America’s longest-running live music show, Austin City Limits, throws one of the country’s biggest music festivals, over two weekends, Friday-Sunday, October 5th-7th & 12th-14th, in Zilker Park:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5th/12th
Honda Stage ODESZA, 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM Harrison Mills & Clayton Knight managed to put out their debut as electronic duo ODESZA (QRO photos) while still in their senior year back in ’12 with Summer’s Gone, and come to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) off of 2014’s follow-up full-length, In Return, and big live show (QRO photos at a 2018 festival) – including lots of drums (QRO photos headlining a festival). |
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Khalid, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Khalid Donnel Robinson (QRO photos outdoors) released “Location”, and the rest was history. His debut single hit quadruple platinum, followed by last cheer’s hit debut full-length, American Teen, and now the R&B singer very much on the rise plays Lollapalooza (QRO photos at 2018 festival). |
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BØRNS, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Actually from Michigan, not Scandinavia, is singer Garrett Borns, a.k.a. BØRNS (QRO photos at a festival). He’s already graduated to the big-time with 2015’s debut Dopamine, and comes back to Austin City Limits behind this year’s gender-bending Blue Madonna (QRO review). |
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Gang of Youths, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM (Weekend One) Reignwolf, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM (Weekend Two) Catch the indie rock of Australia’s Gang of Youths, who come to ACL behind last year’s Down Under chart-topper & ARIA winning sophomore record, Go Farther In Lightness. Check out the wild, one-man action of Reignwolf (QRO photos at a festival), who returns to Austin City Limits. |
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Asleep At the Wheel, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend One) Alice Merton, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend Two) 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! The German-Canadian-English singer/songwriter Alice Merton (QRO photos) had a number one single, “No Roots”, in France. Truly international. |
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Miller Lite Stage Brockhampton, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Formed in an online forum, making them “the internet’s first boy band,” Brockhampton (QRO photos at a festival) bring the twentieth century phenomena into the modern age, including hip-hop and mixtapes – and not being just lily-white pretty faces. Though they recently kicked out a member for sexual assault allegations (very modern), and went on a hiatus, but are back (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Greta Van Fleet, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (Weekend One) Lily Allen, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (Weekend Two) New Michigan rock comes to Panorama in the form of the next generation of classic rock, Greta Van Fleet (QRO spotlight on), one of Robert Plant’s favorite young bands, touring behind last year’s EPs Black Smoke Rising & From the Fires (QRO reviews). London’s Lily Allen (QRO photos) was one of the first musicians to garner a following solely through her MySpace page, leading to a major label contract, worldwide tours, and the massively successful debut Alright, Still & 2009’s It’s Not Me, It’s You. But then she closed down her MySpace account and announced a hiatus. That only lasted until 2013’s U.K. chart-topper Sheezus. After personal difficulties, including the end of her marriage, Allen (QRO photos in Texas) channeled into this year’s No Shame (QRO review). |
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Alvvays, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM New U.K. indie hit Alvvays (QRO live review in the U.K.) comes to America (QRO photos at a festival) to play at Austin City Limits (QRO photos outdoors) after last year’s release of highly acclaimed sophomore record Antisocialites (QRO review). |
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Also: Lewis Capaldi, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Näm, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One) Curtis Roush, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Barton Springs Stage Father John Misty, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes, guitarist Joshua Tillman found time to do his own solo stuff (QRO album review), but in 2012 he moved to solo full-time as Father John Misty (QRO photos) with Fear Fun, and he comes back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ‘15) behind last year’s Pure Comedy (QRO review). As Aziz Ansari said in Master of None (before his more recent issues), “That’s a hot ticket!” |
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JUNGLE, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Catch the modern-soul London music collective JUNGLE (QRO photos at a European festival), who bring “mid-tempo 1970s funk” intermixed with “tropical percussion, wildlife noises, falsetto yelps, psychedelic washes and badoinking bass.” |
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Sir Sly, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Not a rapper but an indie-rock trio, Sir Sly (QRO photos at a festival) came out of The Hype Machine blog to success (including songs used in movies, video games, and a Cadillac ad). |
