Austin City Limits 2016 Preview

Austin City Limits is television’s longest-running music program; way back in 2002 it got into the festival game, and like the show, is stronger than ever. Two editions are held on back-to-back weekend at Austin’s Zilker Park, Friday-to-Sunday, September 30th-October 2nd & October 7th-9th:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th/OCTOBER 7th

Honda Stage Major Lazer, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM The collaboration between DJ/producers Diplo (QRO photos) and Switch (QRO photos) made a serious breakthrough in 2009 as Major Lazer (QRO photos at a festival), with Guns Don’t Kill People. Lazers Do. They’ve since released more, with Music Is the Weapon coming up this year (even produced Reincarnated, Snoop Dogg’s reggae album as ‘Snoop Lion’) – and know how to do it at festivals (QRO photos at a festival), like ACL just two years ago (QRO photos at ACL ’14).
Die Antwoord, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM In this day & age, it can be hard to for an act to truly surprise, but Die Antwoord (QRO photos) have done it. Not only South African but Afrikaans (the descendants of the Dutch settlers who instituted & later repealed apartheid), vocalist Ninja & Yo-Landi Vi$$er took the internet by storm with a baffling mix of rave & hip-hop, English & Afrikaans in “Enter the Ninja” and 5 EP (QRO review). They followed up in 2012 with Ten$ion (QRO review) and 2013’s Donker Mag, and have been baffling minds & blowing them away (QRO photos at a festival) while stealing the show (& shedding clothes) wherever they go (QRO photos outdoors at a festival). The duo (QRO photos at a festival) comes back to Austin City Limits Festival after starring in last year’s CHAPPIE.
Blue October (Weekend One)/AWOLNATION (Weekend Two), 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM From just over in Houston, alt-rock outfit Blue October come to Austin City Limits Festival for their third time. The solo project of Aaron Bruno (QRO live review), formerly of Under the Influence of Giants and Hometown Hero, AWOLNATION (QRO live review) got attention very quickly thanks to hit single “Sail”. The NATION (QRO live review) comes back to Austin City Limits Festival behind last year’s Run.
The Front Bottoms, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM New Jersey punks The Front Bottoms have only been growing since their 2011 self-titled debut full-length (QRO review).
Asleep at the Wheel, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM West Virginia-born, Austin-living Asleep At the Wheel having been bringing western swing since 1970, racking up not only nine Grammy Awards, but have also appeared at every single Austin City Limits Festival!
Miller Lite Stage Band of Horses, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before the current, unceasing wave of alt-country, there was Seattle’s Band of Horses (QRO live review), who broke through with debut Everything All the Time and “Funeral” in 2006. While guitarist/co-founder Matt Brooke left after that for Grand Archives (QRO live review), singer/guitarist Ben Bridwell kept on the trail, with the following year’s Cease to Begin (QRO review). Band of Horses (QRO photos at a festival) dropped a little off the radar following that, but came back (QRO live review) in 2010 with Infinite Arms (QRO review), a more polished record in ways good & bad, but picked it up in 2012 with Mirage Rock (QRO review) and this year’s Why Are You OK (QRO review), and are riding (QRO live review) from festival to festival (QRO photos at a festival), playing Austin City Limits for their first time since 2010.
St. Lucia, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM South African-born, Brooklyn-based Jean-Philip Grobler has impressed all-round as St. Lucia (QRO photos at a festival).
The Strumbellas, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM The “folk popgrass” of Canada’s The Strumbellas (QRO photos at a festival) comes to Austin City Limits Festival behind this year’s third record, Hope.
