Once again, Austin City Limits is a journey through space and time, departing from Zilker Park to take you to the happiest corners of your musical memory. The route begins with the Strokes and the Killers, whose golden pop will lead us to meet Cage the Elephant and delve into the past decade and the cosmic sounds of Empire of the Sun. Just before ending in the arms of the princesses of the 2020s, Doechii and Sabrina Carpenter.
Two weekends await us in the garden of musical dreams. Zilker Park is a place to navigate nostalgia and the happiness of the small, great moments that music gives us. During these two weekends, October 3-5 and 10-12, we’ll discover timeless anthems like the ones you can listen to on our Spotify playlist.
The presence of big-name acts like Sabrina, Doechii, DJO, the Killers, and the Strokes will produce unwanted crowds near bucolic Zilker Park, which for a few days will abandon its routine peace to host thousands of people and unbridled decibels on the Colorado River. Keep in mind that the entrances are limited and you may find yourself stuck in a long line if you decide to go during the peak hours of the day. Drink plenty of water, and if you need a drink, ask the festival staff or locate the hydration areas located on the grounds. It’s free and can save your life. Finally, smile and be respectful. Good vibes are everything at this festival. It’s about having fun and making others enjoy themselves. Don’t forget that.
It’s hard to choose among the dozens of fascinating options at Austin City Limits, but don’t worry. Here’s a guide that summarizes the best of the best.
Simply the Strokes
The New Yorkers are icons visiting Austin after changing the sound of pop for a quarter of a century. Julián Casablancas, Albert Hammond, and the rest of the band haven’t gifted us with new studio material for a while, but no one can ask anything more of them than to bear the weight of their legend on their shoulders and continue delivering live shows that are homilies to their acolytes.
The Princess Is the New Queen
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The new queen of pop threatens to collapse the city like Chapelle Roan did last year. Her controversial new album, Men’s Best Friend, has marked her rise to pop stardom and a definitive break with her Disney past. The queen comes to Austin to collect her crown through her iconic hit singles like Manchild, Feather, and Espresso. Sweet and short, she’ll have everyone at her feet in Zilker Park.
The Pop Totem
Another of the pop legends of the early 20th century returns to Austin to reconnect with a part of our lives. The Las Vegas band represented much more than a handful of good songs like Mr. Brightside. The Killers colonized the charts and dictated the direction of pop during a decade of tyrannical reign. Still present in many of today’s bands and sounds, they are a totem to turn to for a glimpse of the guys who rewrote the history of music.
A Street Whirlwind at Austin City Limits
She has ceased to be a distant echo on TikTok to become the best rapper of the moment. She has just united the streets and the awards after taking home the Grammy for Best Rap Album, something only Lauryn Hill and Cardi B had previously achieved. Doechii is a whirlwind of boundless talent, creativity, and an encyclopedia of the best urban sounds. A musical delight that will fill Zilker Park with brilliant rhymes and unbridled bass.
More than Stranger Things
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Djo, or rather, Joseph David Keery, is a mass phenomenon on TikTok and in American music. Yes, Steve from Stranger Things is the new male contender to the pop throne. But far beyond his popular face lies a bold, catchy, yet sophisticated sound that overshadows interesting lyrics and a highly commendable personal style. A more than pleasant surprise. We’ll see him rise to stardom in this dreamy Austin City Limits.
The Best of Both Worlds
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These guys have always known how to fuse the best of American and British sounds into a sophisticated and noisy package. Originally from Kentucky, they moved to London to find a niche in that rock that they’ve been developing without losing an ounce of freshness or irreverence. Cage the Elephant have been cool since their breakthrough with their indispensable debut self-titled album to their latest, Neon Pill. A fascinating journey that they will revisit before us at Zilker Park in a sonic delight.
That Dark Object of Desire
These Australians have always been the epitome of the strange and the irresistible. A guilty musical pleasure that has left us with such addictive oddities as Walking on a Dream. That album arrived in the perfect moment. Electropop, nostalgia, cosmic sounds… It had it all. Its rarity, like the rest of the band’s discography, has become a lost gem from the 2010s that occasionally returns to our ears to remind us how happy we were listening to them.