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Big Thief, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM It takes a lot for a band to name their album Masterpiece – their debut, in fact. But Brooklyn indie-folksters Big Thief (QRO photos outdoors in Brooklyn) pulled it off, and come to Austin City Limits behind their last year’s follow-up, Capacity. Also: The Coronas, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM |
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Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend One) Red Yarn, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM School of Rock, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM The Barton Hills Choir, 12:20 PM – 1:00 PM |
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Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend Two) Lard Dog & The Band of Shy, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Ralph’s World, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM School of Rock, 12:20 PM – 1:00 PM |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Silent Disco, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Gryffin, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Remix master Dan Griffith comes to Austin City Limits as Gryffin. |
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Golden Dawn Arkestra, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Influenced by the ultra-influential Sun Ra and his Arkestra, Austin’s own Golden Dawn Arkestra (QRO photos at an Austin festival) is a feast for the ears, eyes, and mind, as they come to Austin City Limits. |
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Also: The Weather Station, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (Weekend One) Duncan Fellows, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (Weekend Two) Ravyn Lenae, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Fatai, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM Wesley Bray & The Disciples of Joy, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One) The Gospel Stars, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two) |
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BMI Stage (Weekend One) Fickle Friends, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Brighton’s Fickle Friends (QRO photos) spent two years touring their native U.K. & Europe before finally getting signed, putting out their debut You Are Something Else earlier this year. |
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Mikky Ekko, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM While he first came to notice when he was featured on Rihanna’s “Stay”, Mikky Ekko (QRO photos) comes to Austin City Limits while we wait for his sophomore LP, Fame. |
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Also: lovelytheband, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM RF Shannon, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM |
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BMI Stage (Weekend Two) Arkells, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Explosive rock band, Arkells, have been ensuing in chaos amongst all their shows on tour. They come to Austin City Limits just before the release of their latest, Rally Cry. |
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Also: Sasha Sloan, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Nicole Atkins, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM – QRO spotlight on The Blancos, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM |
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HomeAway Stage Hozier, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Ireland’s Andrew Hozier-Byrne (QRO live review in England) comes back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) off of 2014’s massive breakthrough single “Take Me To the Church” – not to mention being impersonated on Saturday Night Live! |
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Manchester Orchestra, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM From Atlanta, not New or Old England, Manchester Orchestra (QRO live review) were more rock than alt- on debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child (QRO review), and moved firmly into the rock camp with 2009’s Mean Everything To Nothing (QRO review), 2011’s Simple Math (QRO review), 2014’s Cope (QRO review), and last year’s A Black Mile To the Surface (QRO review). However, the outfit does it well (QRO live review) and big (QRO photos) as they come back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) to rock (QRO live review). |
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Noname, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Off of an appearance on “Lost” in Chance the Rapper’s 2013 mixtape Acid Rap, Noname (QRO photos at a festival) has made her own name. |
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Also: Cuco, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Topaz Jones, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One) Magic City Hippies, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two) |