Frightened Rabbit (Weekend One)/The Wombats (Weekend Two), 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit (QRO live review) are at the forefront of the tragic, heartfelt wave coming from England’s neighbor to the north, most recently with this year’s Painting of a Heart Attack (QRO review), 2013’s Pedestrian Verse (QRO review) and 2010’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks (QRO review). They (QRO spotlight on) also really put themselves out there on record, but their live show (QRO photos at a festival) also sees them joking (QRO live review), in their Scottish brogue (QRO interview), capture on 2009’s live album, Liver! Lung! FR! (QRO review). Also a strong festival band, they can even take requests (QRO live review of all-request show). There are some acts that you can’t help but enjoy, and Liverpool’s The Wombats (QRO spotlight on) are one. The infectious electric sound of 2007 debut A Guide To Love, Lose & Desperation and songs such as “Moving To New York” (QRO video) and “Here Comes the Anxiety” (QRO video) was followed-up nicely in 2011 with This Modern Glitch (QRO review), and songs like “Techno Fan” (QRO video) and “Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves)” (QRO video). And last year The Wombats (QRO interview) returned with Glitterbug (QRO review) and pieces such as “This Is Not a Party” (QRO video) and “Emoticons” (QRO video).
Bayonne (Weekend One)/Keeper (Weekend Two), 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Austin electronic musician Roger Sellers released a trio of records under his own name, but has gotten much more notice since shifting to going as Bayonne (QRO photos at an festival), including recently reissuing his 2014 album, Primitives.
Zilker Stage M83, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM How is it that France does such great atmospherics? M83 (QRO live review) actually exceeded countrymen Air (QRO album review) with 2008’s Saturdays = Youth (QRO review) and 2011’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (QRO review), and come back to Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos at a festival) for a third time (QRO photos), now behind this year’s Junk, which has led the band to bigger shows (QRO live review) and bigger stages (QRO photos) at bigger festivals (QRO photos at a festival) & more (QRO photos at a festival).
Cold War Kids, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM After a string of EPs, Fullerton, California’s Cold War Kids (QRO photos) blew up in 2006 with their full-length debut, Robbers & Cowards. While 2008’s Loyalty to Loyalty (QRO review) suffered something of a sophomore slump, 2011’s Mine Is Yours (QRO review) 2013’s Miss Lonelyhearts (QRO review), and 2014’s Hold My Home (QRO review), lifted things somewhat, and their live show (QRO live review) is still electric, especially outside (QRO live review outdoors) or at festivals (QRO photos at a festival), as they still ring with singles (QRO photos), from the more recent “Mine Is Yours” and “Audience” (QRO video) to their break-outs “We Used To Vacation”, “Hospital Beds” (QRO video), and “Hang Me Out To Dry” (QRO video). They play Austin City Limits Festival for their third time.
Chairlift, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Though born in Boulder, Chairlift (QRO photos outdoors) came of age in – where else? – Brooklyn (QRO photos in Brooklyn). They (QRO photos at a festival) broke through with the sweet “Bruises”, though since the departure of singer/guitarist Aaron Pfenning for his own Rewards (QRO photos), the now-duo (QRO photos at a festival) went for a spookier sound on 2012’s Something (QRO review), but brighter this year with Moth.
Jess Glynne (Weekend One)/Bad Suns (Weekend Two), 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Jess Glynne was introduced to Britain on “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit (QRO photos at a festival), but has since charted on her own with “Right Here” and headlined her own big shows in Blighty (QRO live review in U.K.).
Corbu (Weekend One)/Bear Hands (Weekend Two), 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM At Austin City Limits is friend-of-the-Q Bear Hands (QRO spotlight on). Their alt-punk is more skilled than most in the genre (or the borough – QRO photos in Brooklyn), as seen in 2010’s great full-length debut, Burning Bush Supper Club (QRO review). Fronted by the engaging Val Lopez & Dylan Rau (QRO interview with both), and Ted Feldman & TJ Orscher (QRO interview with Rau & Orscher), they play well at festivals (QRO photos at a festival), including U.K.’s Leeds (QRO live review), and outdoors like Prospect Park in Brooklyn (QRO photos in Prospect Park). Coming to Austin City Limits Festival after this year’s new You’ll Pay For This (QRO review), their follow-up to 2014’s Distraction (QRO review), look for the great new material from the band (QRO photos)– even improvised songs (QRO video) – as well as old like “Vietnam” (QRO video) and newer like “Crime Pays” (QRO video), “Giants” (QRO review), and “2AM” (QRO review).
