October 1, 2015
The iconic Austin City Limits brings its massive festival to Austin’s Zilker Park for two long weekends, Friday-to-Sunday, October 2nd-4th & 9th-11th:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd/9th
| Honda Stage Disclosure, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM British electronic duo Disclosure (QRO photos at a festival) spin beats at ACL (QRO photos at a festival last summer). |
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| Brandon Flowers, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend one) The Killers (QRO live review) frontman Brandon Flowers returns to ACL, this time solo, behind his new solo album, The Desired Effect. |
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| Future, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend two) 2015 has been a hot year for Hotlanta’s Future (QRO photos at a festival), who has both put out his own third full-length, DS2, as well as joint mixtape with Saturday headliner Drake, What a Time to Be Alive. |
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| Leon Bridges, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Leon Bridges’ (QRO photos at a festival) early Friday afternoon set will be one of the more popular ones on the first day of ACL. With his debut “Coming Home” and old school voice, the 25-year-old Texan has been compared to Sam Cooke and Otis Reading. |
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| Nate Ruess, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM fun. (QRO live review) became a huge indie-pop sensation with singles like “We Are Young”, including playing ACL 2013, but they’ve been branching out. Guitarist Jack Antonoff has found major success fronting his own Bleachers (QRO photos at a festival), and singer Nate Ruess has begun his own solo career as well (QRO photos solo). |
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| 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! |
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Miller Lite Stage Flosstradamus, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Chicago-based DJs J2K and Autobot are Flosstradamus (QRO photos), and while they’re best known for touring with such similar techtronica acts as Chromeo (QRO live review), they’ve also shared the stage with indie groups like Matt & Kim (QRO spotlight on) on more than one occasion (QRO photos, again on the bill with Matt & Kim). |
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| Run the Jewels, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with 2013’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection (QRO photos at a festival), working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival) for two critically acclaimed records, most recently last year’s Run the Jewels 2, with word of 3 already in the works. |
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| CHERUB, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Nashville electro-indie duo Jason Juber and Jordan Kelley return to ACL as CHERUB. |
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| The Maccabees, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM South London indie rock comes to ACL in the form of The Maccabees (QRO spotlight on), touring behind this year’s Marks To Prove It (QRO review). Also: In the Whale, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend one) Whiskey Myers, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend two) |
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Austin Ventures Stage George Ezra, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Things have blossomed very fast for singer/songwriter George Ezra (QRO photos at a festival), after his international hit single “Budapest”. |
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| MOON TAXI, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM MOON TAXI (QRO photos at a festival) cross the dashed lines between indie, jam, progressive, and rock. |
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| Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (weekend one) Tennessee’s Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors (QRO photos at a festival) brings the Americana rock of this year’s Medicine to ACL. |
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| Wolf Alice, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (weekend two) North London’s Wolf Alice (QRO live review) may have debuted in 2013 with single “Fluffy”, but they’re anything but, as they come to ACL (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Also: Alina Baraz & Galimatias, 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM Son Little, 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM Leopold and His Fiction, 12:00 – 12:40 PM (weekend one) The Nightowls, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM (weekend two) Calliope Musicals, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (weekend one) Tameca Jones, 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (weekend two) |
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Austin Kiddie Limits Stage Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Naptime Players, 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (weekend one) EmiSunshine, 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (weekend two) Special Guest, 3:15 PM – 3:30 PM Tim Kubart with Mother Falcon, 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM (weekend one) Mister G, 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM (weekend two) Residual Kid, 1:30 PM – 1:55 PM (weekend one) Q Brothers, 1:30 PM – 1:55 PM (weekend two) School of Rock, 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM (weekend one) Big Don, 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM (weekend two) |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage (weekend one)/Zilker Stage (weekend two) Rhiannon Giddens, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM A founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops (QRO photos), Rhiannon Giddens brings her old-timey soulful voice to Austin City Limits. |
