gum personality and stage presence. On the heels of her breakout album Cheap Queen, King Princess has developed a cult like following as witnessed by the amount of adoring fans that caught her mid-day set. One of our favorite sets of the festival.

K. Flay

We have been huge fans of K. Flay for awhile and knew she would be bringing an amazing set. Her no-hands barred approach to her music left fans wanting more as she strutted with her usual prowess up and down the stage. Flanked by her bandmates in all-white ensembles, the band demonstrated a kind team-like effort as they scorched through their set.

Lil Uzi Vert

Our first hip hop set of the festival lhad us thirsting for more as Uzi maintained exuberant energy from beginning to end. One of the new sung heroes of the hip hop genre, Uzi demonstrated his immaculate skills as the crowd knew pretty much every word to every one of his songs. A bright up and comer who has a bright future.

Kaytranada

One of the hottest producers to come into the scene the last few years. Kaytranada played a energetic set as temperatures cooled off. The younger crowd seemed to enjoy it the most as he cranked out some of his more familiar hits along with some newer material that we are excited to listen to.

Jenny Lewis

One can’t go wrong with the beautiful Jenny Lewis and she played one of the better sets of the weekend. Adorned in her usual beautifully crafted gowns Lewis was very engaged with her crowd as she ripped through crowd favorites including “Red Bull and Hennesy” and more. We have had a chance to see Lewis on a few occasions and this was one of her better sets we have seen.

Thom Yorke

Winner for best mid-day set goes to Mr. Thom Yorke. The Radiohead frontman gave us a glimpse of his solo project as he gave us infectious beats and his gyrating moves that gave us a sample of something different from his Radiohead stuff. We don’t know of any other artist who can combine a variety of different projects all while sounding unique in their own way.

Tame Impala

We left Denver on the eve of Tame Impalas back to back sold out shows at Mission Ballroom only to see them for a third time Friday night at Zilker Park. While they kept the same sets as before, one can never get enough Tame. Kevin Parker a man of many talents commands his band to greater heights each and every year with more balanced and polished material that earned them a well deserved headlining slot this year and for years to come.

Orville Peck

Ever year the festival is filled with buzz acts, this year only one act lived up to its hype. Orville Peck hit the Honda Stage with a force and gained some new fans in return. The Canadian born country act with his customary fringed mask unleashed a form of country that stands out from the customary genre. Like other country artist trying to bend the country sound like Sturgill Simpson and others, Peck lived to the hype with one of the biggest crowds of the weekend. A tour is on the way and we suggest catching him when he visits your city.

Denzel Curry

The younger crowds seemed to flock to any stage involving EDM and Hip Hop. Such was the case with Denzel Curry’s set. One of hip hops emerging stars, Curry has paid his dues and continues down his path towards stardom. A rathe packed mid-day set at the Honda Stage left the crowd hyped as they sang word for word the raucous inducing lyrics to Curry’s songs. Much in the manner in which we have seen young stars command the ACL stages early in their career such as Kendrick Lamar and Chance The Rapper, the future is bright for all of the younger generation of hip hop artist today.

Tierra Whack

One sure way to win the crowd over is to reward them with snacks. Up and comer Tierra Whack was a crowd favorite and she shined with a live set that had her smiling ear to ear for her whole set. Hailing from the “City of Brotherly Love” her penchant for creativity and eccentric stage presence makes her a favorite among music fans. She lived up to the hype with a amazing set in which she even brought a fan onstage to help with her with a few songs. One of the standout sets of the weekend.

Brittany Howard

This year featured an impressive women’s lineup highlighted by some of the best. One of our favorites was Brittany Howard, many of you will know her of the lead singer of indie outfit Alabama Shakes. With her solo debut burning up the charts we had a chance to see her solo project and we were pretty much left speechless. Hands down one of our top three sets of the weekend. Her unique howl and penchant for emotionally laced lyrics captivated those who flocked to the Honda Stage to witness a truly powerful and uplifting performance.