Austin Kiddie Limits Presented by Lifeway Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards (Weekend One)/KB Whirly (Weekend Two), 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band (Weekend One)/Sonia De Los Santos (Weekend Two), 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Nakia & The Barton Hills Choir (Weekend One)/School of Rock (Weekend Two), 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Corinne Bailey Rae, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Yorkshire songstress Corinne Bailey Rae (QRO photos) broke through a decade ago with his albums Corinne Bailey Rae and The Sea, but has been quiet in recent times – until this year’s full-throated return, The Heart Speaks In Whispers.
Gina Chavez, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Eight-time Austin Music Award winner and last year’s Austin Musician of the Year, Latin-folk artist Gina Chavez will be right at home in Zilker Park.
Bombino, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM From the vast Sahara comes guitarist Bombino (QRO mp3 review), who had to flee his native Niger more than once following rebellions by his Tuareg compatriots. At one point, the government banned guitars among the Tuareg, as it was a symbol or rebellion. But peace has more recently come to Niger, which included a massive concert by Bombino (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: Prinze George, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Ron Gallo (Weekend One)/Max Jury (Weekend Two), 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM – QRO Max Jury photos Los Coast (Weekend One)/Lincoln Durham (Weekend Two), 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM Gospel ZilerTones (Weekend One)/The Stapletons (Weekend Two), 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
BMI Stage Julien Baker (Weekend One)/Foy Vance (Weekend Two), 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – QRO Julien Baker photos at a festival – QRO Foy Vance photos outdoors Maren Morris (Weekend One)/LANco (Weekend Two), 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Welshy Arms (Weekend One)/Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes (Weekend Two), 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Liza Anne (Weekend One)/SUSTO (Weekend Two), 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
HomeAway Stage Flume, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Bringing electronics from halfway around the world is Sydney’s Harley Streten – a.k.a. Flume (QRO photos at a festival).
Tory Lanez, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Daystar Peterson, a.k.a. Tory Lanez, is the latest hip-hop artist from suddenly hot Toronto, putting out I Told You last August.
Flight Facilities, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Australian disco-house duo Flight Facilities have remixed everyone from Kylie Minogue to Reggie (not Naomi) Watts.
Raury, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Mixing soul, hip-hop, and folk is Atlanta’s eclectic Raury (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: VHS Collection (Weekend One)/Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band (Weekend Two), 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – QRO Kevin Devine spotlight on
Samsung Stage Radiohead, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM You know Radiohead (QRO live review), or at least you think you do. Though they had an early MTV nineties hit with “Creep”, the group evolved into something much, much more with records like The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A, along the way becoming the biggest alternative music band in the world. In 2007 they reinvented the music business with the ‘pay-what-you-want’ download of In Rainbows (QRO review), following that up with The King of Limbs in 2011 (QRO review), while members Thom Yorke (QRO solo album review), Jonny Greenwood (QRO solo soundtrack review), Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Philip Selway (QRO solo album review) all were also free to do their own things. Just earlier this year, the group (QRO photos at a festival) surprised their fans with the new A Moon Shaped Pool (QRO review). Somehow, this is only Radiohead’s first-ever appearance at the festival, though they have played the television show (QRO live review on Austin City Limits).
Flying Lotus, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM While Flying Lotus (QRO photos outdoors) might be best known for making the music in Adult Swim’s bumpers (that text right before a show on the cable channel), he’s also an accomplished producer, as well as making & playing music in his own right (QRO live review) – not to mention his alter ego, Sealab 2021-inspired Captain Murphy.
Foals, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Oxford, England’s Foals (QRO photos) still haven’t quite shaken off the backhanded compliment label of ‘internet buzz band’, even with 2010’s well-received sophomore release Total Life Forever (QRO review) or 2013’s follow-up Holy Fire, but you should really see & judge for yourself (QRO live review) as they come back to Austin City Limits Festival on tour (QRO photos) behind last year’s What Went Down (QRO review).