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American Express Stage Paul McCartney, 7:45 PM – 10:00 PM Do you need to be told who Paul McCartney (QRO photos) is? Seriously? In addition to birthing the hilarious “Who the fuck is Paul McCartney” meme, Sir Paul just might be the biggest living music star on the planet (QRO photos). He was a Beatle, for Christ’s sake – and not Ringo. He had a successful second career in the seventies in Wings, and has kept going and going (QRO photos) – long past age sixty-four (that vegetarian lifestyle has done something…). He has even released new records, most recently with this year’s Egypt Station (though let’s forget about 2012’s collection of standards, Kisses On the Bottom – QRO review). Live (QRO photos headlining a festival), the ageless wonder (QRO photos) plays from his entire discography, “Band On the Run” to “The End” – so just “Let It Be”. |
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The National, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Cincinnati-by-way-of-Brooklyn’s The National (QRO photos outdoors) hit it big in 2007 with Boxer (QRO review) and tracks like “Fake Empire”, “Mistaken For Strangers”, and “Apartment Story” (QRO video) – and again in 2008 with the Virginia EP (QRO review), but that just presaged 2011’s High Violet (QRO review), which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts (QRO expanded edition review). An impressive and much-in-demand act (QRO live review), they’re fitting in nicely as even festival headliner (QRO photos headlining a festival) or curator (QRO photos curating a festival), like at London’s All Tomorrow’s Parties (QRO photos), Eaux Claires (QRO photos at Eaux Claires ‘15), or Boston Calling (QRO photos at Boston Calling ‘14). Blown up to the point that New York Times Magazine ran a feature on them (QRO spotlight on) & Obama used (a family-friendly) bit of “Mr. November” (QRO video at a festival) as a campaign song, The National (QRO photos at a festival) returned from an hiatus in 2013 to take North America by storm (QRO photos headlining a festival) behind Trouble Will Find Me (QRO review), after having done so in Europe (QRO photos in Europe), the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), the European festival circuit (QRO photos at a European festival), Canada (QRO photos at a festival in Canada), Croatia (QRO photos at a Croatian festival), Singapore (QRO photos in Singapore) & their own Brooklyn (QRO photos in Brooklyn), plus both Barcelona’s Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound) and Portugal’s NOS Primavera Sound (QRO photos at NOS Primavera Sound). They’ve since keep it going (QRO photos in 2014), including headlining American festivals (QRO photos headlining an American festival). Last year, The National (QRO live review) released yet another amazing album, Sleep Well Beast (QRO review), which earlier this year won the Grammy for Alternative Album of the Year (QRO live review at Grammy party). They play Austin City Limits for a third time (QRO photos at a festival), with an electric live show (QRO live review), making for a perfect return (QRO photos at a festival). |
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David Byrne, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM If you like music, you like David Byrne (QRO photos). The lead Talking Head became the art-rock icon in the eighties behind amazing songs like “Psycho Killer”, “Once In a Lifetime”, “Burning Down the House”, “And She Was”, and so much more, like the classic live full concert movie/album, Stop Making Sense. Since The Heads, he’s become the most recognized & influential art-rock artist since David Bowie, teaming up with everyone from Brian Eno to ACL ’18 performer (see below) St. Vincent (QRO photos at a festival with St. Vincent), with 2012’s Love This Ghost (QRO review) – hopefully they’ll be a reunion – but this year has come out solo on American Utopia (QRO review). And his live show features a massive, all-dancing (including drummers) ensemble (QRO photos at a festival). He returns to Austin City Limits for the first time in a decade! |
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Bishop Briggs, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Born in London to Scottish parents from Bishopbriggs, Sarah Grace McLaughlin (QRO photos) comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) in the run-up to her highly anticipated debut full-length, next month’s Church of Scars. |
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Also: Natalie Prass, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO photos |
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th/13th
Honda Stage Justice, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Weekend One) Travis Scott, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Weekend Two) One of the biggest breakouts in the dance-rock craze of last decade has been France’s Justice (QRO photos at a festival), who followed up smash 2007 debut † with 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco and 2016’s Woman, as well as expanding their live show (QRO photos), including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival). Texan rapper Travis Scott has succeeded in everything from producing (for GOOD Music’s Very GOOD Beats) to mixtapes to studio albums to team-ups (with Quavo as Huncho Jack) – not to mention being Kylie Jenner’s man. He comes to play Austin City Limits after the release of his highly anticipated AstroWorld, so look for new material like recent single “Watch”, which featured Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert. |
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CHVRCHES, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Scottish electro-pop outfit CHVRCHES (QRO live review) have gotten very big very fast (QRO photos at a festival), before & after the release of debut full-length The Bones of What You Believe (QRO review) – but are fronted by the tiny Lauren Mayberry (QRO photos at a festival) and some giant lights. They successfully followed up Bones with 2015’s Every Open Eye (QRO review), and have Love Is Dead (QRO review) out this year, and now return to Austin City Limits. |