Kali Uchis

One of the reasons we love ACL is when we see a star being born. With a boom in Latin music hitting the airwaves, at the forefront is Kali Uchis. The Colombian songstress brings all the elements to a live performance, sass, elaborate outfits, catchy music and more. Her set won over her current fans as well as her new fans. We predict she will be playing main stage in the upcoming years.

Gary Clark Jr.

We have long been a huge fan of Gary Clark Jr., we have seen him progress from playing small clubs during SXSW to epic performances here in Denver at Red Rocks. A master behind the guitar, Clark Jr, brings a blues infused sound that has set the bar for the genre for many generations to come. His golden hour set was a perfect way to get us ready for the evenings headliners.

21 Savage

Another of the new generation of hip hop artist, 21 Savage has garnered the attention of many with his unique penchant for his rapping abilities which are often dark and gritty. His set seemed to lack a bit of energy from what we expected and left us a bit deflated after a whirlwind performance from Gary Clark Jr.

The Cure

This was our second time getting to see The Cure. For me The Cure provided the soundtrack to my high school years. Led by the enigmatic Robert Smith, The Cure have continued to give us sad songs we have come to love and cherish. Reaching far from their extended catalog, The Cure played all the hits and had us reminiscing to the glory years of the 80’s and 90’s that paved the way for many ofd todays artist today.

Rosalia

Talk about festival breakout performance. Rosalia was one, if not the highlights of the festival this year. Hailing from Spain, the songstress was able to show her amazing talents backed up by amazing dancers that gave her performance substance and fluidity. One to keep an eye on going forward, im sure this isn’t the last we have heard from the amazing talent.

Kacey Musgraves

Texas’s own Kacey Musgraves held down the Sunday golden hour set by putting on an amazing performance for her die-hard fans. The fans all adorned with their cowboy hats and western attire all got a glimpse of country’s biggest stars. Playing a majority of her hits from her latest album Golden Hour, Musgraves tore through her set all while keeping her contagious smile that made for a delightful set.

Lizzo

Lizzo, what can we say? You stole our hearts and pretty much won over the festival by putting together the best performance of the weekend. While many in attendance where scrambling to one of the smaller side stages to catch a glimpse, the stage was so packed it started spilling over into the Honda main stage once her set started. As usual Lizzo came out to a huge ovation and ripped through her latest catalog while everybody in the crowd sang word for word. Amazing set and this is only the beginning.

Robyn

We were surprised when we saw the headliner for Sunday night, many of the younger generation are not all too familiar with Robyn, and if they are it may be off one of her singles “Dancing on my Own”, with that being said we have been huge fans of her since the beginning and when we say the beginning we mean “Show Me Love” days. Regardless, we got a amazing performance and was a perfect ending to our three day weekend. She danced, laughed, and left it all on the stage giving those in attendance a memorable and unforgettable set. What a weekend. Kudos to ACL for the well represented female lineup on Sunday. Once again you prove to be the best music festival in the world. Until next year. Y’all take care.

Words and photos by Robert Castro

Austin City Limits Music Festival Lineup Announcement

May 1, 2018

The 17th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival will deliver one of the most exceptional lineups of this year's festival season with headliners Paul McCartney, Metallica, Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys, TRAVIS SCOTT and ODESZA. The history-making bill includes first time ACL Fest performances and only North American festival appearances by both Paul McCartney and Metallica, a triumphant return by GRAMMY, Golden Globe and Emmy-Award winning Childish Gambino, a highly anticipated performance from Arctic Monkeys, and debut sets from Texas native TRAVIS SCOTT and electronic superstars ODESZA. The National, Khalid, Hozier, David Byrne, CHVRCHES, Deftones, Justice, ST. VINCENT, Sylvan Esso, FATHER JOHN MISTY, Brandi Carlile, ILLENIUM, Janelle Monáe and many more will take the stage throughout ACL Fest's colossal two consecutive weekends. ACL Fest 2018 will deliver more than 125 bands across eight stages at Zilker Park, October 5-7 and October 12-14. Tickets are available now atwww.aclfestival.com.