Banks & Steelz, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Paul Banks (QRO solo live review) of 2014 performer Interpol (QRO photos at ACL ‘14) teams up with RZA (QRO solo photos at a festival) of Wu-Tang Clan (QRO photos at a festival) as ‘Banks & Steelz’, who come to Austin City Limits after the release of their debut team-up LP, Anything But Words.
Eliot Sumner (Weekend One)/Grace Mitchell (Weekend Two), 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM Eliot Sumner maybe be best known as being the child of the famed Sting, but has been crafting her own way, first as I Blame Coco, and now under her own name.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st/8th

Honda Stage Kygo, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo (QRO photos at a festival) comes all the way to Texas to headline the Honda Stage at Austin City Limits Festival.
Cage the Elephant, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM With hardly a full-length album to their name, Kentucky’s Cage the Elephant (QRO photos) was snatched up by EMI Records at a low-key SXSW showcase. Following some impressive U.K. airplay, the band packed up and moved to London, where they released their first studio album in 2008. The following two years were a haze of international touring, late night TV shows, festival appearances (QRO photos at a festival), and preparation for 2011’s Thank You, Happy Birthday, following that up with 2013’s more indie-influenced Melophobia and last year’s Dan Auerbach-produced Tell Me I’m Pretty. As their blues-y rock infused live show will prove (QRO photos), like at Austin City Limits in 2010, elephants were never meant to be caged (QRO photos).
Catfish & The Bottlemen, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM North Wales’ young Catfish & The Bottlemen (QRO photos) played seemingly a million festivals in last few years (including Austin City Limits only in ’14). They come back to ACL behind this year’s sophomore release, The Ride.
Saint Motel, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Indie-pop/dream-prog Los Angeles outfit Saint Motel (QRO photos at a festival) comes to Austin City Music Festival.
Also: Nothing But Thieves, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
Miller Lite Stage Andrew Bird (Weekend One)/Conor Oberst (Weekend Two), 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Chicago multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (QRO live review) plays everything from guitar to whistle, but is best known for his impressive violin work (QRO photos), which manages to be both timely and timeless (QRO photos) on such albums as Armchair Apocrypha (QRO review) and more, up to this year’s Are You Serious. Bird (QRO photos) is a great addition for a festival (QRO photos outdoors), or anything else: he even did the whistling in The Muppets. Bird plays Austin City Limits Festival for his four time overall, but only his first time since 2009. Welcome back, Conor Oberst (QRO photos at a festival). As Bright Eyes (QRO photos), Conor Oberst won legions of hearts (including Summer’s on The O.C. – QRO Music of The O.C.), but after 2007’s Cassadega (QRO review), he dropped the name and strayed into unfortunate country terrain (QRO live review). In 2011, not only did the Bright Eyes name come back (QRO live review outdoors), but also the Bright Eyes (QRO photos at a festival) sound on The People’s Key (QRO review). In 2013 he revived his early agit-punk band, Desaparecidos (QRO live review), but he’s shifted back to being Mr. Oberst once again for 2014’s Upside Down Mountain (QRO review) and this year’s Ruminations, out just after ACL, not to mention touring with The Felice Brothers as his backing band earlier this year (QRO photos with Felice Brothers), so who knows what to expect (QRO photos at a festival)…
Melanie Martinez, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Singer/songwriter Melanie Martinez (QRO photos) has gone from being eliminated from ‘Team Adam’ on The Voice to last year’s critically acclaimed single “Pity Party”, and plays Austin City Limits Festival for her second time in three years.
Andra Day, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Andra Day’s (QRO photos) debut Cheers To the Fall was only last year, but she already has hit it big (QRO photos outdoors). Appearing alongside Stevie Wonder in an ad of Apple TV didn’t hurt…
Caveman, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Caveman (QRO photos at a festival) emerged out of one-half of the tricky to pigeonhole Subjects (QRO spotlight on) with last year’s similarly tough to categorize CoCo Beware (QRO review), but settled down into an interesting haunt with 2013’s self-titled follow-up (QRO review). They come back to Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos at a 2016 festival) after this year’s release of Otero War (QRO review).