The Latest Revolution
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The British duo already revolutionized Austin at an SXSW to remember. Since 2022, they have solidified the promise of their sound with their new Moisturizer, one of the albums of the year. Without a doubt, one of the most radiant revolutions in the alternative scene in recent years. With just two albums on the market, they already have authentic anthems like Chaise Long, CPR, and Wet Dream, and a unique stage presence. One of the highlights of this Austin City Limits and one of the festival’s music-lovers’ havens.
Back to Your Happy Place
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Every year, the lineup hides hidden gems amidst the glitter of the biggest stars. The clearest proof of this is Olivia Dean’s presence on Saturday mornings at Austin City Limits, far from the spotlight reserved for other, more recognizable faces on the lineup. But don’t let the flashes blind you; the British artist, her neo-soul, and her voice take us back to the Supremes, Amy Winehouse, and Lauryn Hill. Olivia Dean is a return to your happy place. A true sonic delight that you shouldn’t miss.
The Charisma of Austin City Limits
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Michelle Zaumer’s charisma is at an all-time high after earning a reputation at a multitude of festivals like SXSW and ACL, and touring the entire alternative circuit in the United States. Her band is an ode to good taste, to that timeless pop that makes you feel good. It smells like those happy dawns where polychromy conquers the darkness. Japanese Breakfast is everything that’s good, and as such, it will be one of those happy reunions that will take place in this dreamy Austin City Limits.
The Duo of Good Taste
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I’ve long been obsessed with this French electronic duo, who are the epitome of good musical taste. Their sounds encompass house, Latin music, and electropop. They sound like many things and nothing you’ve heard before at the same time. They have the ability to fit into any environment, leaving any purist of any genre wanting more. With only three studio albums and several EPs under their belt, they have become a benchmark in the always irreverent French electronic scene and will undoubtedly make a splash in Zilker Park.
The Survivors of the 90s
Although this ACL seems to have opted for the 21st century, their lineup still includes illustrious survivors from the last. Modest Mouse continue on the road with guitar riffs, charisma, and a trail of anthems that once defined 90s Portland. Float On and the rest of this legendary band’s anthems still sound fresh because they’re present in many of the indie bands that pepper this luxurious, dreamy festival. The unexpected pleasure of a reunion awaits us in Austin.
The Taste of Austin City Limits
This festival within a festival always delights the most hungry music lovers. Cooking is also an art and a journey around the world. ACL Eats is a journey through Venezuela, Asia, Texas, Chicago, Italy, Mexico, and above all, a living testament to the current momentum the city’s gastronomy is experiencing, with a multitude of offerings as delicious as the musical lineup at its sister festival.
As with Austin City Limits, it’s hard to choose between such exquisite options, but there are classic and essential staples that should never be missed in Zilker Park. The burgers at Wholly Cow Burger and the tacos at Veracruz All Natural are absolute headliners, though they can’t overshadow the disruptive smash burgers at Nadc Burger or the untamed Indian flavors found on the plates at Lamba’s. The Egyptian-Texan barbecue fusion at KG deserves one of the festival’s main stages, as do the Korean wonders at Chilantro. Don’t leave without savoring the essential classics of each festival: pizzas at Austin Pizza, heavenly cookies at Tiff’s Treats, and iconic ice cream at Amy’s. Austin City Limits is also edible, and its flavor will stay with you like the sounds you’ll take with you from this park of musical dreams.
Don’t Miss Them
It’s impossible to cover a festival with such a wealth of offerings, nuances, and genres. Performances by talents like Luke Combs, a country legend despite his youth, or Hozier, with his intimate songs destined to steal your heart, will cap off a Friday of strong emotions. Phantogram are so eclectic that they have a sound as contagious as Passion Pit’s. Both bands are rare and invaluable gems that will rub shoulders with the Latin rhythms of Feid and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso or the urban anthems of T-Pain. MK Gee or Magdalena Bay will provide songs that come from the heart and become universal. And to close out the ACL party, nothing better than the sophisticated yet powerful electronica of the great John Summit.
We’re looking forward to an Austin City Limits filled with smiles, good music, and good vibes. Follow us on our social media so you don’t miss anything from the festival. See you at Zilker Park!
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