This year's incredible lineup will showcase some of music's most captivating artists including Shawn Mendes(Weekend Two), Camila Cabello (Weekend One), Deftones (Weekend One), BØRNS, Manchester Orchestra, Lily Allen (Weekend Two), The Breeders, Houndmouth, Sharon Van Etten (Weekend One), Marian Hill (Weekend Two), Elle King, Bishop Briggs, Bahamas, Mt. Joy, Cuco, Durand Jones & The Indications, and much more. Buzzworthy artists including BROCKHAMPTON, REZZ, GRETA VAN FLEET (Weekend One), San Holo, Gryffin, and Sofi Tukker (Weekend One) will electrify audiences, while Prince's legendary backing band, The Revolution, bring the groove.

Honoring homegrown talent has always been a tradition of ACL Fest, and this year is no exception. Native Texans including Shakey Graves and Golden Dawn Arkestra will perform both weekends, while Khruangbin, Asleep at the Wheel, Sweet Spirit, Jackie Venson, Molly Burch, Sailor Poon and more will deliver the tunes on Weekend One. Charley Crockett, Duncan Fellows, Harry Paradise, Kydd Jones, Curtis Roush and more will perform on Weekend Two.

Austin City Limits Music Festival has been honored to call Zilker Park home for the past 17 years. In a continued commitment to enrich our community, a portion of proceeds from ACL Festival go directly towards improving Austin's parks. Since 2006, ACL Festival, in partnership with the Austin Parks Foundation, has donated more than $30 million towards improvements to Zilker Park and parks across the city.

3-Day General Admission Tickets for both weekends are on sale now at www.aclfestival.com. 3-Day VIP and Platinum Tickets and Hotel Packages are also available. VIP ticketholders will enjoy a brand new shaded viewing deck with exceptional sightlines of the main stage, as well as the new VIP-Platinum bar located at Rock Island, the perfect place to grab a complimentary cold beer or glass of wine while roaming the festival grounds. A full list of VIP and Platinum amenities can be viewed here. Music fans ages 10 and under will be admitted free of charge accompanied by a ticketed adult. 1-Day General Admission Tickets, 1-Day VIP Tickets and 1-Day Platinum Tickets will be available later in the year.

Fans worldwide who can't make it to Zilker Park can watch The Official 2018 Austin City Limits Music Festival Live Broadcast on Red Bull TV, which is distributed digitally for free on the web at redbull.tv, connected TVs, smartphones and tablets as well as ACLFestival.com. A full schedule of performances will be announced this summer on ACLFestival.com.

Fans can sign up for the E-List to be the first to get new information at www.aclfestival.com, download the ACL Fest Mobile App, and follow social media to stay in the loop for all festival announcements. Facebook || Instagram || Twitter.

Austin City Limits Music Festival is generously sponsored by American Express, Honda, Miller Lite, HomeAway, BMI, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Karbach Brewing Co., and Lifeway Kefir.

The Best of Austin City Limits: Weekend Two Dominated By The Headliners Including Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar and LCD Soundsystem

October 19, 2016

America has become the hotbed for music festivals all around the world. It seems like nowadays you can find yourself at a festival on any given weekend throughout the year. We have covered a fair share of fest ourselves throughout the years, safe to say nothing compares to The Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Having covered the fest for a few years now, this year the lineup was probably one of the best in recent history. we had a chance to roam around and capture some of the best moments from both weekends. We picked our favorites from the slew of artist that provided for three days of amazing music.

FRIDAY

Raury:

People here in Denver will recognize the name as he recently played a Red Bull Sound Select show at Larimer Lounge not long ago. His mid-day set on Friday packed in the Home Away stage, the talented R&B (folk, hip hop) singer from Atlanta was energetic and delivered a soulful set that had the crowd swooning when it was all set and done. Cut from the same thread as Pharell, we expect big things from the up and coming artist.