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Brandi Carlile, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile (QRO interview) has emerged alongside a whole new generation of socially minded melodic songstresses (QRO photos), and in 2015 she (QRO spotlight on) put out her latest (QRO photos outdoors), The Firewatcher’s Daughter, now returning to Austin City Limits. |
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Also: Mon Laferte, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Supa Bwe, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend One) Donna Missal, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Miller Lite Stage St. Vincent, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM After the one-and-only Annie Clark (QRO interview) made 2007 her break-out year, both as part of The Polyphonic Spree on The Fragile Army (QRO review) and with her own debut as St. Vincent (QRO photos), Marry Me (QRO review), she followed that up with even-better years (QRO spotlight on), gracing festivals (QRO photos at a festival), charming and surprising crowds with winning humor live (QRO live review), and bringing a stable of new songs (QRO live review). Those new songs, like “Laughing With a Mouth of Blood” (QRO video) and “Actor Out of Work” (QRO video) formed into 2009’s Actor (QRO review), which vaunted her into the even bigger time (QRO photos at a festival), including playing Lincoln Center (QRO live review) and other storied concert halls (QRO photos at a festival) & venues (QRO photos at Royal Albert Hall). Admittedly, 2011’s Strange Mercy (QRO review) wasn’t quite as good, but then she teamed up with the one-and-only ACL ’18 performer (see above) David Byrne (QRO photos at a festival together) for 2012′s Love This Giant (QRO review) – hopefully there will be a reunion – and the holy St. Vincent (QRO photos) came back with a vengeance in 2014 on St. Vincent (QRO review), including an absolutely stellar live show (QRO photos), with her platinum grey hair and mannequin moves shining outdoors (QRO live review outdoors), at festivals (QRO photos at a festival) and in the Old World (QRO live review in Europe). A must-see (QRO photos at a festival) as she returns to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ’14), she comes behind last year’s massively seductive MASSEDUCTION (QRO review) and seductive stage show (QRO photos at a 2018 festival). |
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Blood Orange, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Dev Hynes (QRO photos) first came up writing for others, such as on Chemical Brothers’ Grammy-winning We Are the Night (QRO review), before forming his own band, Lightspeed Champion (QRO photos), not to mention playing in the short-lived Test Icicles. But he found serious success in his electronic project Blood Orange (QRO live review), including a feature in The New York Times, coming to Austin City Limits after the release of his latest, Negro Swan. |
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Also: Smino, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Durand Jones & The Indications, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – QRO photos at a Texas festival Paris, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend One) Lo Moon, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend Two) – QRO photos |
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Barton Springs Stage Residente, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM René Juan Pérez Joglar, a.k.a. Residente, has done a wide range of things. His rapping (including his group Calle 13) has earned him four Grammys and twenty-four Latin Grammys – more than any other Latin artist. But he’s a professional artist, director, and writer, and has been the face of campaigns by UNICEF and Amnesty International. |
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Sharon Van Etten, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Weekend One) Marian Hill, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Weekend Two) While there’s a ton of stripped songstresses out there, one of the nicer ones is Sharon Van Etten (QRO photos at a festival), who evoked the sad strains of Appalachia on her debut, Because I Was In Love (QRO review), while 2011’s Epic (QRO review) made her the Brooklyn ‘it girl’ (QRO photos in New York), and 2012’s Tramp (QRO review) got her get even more acclaim – and attention (QRO photos). She’s even had a star-studded show in NYC (QRO photos), where she had special guests like Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth & Aaron Dessner of The National (see above). She comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2014’s Are We There (QRO review) and last year’s remastered & remixed (it was) because i was in love (QRO review). Not a woman but a duo, Marian Hill (QRO photos) is synth-pop Philly pair Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd, who return to Austin City Limits’ second weekend. |
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Japanese Breakfast, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM The solo project of Michelle Zauner (QRO photos at a festival), Japanese Breakfast brings Soft Sounds from Another Planet (QRO review). |