Also: Israel Nash (Weekend One)/Walker Lukens & The Side Arms (Weekend Two), 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Zilker Stage Two Door Cinema Club, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Hailing from Northern Ireland, but debuting on French label Kitsuné (QRO photos at a festival in France), Two Door Cinema Club (QRO live review) have made a splash in America with songs like “What You Know” (QRO video) and “I Can Talk” (QRO video), as well with breakthrough debut Tourist History (QRO review) & 2012’s follow-up Beacon (QRO review) – so come to da Club (QRO photos at a festival). The band comes back to Austin City Limits Festival right before the release of Gameshow.
The Naked and Famous, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM From east of the Tasman Sea comes The Naked and Famous (QRO photos outdoors). The New Zealand act (QRO photos) turned heads in 2011 (QRO photos in 2011) with debut Passive Me, Aggressive You, and haven’t looked back (QRO photos). 2013 saw strong follow-up In Rolling Waves (QRO review) getting them a big following stateside (QRO live review), and just after Austin City Limits Festival comes Simple Forms.
Also: Jack Garratt, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival Lewis Del Mar (Weekend One)/JR JR (Weekend Two), 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Jazz Cartier (Weekend One)/Tennyson (Weekend Two), 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Austin Kiddie Limits Presented by Lifeway Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band (Weekend One)/School of Rock (Weekend Two), 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM School of Rock (Weekend One)/Sonia De Los Santos (Weekend Two), 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Kupira Marimba (Weekend One)/Nakia & The Barton Hills Choir, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Bomba Estéro, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM NAO (Weekend One)/DJ Mel (Weekend Two), 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM NAWAS, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Luisa Maita, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Kamaiyah (Weekend One)/Joey Pup (Weekend Two), 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM – QRO photos of Kamaiyah Matt the Electrician (Weekend One)/Shawn Pander (Weekend Two), 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Endurange (Weekend One)/The River City Christianettes (Weekend Two), 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
BMI Stage New Madrid (Weekend One)/Blue Healer (Weekend Two), 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – QRO photos of New Madrid at a festival Aubrie Sellers (Weekend One)/Khraungbin (Weekend Two), 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Lucy Dacus (Weekend One)/Margaret Glaspy (Weekend Two), 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM The Gills (Weekend One)/The Roosevelts (Weekend Two), 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
HomeAway Stage The Chainsmokers, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM New York electro-house duo The Chainsmokers (QRO photos at a festival) are riding high with 2014’s hit, “#Selfie”.
AlunaGeorge (Weekend One)/Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals (Weekend Two), 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid team up as London’s AlunaGeorge (QRO photos at a festival). Pretty quickly, Brandon Park Anderson became Anderson .Paak, and with his band The Free Nationals (QRO photos at a festival), has been getting major notice with his soul-funk styles (including Paak playing drums and dancing in the pit – though not at the same time…).
DJ Mustard, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM The official DJ to Compton’s YG (QRO photos at a festival), DJ Mustard has produced such hits as 2 Chainz’ “I’m Different”, Kid Ink’s “Show Me”, and more.
Gallant (Weekend One), 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM The vocal prowess of young new singer Christopher Gallant (QRO photos) is worth its “Weight In Gold”.
Also: HONNE (Weekend One)/Slaves (Weekend Two), 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO photos of HONNE – QRO photos of Slaves at a festival
Samsung Stage Kendrick Lamar, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM Austin City Limits Festival is headlined by hip-hop hit Kendrick Lamar (QRO photos at a festival), who got notice with his 2010 mixtape, Overly Dedicated, and lived up to the hype (QRO photos at a festival) in 2012 with debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city – he’s got no “Fuckin’ Problems” (QRO video), as he comes back to the festival behind last year’s Grammy-winning To Pimp a Butterfly.
ScHoolboy Q, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Hip-hop artist Quincy Matthew Hanley – a.k.a. ScHoolboy Q (QRO photos at a festival) – followed up 2011’s acclaimed Setbacks with 2012’s Habits & Contradictions and 2014’s Oxymoron.
LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM The baddest rapper to star on a network crime procedural this side of Ice-T, NCIS: Los Angeles star LL Cool J beefs up his music game at Austin City Limits Festival by enlisting big-name DJ Z-Trip (QRO photos).
City and Colour, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Dallas Green (QRO photos), singer/guitarist of emo-punk band Alexisonfire, embraces his sad, acoustic side as City and Colour (he’s Canadian, thus the extra ‘u’ – 2005 debut Sometimes only came out in America in 2009 – QRO review), coming back to Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s If I Should Go Before You. Also: 888 (Weekend Two), 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2nd/9th

Honda Stage LCD Soundsystem, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM When the indie kids started using synthesizers, it began with LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review). As essential a starting point for twenty-first century music as The Strokes (and with a much better legacy), the outfit around James Murphy (QRO DJ photos) taught hipsters to dance – and hit single “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” introduced the helmeted ones to Americans. Their 2005 self-titled debut full-length is as seminal an album this century as anything, with strong follow-ups in 2007’s Sound of Silver (QRO review) and 2010’s This Is Happening (QRO review). Eventually, the band got so big that Murphy had to call it quits on the whole thing (to focus on running DFA Records), but not before an epic run of goodbye shows in New York (QRO photos). But as sure as people asking what time Daft Punk goes on, we all knew the Soundsystem (QRO photos at a festival) would be back, and after much rumors & hype, this year they have returned – and come back to Austin City Limits Festival.
Miike Snow, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Stockholm’s Miike Snow (a band, not a person – QRO photos at a festival) got serious notice a few years ago with their combination of indie-pop & electro-dance, especially live (QRO live review). After a break, they’ve now come back (QRO live review) with iii, as they return to Austin City Limits Festival.
Local Natives, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Silver Lake’s Local Natives (QRO photos at a festival) have been riding the alt-country/folk wave, but seem to be doing it better than most, charting in 2010 with debut Gorilla Manor and 2012’s Hummingbird (QRO review), moving up to headliner tours (QRO live review), and well-received on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), including old England (QRO photos at an English festival). They come back to Austin City Limits Festival after the release of their latest, Sunlit Youth.
Chronixx & Zincfence Redemption (Weekend One)/Gallant (Weekend Two), 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM The vocal prowess of young new singer Christopher Gallant (QRO photos) is worth its “Weight In Gold”.
Also: Lizzo, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Miller Lite Stage Young the Giant, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM These Irvine natives toiled for years as The Jakes, but when they changed their name to Young the Giant (QRO photos at a festival), things finally took off (QRO photos at a festival), with their self-(new) titled album & TV performances, including at MTV’s Video Music Awards. They’ve since been gracing bigger (QRO photos) and bigger (QRO photos) stages & shows (QRO live review), including festivals (QRO photos at a festival), like Austin City Limits ‘11. YtG (QRO photos) come after the release of this summer’s Home of the Strange (QRO review), following 2014’s Mind over Matter (QRO review).
Oh Wonder, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM London alt-pop duo Oh Wonder (QRO photos) is a true Wonder.
Pete Yorn, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pete Yorn (QRO photos) debuted in a big way in 2001 with musicforthemorningafter, and has kept charting ever since, most recently with this year’s Arranging Time. He’s also worked with everyone from Peter Buck (of a little band called R.E.M. – QRO album review) to actress/’musician’ Scarlett Johansson (QRO photo). Yorn (QRO photos in Austin) plays Austin City Limits Festival for his third time.
Also: Domo Genesis, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Shane Smith & The Saints (Weekend One)/Magna Carda (Weekend Two), 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Zilker Stage Porter Robinson & Madeon, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Big name DJs Porter Robinson (QRO photos at a festival) and Madeon (QRO photos at same festival the year before) team-up to close out the Zilker Stage.
Bob Moses, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM A duo, not a band, Jimmy Vallance & Tom Howe form electronic act Bob Moses.
NF, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Nathan Feuerstein is the rare Christian hip-hop artist, which fits at Austin City Limits Festival.
