Austin City Limits Delivers Back to Back Weekends Of Musical Bliss

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

The Lumineers perform on weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

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

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 Returns Strong In 2021

Austin City Limits Music Festival made its triumphant return after sitting out a year due to the (still) ongoing pandemic. The 20th anniversary raised eyebrows as they decided to continue with the festival this year considering the high rates of COVID rates in the Austin area. Using the same blueprint that Lollapalooza used this year the festival implemented a mandatory vaccination proof to enter (or negative test within the past 72 hours). While the crowd did seem smaller the entertainment didn’t skip a beat as this years lineup boasted an array of some of musics best. The festival prides itself on the amazing music lineup year after year but it’s also the amazing amenities the fest offers such as world class food, amazing drink options and a plus this year that offered Bonus Tracks with q and a sessions with some amazing guests. We broke down our highlights from each day with some amazing photo galleries.

Friday Day One:

Highlights: Durand Jones and The Indications, Machine Gun Kelly, Leann Rimes, Remi Wolf, Megan Thee Stallion, Erykah Badu.

Day one started with a set from Durand Jones and The Indications, his performance was a perfect warm up for an amazing weekend, reaching into his bag of tricks, he pulled out all the soulful feels that reminded us why we fell in love with him a few years ago at SXSW. One of the most anticipated acts of the festival this year was Machine Gun Kelly who has gained recent fame for his transition to a more mellow emo punk sound. That topped with his tabloid worthy relationship with girlfriend Megan Fox has garnered attention on a daily basis. He even climbed the soundboard tower tangling only by his feet while singing and inducing the crowd into a frenzy. We took a trip down memory lane as we had a chance to catch the always charming LeAnn Rimes during her mid-day set as she seemed in high spirits as she tore through her chart topping catalog, one of the more underrated sets of the festival for us.

Durand Jones and The Indications

Machine Gun Kelly

Leann Rimes

Megan Thee Stallion

Erykah Badu

Saturday Day Two

Highlights: Gracie Abrams, Jade Bird, Remi Wolf, Phoebe Bridgers, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Rüfüs Du Sol, Bille Eilish

Day two got us up and early to catch some of the smaller acts that we can only imagine playing later slots in the near future. One of our favorites we discovered at SXSW a few years ago was Jade Bird and she continues to impress with a more pop-country style that is infectious and charming. Remi Wolf was a surprise as her high energy set was perfect for the mid-day crowd, we saw her last month here in Denver for The UMS and were excited to see her slay her set for a bigger audience. One of the acts we were most excited to see was Phoebe Bridgers, we did get a sneak peak of her set on Thursday at her ACL Live taping. The often outspoken artist delivers amazing live sets and carefully crafted lyrics that stir emotions. One of the festivals biggest draws was for the hit-worthy Doja Cat who managed to live to the hype with her well produced set. One of hip-hops rising stars Jack Harlow also delivered as his status as one of the best live acts continues to grow, it was at one point in which you could hear the whole crowd singing to his hit “WHATS POPPIN” that made for an amazing festival memory. The night wrapped up with Rüfüs Du Sol and Billie Eilish on the main stages.

Remi Wolf

Phoebe Bridgers

Doja Cat

Jack Harlow

Rüfüs Du Sol

Sunday Day Three

Highlights: Serena Isioma, Amber Mark, Jessie Murph, Tate McRae, Cautious Clay, Marc Rebillet, Karol G, Tyler The Creator

Our last day of the festival was filled with what we have coined he Tik Tok generation, social influencers who have harassed the power of social media to create a mass following. The weather remained amazing as we got a chance to check out more of the amazing amenities this festival has to offer, Austin Eats gave us a chance to sample some of the city’s best delicacies while the Beer Hall let us cool down with some amazing brews and needed shade. Some of the days best acts included Jessie Murph, Tate McRae, and Cautious Clay rounded up the early sets with noteworthy performances. The late afternoon/evening sets got kicked off by the “Loop Daddy” himself Marc Rebilet whose over the top performances did not disappoint. The Honda Stage welcomed Colombian artist Karol G who gave fans a bit of latin flavor with her dance infusing Reggaeton hits. Original headliner Da Baby was replaced over some controversial remarks about the LGBTQ community and rtaking his place was Tyler The Creator. Tyler put on one of the best sets of the festival with his customary quirky performances and flare for the dramatic. Many thanks to all who helped put this festival together this year considering the circumstances of an on-going pandemic, It gave us hope for three days that music is making a comeback and bringing people together once agin.

Serena Isioma

Amber Mark

Tate Mcrae

Cautious Clay

Marc Rebillet

Karol G

Tyler The Creator