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Also: IAMDDB, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Molly Burch, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend One) Mamafesta, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend One) SaulPaul, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Kupira Marima, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Red Yarn, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM |
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Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway (Weekend Two) Ralph’s World, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Lard Dog & The Band of Shy, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM The Barton Hills Choir, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Silent Disco, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM San Holo, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Last year’s Electronic Music Awards winner for New Artist of the Year, Dutch DJ San Holo first got notice for his remix of Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode”. |
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Sofi Tukker, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Weekend One) Rhye, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Weekend Two) Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern form house duo Sofi Tukker. Canada’s Mike Milosh brings his down-tempo alternative R&B to Austin as Rhye (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Curtis Harding, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM – QRO photos Ikebe Shakedown, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Jackie Venson, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend One) Harry Paradise, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend Two) Bells of Joy, 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM (Weekend One) Ty Morris & H.O.W., 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM (Weekend Two) |
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BMI Stage (Weekend One) flor, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Sweet Spirit, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Naked Giants, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival Dizzy, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM |
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BMI Stage (Weekend Two) Trampled by Turtles, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM From frigid Duluth comes the warm jam-folk of Trampled by Turtles (QRO photos), who are heading onto the open road (QRO photos outdoors) behind this year’s great Life Is Good On the Open Road (QRO review), and return to Austin City Limits. |
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Also: Lucie Silvas, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Ruston Kelly, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Charley Crockett, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM |
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HomeAway Stage Nelly, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Weekend One) Justice, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Weekend Two) Nelly is more than just a chart-topping, Grammy-winning rapper. The man who told us it was “Hot In Herre” and to cool down with some “Pimp Juice” has his own clothing lines & more, and is one of the top five best-selling rappers in American history. One of the biggest breakouts in the dance-rock craze of last decade has been France’s Justice (QRO photos at a festival), who followed up smash 2007 debut † with 2011’s Audio, Video, Disco and 2016’s Woman, as well as expanding their live show (QRO photos), including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival). |
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BAZZI, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Andrew Bazzi came to fame with last fall’s single “Mine” – which became an Internet meme when used with a Snapchat filter. So twenty-first century… |
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The Breeders, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Back in the early nineties alt-boom, Kim Deal left Boston’s acclaimed Pixies to form her own band with her sister Kelley, The Breeders, and they had one of the biggest hits of the era with the classic Last Splash (QRO live review performing Last Splash). However, after that the band sputtered to a delayed disappointment record Title TK a decade later. But this is the twenty-first century, and everything is coming back. First Deal and Pixies frontman Black Francis buried the hatchet and reunited the old band, while Kim & Kelley reteamed up (QRO live review) to make Mountain Battles (QRO review) – which unfortunately was no Last Splash. So Kim left the Pixies (again), recruited the entire old Splash crew and played the record on tour (QRO photos of them performing Last Splash at a festival). 2018 (QRO photos in 2018) has seen the old band release the new All Nerve (QRO review) – and it’s yet another disappointment. But hey, Last Splash still sounds great live (QRO photos of them performing it at another festival)… |
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Also: Verité, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM slenderbodies, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM |
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American Express Stage Metallica, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM The definition of heavy metal and the most successful band in the genre, Metallica (QRO live review) are pure headliner. The band (QRO photos) that has given us …And Justice For All, the blackest album cover since Spinal Tap, St. Anger documentary (and… Lulu – QRO review), and split ears worldwide (QRO photos). They (QRO photos) come to headline Austin City Limits behind 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct and a suitable epic show (QRO photos at an intimate show). |
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Deftones, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Weekend One) Disturbed, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Weekend Two) Alternative metal doesn’t come much better than the Deftones (QRO live review). The Sacramento has been act elevating the often-derided style for over two decades now, most recently with 2012’s Koi No Yokan (QRO review) and 2016’s Gore. They’re also mainstays on the rock festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). They (QRO live review) are known for being the rare band that both head-bangers and hipsters like (QRO photos), so come see why (QRO photos at a festival) as they hit Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival). Weekend Two has another strong alt-metal act in this slot, in Chicago’s Disturbed (QRO photos), who come to Austin City Limits just before the release of their seventh record, Evolution. |
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Highly Suspect, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Cape Cod rock trio Highly Suspect (QRO photos) come to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) behind two Grammy nominations in 2015. |
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The Wombats, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM 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). In 2015 The Wombats (QRO interview) returned with Glitterbug (QRO review) and pieces such as “This Is Not a Party” (QRO video) and “Emoticons” (QRO video), and this year with the excellent titled Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (QRO review) & fun show (QRO photos at a festival), as they return to Austin City Limits. |
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Also: Alice Merton, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend One) – QRO photos Wallows, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Weekend Two) |
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th/14th
Honda Stage Arctic Monkeys, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM If you’re unfamiliar with the Sheffield-native English rockers (QRO live review), you obviously were not paying much attention in 2006 when their much ballyhoo-ed debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am Not was being pumped out of every speaker and headphone either side of the Atlantic & more (QRO live review in Australia), thanks to an energetic MySpace fan base. Fast-forward eight years. MySpace is a shell of its former self, but the Arctic Monkeys (QRO photos at a festival) have put out four more studio albums, 2007’s Favorite Worst Nightmare (QRO review), 2009’s Humbug (QRO review), 2011’s Suck It and See (QRO review), and 2013’s American breakthrough AM, and with a new media storm around them (QRO photos). They come back to Austin City Limits to headline the Honda Stage (QRO photos headlining a festival) after the release of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. |
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Travis Scott, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend One) Shawn Mendes, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend Two) Texan rapper Travis Scott has succeeded in everything from producing (for GOOD Music’s Very GOOD Beats) to mixtapes to studio albums to team-ups (with Quavo as Huncho Jack) – not to mention being Kylie Jenner’s man. He comes to play Austin City Limits after the release of his highly anticipated AstroWorld, so look for new material like recent single “Watch”, which featured Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert. Canadian Shawn Mendes first got notice on Vine, and quickly launched into his own successful pop career. His three records, 2015’s Handwritten, 2016’s Illuminate, and this year’s Shawn Mendes, have all debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, making him one of the youngest ever to reach such heights. And he only turned twenty in August. |
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X Ambassadors, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Ithaca’s X Ambassadors (QRO photos) come back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos) while we wait for Joyful, their follow-up to 2015’s hit debut, VHS. |
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Also: A R I Z O N A, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM shame, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (Weekend One) Thunderpussy, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Miller Lite Stage ILLENIUM, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM San Francisco DJ & producer Nick Miller, a.k.a. ILLENIUM, comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Tinashe, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe (QRO photos at a festival) first came to notice for her acting, including motion capturing the female protagonist in Tom Hanks’ Polar Express, but more recently has broken out as a singer/songwriter (QRO photos at a festival), already up to third album last year with Joyride – and even performed “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania 33! |