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| Also: Rey Pila, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos at ACL ’14 El Tule, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (weekend two) Con Brio, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM A Tribute to Andrae Crouch, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM BLESSED, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM The Barton Hills Choir, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM |
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BMI Stage Sons of Bill, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend one) DeRobert & The Half-Truths, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend two) Maggie Koerner, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (weekend one) Kansas Bible Company, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (weekend two) Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (weekend one) The London Souls, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (weekend two) – QRO photos at a festival American Aquarium, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (weekend one) The Marcus King Band, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (weekend two) |
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HomeAway Stage Gary Clark Jr., 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Austin’s Gary Clark Jr. (QRO photos at a festival in Austin) is the latest artist to be said to be ‘bringing blues back’ – when did it ever leave? And if it did, it’s surely come back many times since then (just look at Jack White…) – but Clark (QRO live review) is certainly keeping it going, like on Austin City Limits itself (QRO live review on ACL). He plays the festival for the fifth time! |
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| Brand New, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Long Island’s Brand New (QRO photos at a festival) were getting bigger & bigger, like with 2009’s Top Ten release, Daisy, but have since announced a sonic shift for the long-awaited follow-up, so who knows what to expect as they come to ACL (QRO photos at a festival)? |
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| Albert Hammond Jr., 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM You probably still know Albert Hammond, Jr. from his day job as guitarist for this century/millennium’s first hit alt-rock band, The Strokes (see below), but he’s also forged his own successful solo career (QRO photos solo at a festival), most recently 2013’s AHJ EP. Also: Ruen Brothers, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Talk In Tongues, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend one) Avers, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend two) |
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Samsung Galaxy Stage Foo Fighters, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM For some people, Dave Grohl will always be, first and foremost, the drummer of Nirvana (QRO DVD review), but he’s forged a massively successful career fronting his own Foo Fighters (QRO photos at a festival) for over fifteen years now. Along with former Sunny Day Real Estate bassist Nate Mendel and sometimes member Pat Smear (of iconic punk act The Germs), they’re up to record number eight with last year’s Sonic Highways (QRO review) and 2001’s Wasting Light (QRO review). There has even been pseudo-Nirvana reunions, like Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Nevermind producer Butch Vig on Wasting, plus Grohl’s documentary & album about their old recording studio, Sound City (QRO album review). More recently, Grohl broke his leg on stage, finished the performance, toured with his leg in a cast, and more! |
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| Tame Impala, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM From Perth (QRO photos at a home) in Western Australia (QRO photos at a hometown festival), comes the psychedelic rock of Tame Impala (QRO live review), touring off of 2011’s Innerspeaker (QRO review) & 2012’s Lonerism, whose critical acclaim has won them fans across the world (QRO photos at a festival), and a spot back at ACL (QRO photos at a festival) for the second time in three years. |
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| Billy Idol, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Friday will be a nice day for Billy Idol (QRO photos at a festival). Possessing maybe the definite punk look (QRO photos), Idol (QRO photos at a festival) was one of the first stars for MTV (back when it played music outside of beef-generating VMA Awards…), thanks to his “Rebel Yell”. |
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| Royal Blood, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Embrace the fast-rising blues-garage of Manchester’s Royal Blood (QRO photos at a U.K. festival). |
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| Meg Myers, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM At ACL catch the next up-and-coming raw songstress, Meg Myers. |
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Honda Artist Signing Shack Weekend One 1:00PM | In The Whale 1:30PM | Meg Myers 2:00PM | Run The Jewels 2:00PM | American Aquarium 2:00PM | Son Little 2:30PM | Moon Taxi 3:00PM | Rhiannon Giddens 3:15PM | Mother Falcon 4:00PM | Sons of Bill 4:30PM | Albert Hammond Jr. 4:30PM | Wolf Alice 5:30PM | Leon Bridges 5:30PM | Rey Pila |
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Weekend Two 1:00PM | Whiskey Myers 1:00PM | The Nightowls 1:30PM | Meg Myers 2:00PM | Run The Jewels 2:00PM | Son Little 2:30PM | Moon Taxi 3:30PM | The London Souls 4:00PM | Royal Blood 4:00PM | Disclosure 4:30PM | Albert Hammond Jr. 4:30PM | Wolf Alice 5:30PM | Leon Bridges |