Banks and Steelz:

Super groups have always been hit or miss. Often enough when you mix two different dynamics you never know what to expect. In the case of Banks and Steelz you mix in one part Interpol and one part Wu Tang Clan. At first it sounds like a recipe for disaster but upon listening to them live it gives you one of the most intriguing sounds of the year. Paul banks serenades you with his distinct voice while The RZA's sharp lyrics and production complete one another to form a bond of musical mastery. Their early set had many in the crowd bobbing their head to the unexpected beat.

Flight Facilities:

We are always on the hunt to check out new music that we never heard before. Catching them in a festival is more gratifying as to the fact that you know they are going to push the boundaries for an unforgettable set. Friday took us to catch Flight Facilities. We gotta admit we were flying into this one blind (pun intended). Their upbeat dance anthems were enough to sway us into a good time. Featuring guest vocalist throughout their set the duo consists of Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell. Flanked by a pyramid stage and adorned in full flight pilot outfits it was the first early dance party of the day.

Foals:

The lads from across the pond continue to impress overtime we see them. I would say we have seen them close to 4-5 times in the last year and a half. We were fortunate enough to catch them while here in Austin for an ACL Live tapping. Their Friday set was pretty energetic as frontman Yannis Philippakis gives every ounce of energy during their live shows. A packed stage saw the band perform a mix of all of their albums including favorites "Inhaler", "Mountain At My Gates", and the ever dance friendly "My Number".

Radiohead:

The anticipation for this performance has been slowly simmering since they were first announced as headliners for this fest. While we have been following the various dates on the tour including many festival stops, it would bare no comparison to seeing them live. The Friday night headliners provided for, what has to be one of the tours best sets in terms of songs they played. They managed to play a rather "fan favorite friendly" set from beginning to end. Flanked by the brothers Greenwood, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway along with Portishead drummer Clive Deamer, the band ripped through the two hour set taking us through past generations of songs such as "Let Down", "Just", "My Iron Lung", and "Paranoid Android". The set relied heavily on material from In Rainbows including "All I Need", "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", "Bodysnatchers", "Nude", and "Reckoner". The performance also marked a special occasion for Mr. Thom Yorke as he celebrated a birthday as well, the thousands in attendance took time to sing him the traditional Happy Birthday ballad that Yorke accepted with graciousness.

Saturday

Saint Motel:

We have seen some major strides by these fellas. It was not long ago they were playing smaller venues across the country, Saturday they wowed the masses with one of the most suprising sets of the day. Well done Saint Motel, not long before you guys get that primetime slot at night.

Andra Day:

This was one of our favorite sets of the day. Andra Day channeled her inner Nina Simone and Billie Holiday for an amazing set in what was the hottest performance of the weekend. Sweltering heat did not keep her from delivering a knockout soulful punch.

LL Cool J and Z Trip

What can we say two legends honing their own respected craft we have come to love. The precision turntablism of Z Trip and old school hip hop of LL Cool J on the same stage. LL played all the hits which took us back to the Round Away Girl days to the Mama Said Knock You Out days. Looking like he hasn't missed a step, LL managed to entertain the crowd during the duration of his epic set.

Melanie Martinez

A crowd favorite Melanie Martinez delivered her style of bubble gum pop to the rather younger crowd in the audience. Flanked by a stage resembling an infants nursery Martinez had the crowd swooning with hits "Cry Baby" and "Pity Party". One of the more enjoyable sets of the Saturday early evening.

Kendrick Lamar

The prince of hip hop was ready to make his headlining performance on the main stage one for those to talk about for years to come. Reaching from his catalog of hits Lamar gave the crowd an unforgettable performance. Not bad for a guy who was playing a much smaller stage only a few years ago. With a much more mature style and richer sound thanks to a full band Lamar tore through staples like "Backseat Freestyle", "King Kunta", and "Alright".