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Bahamas, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM One of the best names in the singer/songwriter genre today, Afie Jurvanen cut his teeth as a backing musician for names like Jason Collett, Feist, and Hayden. Under the stage name ‘Bahamas’ (QRO photos at a festival), the self-taught musician recorded his first solo album in a rural Ontario cabin. The result: 2009’s Juno-nominated Pink Strat, which earned the Toronto native spots and just about every ‘Who To Watch’ list, as well as a place on the 2010 Polaris Long List. Bahamas (QRO live review) comes south to Austin (QRO photos) behind this year’s Earthtones. |
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Also: Amen Dunes, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Wilderado, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Weekend One) Freya Ridings, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Barton Springs Stage Shakey Graves, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM Shakey Graves (QRO photos at a festival) is the post-folk alter ego of Austin’s Alejandro Rose-Garcia (QRO photos), who comes back home to ACL with an extra ‘e’ (QRO photos at ACL ’15). |
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Houndmouth, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM From somewhere others consider nowhere, New Albany, Indiana, Houndmouth (QRO photos in Middle America) have managed to make it by working the Americana rock road, and are coming back to Austin City Limits behind this year’s The Golden Age (QRO review). |
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Parquet Courts, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Bringing grunge back has been the active Parquet Courts (QRO photos at a festival), who come back to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) after April’s release of Wide Awake!. |
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Also: Mt. Joy, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Sailor Poon, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Weekend One) Kydd Jones, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (Weekend Two) |
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Austin Kiddie Limits presented by Lifeway Lisa Loeb, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend One) – QRO photos at a festival SaulPaul, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend Two) Q Brothers, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM School of Rock, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage Silent Disco, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM The Revolution, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Prince forged The Revolution, one of the biggest acts of the eighties, including the iconic Purple Rain. The wide and varied group broke up in 1986, but thirty years later reunited following their founder’s tragic death. |
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Khruangbin, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend One) Moses Sumney, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Weekend Two) Houston’s Khruangbin (QRO photos in Austin) draw from all over the world, Spain to the Middle East to Thailand, but return to Austin City Limits. Ghana-by-way-of-America Moses Sumney (QRO photos at a festival) combines styles. He comes to Austin City Limits behind last year’s debut full-length, Aromanticism. |
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Also: Flor de Toloache, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM The Ghost of Paul Revere, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM The Texas Gentlemen, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (Weekend One) Superfónicas, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (Weekend Two) The Relatives, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend One) The Spiritualettes, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Weekend Two) |
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BMI Stage (Weekend One) Hailey Knox, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Injury Reserve, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM The Nude Party, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Neighbor Lady, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM |
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BMI Stage (Weekend Two) The Sisterhood Band, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM B.A.G., 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Phil Cook, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Davie, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM |
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HomeAway Stage Sylvan Esso, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Durham, North Carolina indie-pop duo Sylvan Esso (QRO photos outdoors) have moved up very fast (QRO photos at a festival) since the release in 2014 of their eponymous debut full-length, with well-titled follow-up What Now (QRO review) out last fall. They return to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ‘15). Never stop starting! |
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REZZ, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Persian-Ukrainian by way of Canada DJ, Isabelle Rezazadeh, a.k.a. REZZ, comes to Austin City Limits behind last year’s debut album, Mass Manipulation. |