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd/10th
| Honda Stage deadmau5, 8:20 PM – 9:30 PM Niagara Falls’ deadmau5 (QRO live review) is still most recognizable for his trademark headgear & light show (QRO photos at a festival). While his remix of Morgan Page’s “The Longest Road”, featuring Lissie (QRO spotlight on), lost out in the Grammy for ‘Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical’ to David Guetta (QRO album review), the progressive house artist (don’t dare call him a ‘DJ’…) has blown up, most recently with last year’s while(1<2). |
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| Alabama Shakes, 6:20 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend one) Actually from Alabama, throwback rock ‘n’ rollahs Alabama Shakes (QRO photos at a festival) are well loved from their numerous, energetic live shows (QRO photos), which got them a slew of Grammy nominations in 2013, and a well-earned spot on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Modest Mouse, 6:20 PM – 7:00 PM (weekend two) Washington State’s Modest Mouse (QRO photos) broke through to mainstream success in 2004 with Good News For People Who Like Bad News, and followed that up by adding Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr for 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (QRO review) – unfortunately, Marr has since left to join the even younger Cribs (QRO live review) and then solo (QRO live review). But they’re still big enough to even headline (QRO photos headlining a festival), are great outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), and this year finally put out their first new record since Sank, Strangers To Ourselves (QRO review). They return to ACL (QRO photos at a more recent festival) for a second time. |
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| Sturgill Simpson, 4:20 PM – 5:20 PM Though his sound is closer to traditional country, because Sturgill Simpson (QRO photos at a festival) operates his own label outside of the Nashville country music business, he’s labeled ‘alt-country’. |
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| Father John Misty, 2:20 PM – 3:20 PM While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes (QRO album review), 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 ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind follow-up I Love You, Honeybear. |
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| Also: Milo Greene, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival |
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Miller Lite Stage TV On the Radio, 7:20 PM – 8:20 PM One of the bands that put Brooklyn not only on the indie-map, but also at the top of it, is the borough’s TV On the Radio (QRO live review outdoors in Brooklyn). 2004’s debut Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes introduced their complex-yet-accessible indie-tech-punk-rock, 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain proved it was no fluke, and 2008’s Dear Science (QRO review) saw the band launched into the top tier of alternative music (QRO live review). The group took something of a break after that, as members such as Tunde Adebimpe, David Andrew Sitek, and Kyp Malone did various side/solo projects, but returned in 2013 (QRO photos at a festival) with Nine Types of Light (QRO review). Nine Types was a return in quality as well as success for the band (QRO photos at a festival), though they unfortunately lost bassist Gerard Smith to cancer in 2011, but have kept on magnificently (QRO photos outdoors in New York), including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival) and with last year’s Seeds (QRO review). |
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| Walk the Moon, 5:20 PM – 6:20 PM In their self-titled album, Walk the Moon (QRO review), these Ohio natives (QRO live review) became one of America’s infectious indie rock groups (QRO photos at a festival) and it’s easy to see why: their catchy guitar riffs, fun and creamy pop beats can strike a tune within any listener (QRO photos at a festival). In 2012, the band (QRO photos) had the ‘song of the summer’ in “Anna Sun”, but they’re more than just that great single (QRO photos), and come back to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind last December’s follow-up full-length, Talking Is Hard (QRO review). |
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| Shakey Graves, 3:20 PM – 4:20 PM Shakey Graves (QRO photos at a festival) is the post-folk alter ego of Austin’s own Alejandro Rose-Garcia (QRO photos), who comes back to ACL for the second time in three years. |
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| San Fermin, 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM Brooklyn baroque-pop band San Fermin (QRO photos in Italy) comes to Austin for ACL. |
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| Also: WATERS, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos FIDLAR, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend two) – QRO photos at a festival |
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Austin Ventures Stage BOOTS, 7:30 PM – 8:20 PM Producer/singer/rapper Jordan Asher, better known as BOOTS, became known for his significant contributions Beyoncé’s Beyoncé. |
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| Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM From Portland (QRO photos in Portland), but also New Zealand, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (QRO live review) impressed a lot of ears with their self-titled debut (QRO review) and this year’s Multi Love, both of which managed to be avant while also still rockin’ (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Houndmouth, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM From somewhere others consider nowhere, New Albany, Indiana, Houndmouth have managed to make it by working the Americana rock road. They play ACL for the second time in three years. |