SUNDAY

Margo Price:

Country music's next biggest star laid into a great performance on Sunday as Margo Price continues to take a name for herself in her specific genre. Price entertained an early afternoon crowd with her hits "Four Years of Chances", and "Hands of Time". It won't be long until she becomes a mainstay on the festival circuit playing the main stage.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Denver boys Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats have been making a name for themselves among the festival circuit. Touring non-stop for the latter half of the last two years Rateliff and the boys have been dancing up a storm all along the way. With that throwback chiseled sound of yesteryear, the band makes it a point that you will dance throughout their whole set. Such was the case with their late afternoon Sunday set. With a new record coming soon we cannot wait to see these guys again here in Denver.

LCD Soundsystem

Putting the finishing touches on their festival circuit James Murphy and company closed out the 2016 Austin City Limits Music Festival in grand fashion. A dance party of epic proportions they didn't hold back as the crowd ate up every ounce of energy emitting from the Brooklyn band. Hits such as "All My Friends", "Dance Yrself Clean", and "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" were a perfect ending to an otherwise perfect festival. Set among the banks of Zilker Park, ACL continues to make for the most fun music festival in the world. Until next year Austin.

Austin City Limits: Weekend One Highlights

October 5, 2016

Austin City Limits saw the return of Radiohead on Friday night during weekend one of the two weekend fest. While perfect weather adorned the record crowds it was the awesome array of musical acts that stole the show.

Friday's Best:

Radiohead: They managed to reach into their catalog for one of their best festival sets this year. (expecting a possible better set this weekend, after all it is Them Yorke's birthday)

Flying Lotus: Perfect primer for Radiohead, he managed to get the crowd nice and comfy for the evenings headliner. Lotus continues to push boundaries with his awesome sets, would have preferred a later set to emphasize his amazing visuals.

Die Antwoord: The South American rap duo amazed and probably played one of the best sets Friday mid afternoon. The band was all over the place singing and dancing with a huge crowd participation.

Band of Horses: Sandwiched between Flume and M83, the Seattle rockers held their own with a emphatic set of southern rock. We got a chance to see an ACL Live tapping Sunday night which was amazing.

Saturday's Best:

Saint Motel: This band continues to grow and grow right in front of our eyes. Their Saturday performance is a testament to that. Can't wait to see what they bring on weekend two.

Cage The Elephant: You never know what to expect from these guys, one thing is for certain they leave it all on the line. Singer Matt Schultz is a modern day version of Freddy Mercury mixed in with a hint of Mick Jagger.

SchoolBoy Q: Fresh off a new album Schoolboy gave the crowd a rather energetic set setting it up perfectly for label mate Kendrick Lamar. Playing a majority of new songs it's no wonder his latest album has been met with praise.

The Chainsmokers: They definitely packed the Home Away stage unlike we have ever seen. This years version of Twenty One pilots has made a name for itself with it's live shows incorporating great visuals and musical theatrics.

Kendrick Lamar: King Kendrick played a flawless set proving why he belongs headliner status. His no holds barred approach to hip hop has put him in the upper echelon of the genre, in fact he may be leading us into the next era of hip hop and rap.

Sunday's Best:

The final day of weekend one heavily featured some of country music's best.

Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats: Denver's own held their status as one of the most surprising acts of the year. Their mid-day crowded performance had everybody singing and dancing to the retro soul sounds off the band. Great to see reactions for these guys outside of Denver.

Kacey Musgraves: The country starlett gave us a dose of her country antics reaching into a few of the covers she has been known to rock including "Crazy" from Gnarls Barkley and Nancy Sinatra's “These Boots Are Made For Walkin".

Oh Wonder: Probably the most surprising set for me. I literally fell in love with this duo, who proclaimed it was their first time playing in our great state. One of the better up and coming bands we suggest you take a listen.

HAIM: The threesome are back after a brief break following there amazing debut album. These three sisters always put on for an amazing show. They showcased a bit more maturity and amazing sound since we saw them last in Denver almost two years ago.

LCD Soundsystem: After witnessing a jaw dropping legendary performance at Red Rocks earlier this year, they managed to continue their fever pace as their festival circuit is coming to an end. Same setup and same songs James Murphy and company will be heading to the studio soon to work on their new album. We cannot wait.