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Elle King, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Songstress Elle King (QRO photos at a festival) encompasses country, soul, rock, and blues. She’s also, randomly, actor Rob Schneider’s daughter… |
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Also: Yungblud, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Lemaitre, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM |
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American Express Stage Childish Gambino, 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM The world is littered with rappers trying their hand at acting, and actors trying their hand at rapping (to say nothing of sports stars trying both) – with usually poor results. Standing out from that crowd is Childish Gambino (QRO photos), a.k.a. Donald Glover (QRO photos at a festival) of NBC’s great (but sadly cancelled) Community and now his own much acclaimed creation, FX’s Atlanta (plus young Lando Calrissian in Solo). While initial responses were lukewarm, 2016’s “Awaked, My Love!” became a commercial & critical hit, including winning a Grammy. Most recently, Glover Gambino’s (QRO photos at a festival) “This Is America” put him on the top ranks of political rappers. Danny Childish returns to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at ACL ’14). |
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Camila Cabello, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend One) Vince Staples, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Weekend Two) Formerly one of the five ladies of Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello (QRO photos at a festival) comes solo to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) after last year’s release of her debut solo full-length, The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving. Austin City Limits got another choice lyricist in Vince Staples (QRO photos at a festival). The Long Beach native first came up with others, such as in the group Cutthroat Boyz and in association with Odd Future (QRO live review), but has since made a name all his own (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with last year’s sophomore album Big Fish Theory. He plays his second ACL. |
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Janelle Monáe, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter (QRO photos at a festival) nicely crosses between the urban and alternative genres, from signing to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Record to opening on tour with of Montreal (QRO live review with of Montreal) to much, much more. She has since risen to amazing heights (QRO photos) with 2013’s The Electric Lady and this year’s Dirty Computer, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to guest singing on mega-hit single “We Are Young” by fun. to starring as an electric lady in Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams and even becoming a face for CoverGirl (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Twin Shadow, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM With one of the best debut albums of 2010, Forget, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, George Lewis Jr. (a.k.a. Twin Shadow – QRO photos) shot up on the hype meter. Turns out, the ‘80s new wave-influenced pop of the Dominican Republic born musician (QRO photos at a festival) actually lived up to its reputation. Sophisticated melodies and catchy hooks abound, the tracks of Forget easily transitioned from haunting poetics to infectious dance numbers (QRO photos at a festival), and he’s lived up to that level with later records Confess, Eclipse, and the new Caer, as he returns to Austin City Limits. Also: Amber Mark, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM |
Late Night Shows
Thursday, October 4th
Gang of Youths, with Annabelle Chairlegs @ Antone’s
A R I Z O N A, with slenderbodies @ Monhawk
Friday, October 5th
Sofi Tukker, with Ikebe Shakedown, Crush Club, LP Giobbi @ Scoot Inn
St. Vincent @ Stubb’s
Japanese Breakfast, with Molly Burch @ Antone’s
The Wombats, with Yungblud @ Emo’s
Gryffin (DJ set) @ Vulcan Gas Company
FATAI @ Stubb’s Indoors
Saturday, October 6th
Houndmouth, with Neighbor Lady @ Antone’s
X Ambassadors, with Lewis Capaldi @ Scoot Inn
Shame, with Naked Giants @ Barracuda
Brockhampton @ Stubb’s
Amen Dunes @ Mohawk
San Holo (DJ set), with Robotaki @ Emo’s
Kydd Jones @ Stubb’s
Sunday, October 7th
The Bells of Joy @ Stubb’s Indoors
The Breeders, with Moaning @ Scoot Inn
Monday, October 8th
Lisa Loeb, with Dizzy @ Scoot Inn
Tuesday, October 9th
Bishop Briggs, with Donna Missal @ Emo’s
Wednesday, October 10th
Alvvays, with Caroline Says @ Scoot Inn
David Byrne, with Topaz Jones @ Bass Concert Hall
Residente, with TROOKO @ Emo’s
Wild Child, with Golden Dawn Arkestra @ Stubb’s
Thursday, October 11th
Sir Sly, with Verite @ Scoot Inn
Mt. Joy, with Duncan Fellows, Adam Melchor @ Antone’s
JUNGLE & Rhye @ Emo’s
The National @ Stubb’s
Alice Merton, with Sasha Sloan @ The Parish
Big Thief, with Sweet Spirit @ Mohawk
Magic City Hippies @ Stubb’s Indoors
Friday, October 12th
Sylvan Esso, with Durand Jones & The Indications @ Stubb’s
Reignwolf, with Arkells @ Antone’s
ILLENIUM, with Trivecta @ Emo’s
Saturday, October 13th
Trampled by Turtles, with Phil Cook @ Scoot Inn
ODESZA, with Jai Wolf, EVAN GIIA @ Stubb’s
Manchester Orchestra, with Ben Kweller @ Emo’s
Parquet Courts, with SASS @ Mohawk
Harry Paradise @ Stubb’s Indoors
Sunday, October 14th
Ty Morris @ H.O.W. @ Stubb’s Indoors
Curtis Harding, with Jackie Venson @ Antone’s
For festival website, go here: https://www.aclfestival.com/