Wild Belle, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Brother-sister outfit Wild Belle (QRO spotlight on) grew up in Chicago but moved out to – where else? – Brooklyn (QRO photos in NYC). Big brother Elliot Bergmann formed NOMO, but has since teamed up with little sis Natalie (QRO photos). They (QRO interview) made serious waves with hit indie-reggae single “Keep You” (QRO video), getting signed to Columbia for their 2013 debut, Isles (QRO review). They hit Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos at a festival) for a second time, after ’13 edition (QRO photos at a 2013 festival), now behind their new Dreamland.
Also: The Shelters (Weekend One)/Pearl Charles (Weekend Two), 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – QRO Shelters photos
Austin Kiddle Limits Presented by Lifeway The Q Brothers, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Gina Chavez (Weekend One)/The Helmets (Weekend Two), 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards (Weekend One)/KB Whirly (Weekend Two), 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM School of Rock (Weekend One)/Kupira Marimba (Weekend Two), 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Gregory Porter, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – QRO photos outdoors The James Hunter Six, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM Break Science, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM Marlon Williams, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Avery*Sunshine, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Jai Malano (Weekend One)/Charlie Belle (Weekend Two), 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM The Spiritualettes (Weekend One)/Wesley Bray & The Disciples of Joy (Weekend Two), 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
BMI Stage Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (Weekend One)/Amanda Shires (Weekend Two), 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Hard-working Americana soul-folk act Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (QRO photos at an Austin festival) are a perfect fit for Austin City Limits Festival Singer/violinist Amanda Shires (QRO photos) first got notice playing in other people’s outfits, like Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, but she comes to Austin City Limits Festival behind her September solo release, My Piece of Land.
Also: Quaker City Night Hawks (Weekend One)/Atlas Genius (Weekend Two), 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – QRO Atlas Genius album review Basia Bulat (Weekend One)/Amasa Hines (Weekend Two), 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – QRO Basia Bulat album review Luke Winslow-King (Weekend One)/Elise Davis (Weekend Two), 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
HomeAway Stage HAIM, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, along with drummer Dash Hutton (QRO photos at a festival), only started putting out music in 2013, but have already been turning heads (QRO photos), thanks to great single “Don’t Save Me” and debut full-length, Days Are Gone (QRO review). They come back to Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos) after getting numerous high-profile fans – and even playing the legendary after-party for the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary with Prince!
St. Paul & The Broken Bones, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM From Birmingham, Alabama, St. Paul & The Broken Bones (QRO photos at a festival) bring the true southern soul. They come to Austin City Limits Festival after the release this year of their sophomore record, Sea of Noise.
Margo Price, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM The Fader called Margo Price “country’s next star.” There’s not a better place to find that out than at Austin City Limits Festival, which she comes to after this year’s debut on Third Man Records, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter.
Wild Child (Weekend One)/Ra Ra Riot (Weekend Two), 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Austin’s own Wild Child (QRO photos) range from ukulele to cello, and play Austin City Limits Festival for their second time. Oh, how they’ve grown (QRO spotlight on)! In the less than eight years since their self-titled EP (QRO review) and the death of singer/drummer John Pike, the Nor’easter collective Ra Ra Riot (QRO photos) has not only rebounded but exploded (QRO photos at a festival), embracing life even more on 2008’s excellent The Rhumb Line (QRO review) than early single “Dying Is Fine” (QRO video) could have predicted. Ra Ra Riot’s live show (QRO live review) sees everyone but the new drummer running around on stage like kids on candy (especially singer Wesley Miles – QRO interview – but also guitarist Milo Bonacci – QRO interview – and bassist Mathieu Santos – QRO interview), but they’re also relative road ‘veterans’ (QRO photos at a festival), from near-immediately after Pike’s death (QRO live review) to outdoor festivals (QRO photos outdoors at a festival) to in-stores (QRO photos) – even at an Apple Store (QRO photos) – to industry showcases (QRO photos at an industry showcase) to bigger & bigger rock clubs (QRO photos) to bigger & bigger outdoor venues (QRO live review outdoors) to opera houses (QRO live review) to fashion launch parties (QRO live review) – and even the occasional basement show (QRO photos). They’ve also built a songbook, from early numbers like “Each Year” (QRO video) and “Can You Tell?” (QRO video) to Rhumb single “Ghost Under Rocks” (QRO video) and the Pike-penned “St. Peter’s Day Festival” (QRO video) to “Too Dramatic”, from 2010’s follow-up The Orchard (QRO review), “Dance With Me” (QRO video) & “I Shut Off” (QRO video) from 2013’s more dancetronica Beta Love (QRO review), and “Water” from this year’s Need Your Light (QRO review). Before Beta Love the band did see the departure of cellist Alexandra Lawn (QRO interview) – so what will happen to the usual tight pack of males (QRO photos at a festival) in front of everyone’s indie-rock crush (QRO photos in 2013)?
July Talk, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM A new Canadian favourite, Toronto’s indie-blues July Talk come to Austin City Limits Festival after singer Leah Fay had a starring role in last year’s Diamond Blues film.
Samsung Stage Mumford & Sons, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM London’s King’s College & St. Paul’s School are serving as something of the English alt-folk Wesleyan, seeing related acts hit it big. First there was Noah & The Whale (QRO live review), with graduates of both, then Noah’s female vocalist Laura Marling (QRO live review) went out on her own. But the biggest hit from there has to be fellow Marling collaborator Mumford & Sons (QRO live review). Debut Sign No More saw them break through to the mainstream (QRO photos outdoors) with songs like “Little Lion Man”, and 2012’s follow-up Babel (QRO review) hit number one on the charts (QRO photos) on both sides of the Atlantic (QRO photos at a European festival). Oh, they’ve also done such feats as perform on the Grammys with Bob Dylan – and win album of the year in 2013! They also got a Grammy for their tour documentary Big Easy Express (QRO screening review), where they, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (QRO spotlight on), and Old Crow Medicine Show toured the southwest by train – a railroad version of their ‘Gentlemen of the Road Stopover’ tours (QRO review). And now Mumford & Sons (QRO live review) headline Austin City Limits Festival (QRO photos at a festival), after last year’s Wilder Mind (QRO review) and their latest run of massive shows (QRO live review in 2016).
Chris Stapleton (Weekend One)/Willie Nelson (Weekend Two), 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM There’s a big place for country at Austin City Limits Festival, and Weekend One welcomes Chris Stapleton, winner for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance off of last year’s Traveller. He’s also written for the likes of Tim McGraw, Adele, Peter Frampton, and Sheryl Crow. There are few musicians as beloved across the spectrum as Willie Nelson (QRO photos at a festival). The practical inventor of the seventies’ ‘outlaw country’ genre, he’s beloved even in the reddest of states, including his native Texas (Hank Hill of King of the Hill even cites him as his favorite musician…). But his musical appeal spans the political divide (Bobby Hill called him ‘alternative’ – boy ain’t right…), aided by his high-profile advocacy of environmental causes – including his own bio-diesel bus – and marijuana. Nelson is also an Austin resident (QRO photos in Austin), with his own boulevard – right in front of ACL Live at The Moody Theater (QRO photos at ACL Live). So light one up as the Redheaded Stranger returns to Austin City Limits Festival for the first time in a decade – and since turning 80 (QRO photos at family birthday celebration)!
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff (QRO photos at a festival) brings sad indie-folks sounds with his band, The Nightsweats (QRO photos at a festival).
Kacey Musgraves (Weekend One)/Anderson East (Weekend Two), 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM There’s always room for country, when you’ve got a country singer like Kacey Musgraves (QRO photos at a festival), who this year has seen much wider success & acclaim (QRO photos headlining a festival).
Brett Dennen, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM Northern California pop/folk singer Brett Dennen (QRO photos in California) comes back to Austin City Limits Festival for a third time, behind his sixth album, this year’s Por Favor.

For festival website, go here: http://www.aclfestival.com/