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| Also: Vince Staples, 2:30 PM – 3:10 PM – QRO photos at a festival Charlotte OC, 1:30 PM – 2:10 PM William Clark Green, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM (weekend one) Bee Caves, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM (weekend one) The Wind & The Wave, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend one) Riders Against the Storm, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend two) |
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Austin Kiddie Limits Stage Residual Kid, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (weekend one) The Pop Ups, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (weekend two) Special Guest, 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Q Brothers, 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM (weekend one) EmiSunshine, 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM (weekend two) Tim Kubart with Mother Falcon, 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM (weekend one) Mister G, 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM (weekend two) Big Don, 1:00 PM – 1:25 PM (weekend one) School of Rock, 1:00 PM – 1:25 PM (weekend two) |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage (weekend one)/Zilker Stage (weekend two) José González, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM The Argentine-Swedish José González (QRO photos at a festival) crafts exquisite, intimate material, both solo like with this year’s Vestiges and Claws (QRO review) and in his group Junip (QRO album review). |
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| Also: E Tule, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend one) Luis Coronel, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend two) The Last Bandoleros, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos Gabriel Garzón-Montano, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend two) Tyree Morris & Hearts of Worship, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM The Levites, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Wesley Bray & The Disciples of Joy, 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM |
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BMI Stage Rayland Baxter, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (weekend one) Alessia Cara, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (weekend two) Koa, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend one) Sounds del Mar, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend two) Sol Cat, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend one) Sugar + The Hi-Lows, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend two) Mikaela Davis, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (weekend one) Adia Victoria, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (weekend two) |
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HomeAway Stage Bassnectar, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM A festival mainstay (QRO photos), like at ACL ’09 & ’12, Lorin Ashton (a.k.a. Bassnectar – QRO photos) brings the lights live (QRO photos at a festival) – as well as the hair… (QRO photos at a festival) |
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| G-Eazy, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Oakland’s G-Eazy comes to ACL behind last year’s debut studio album, These Things Happen, so see them happen & more. |
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| MisterWives, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Catch the excitable, electric indie-pop of MisterWives (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Ryn Weaver, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Singer/songwriter Ryn Weaver (QRO photos) comes to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind viral sensation single “OctaHate”. |
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| Also: In the Valley Below, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos at a festival HOLYCHILD, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend two) – QRO photos at a festival |
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Samsung Galaxy Stage Drake, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM One of the most successful and well-liked rappers working today, Drake comes to headline Governors Ball. The Toronto native (“Where the rappers are polite, and the mayor smokes crack…”) first came to notice as a teen actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation, but found his true calling with 2010 debut album Thank Me Later (QRO review), and has continued his chart-topping work with 2011’s Take Care (QRO review), 2013’s Nothing Was the Same, and this year’s surprise release, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. A few years ago he sparked a near-riot when his free NYC show at South Street Seaport (QRO venue review) was cancelled due to overcrowding (QRO photos of would-be show), but things should be better managed when the man who coined the term ‘YOLO’ comes to ACL. |
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| A$AP Rocky, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ACL has always had the beats & rhymes, such as this year with A$AP Rocky (QRO photos at a festival), of the acclaimed A$AP Mob – so expect shouts for schwag (QRO photos at a festival) as he plays off this year’s At.Long.Last.A$AP. |
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| Twenty One Pilots, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM The somewhat uninspired pop of Twenty One Pilots (QRO photos at a festival) comes to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind this year’s Blurryface. |
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| Also: Glass Animals, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – QRO photos Echosmith, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO photos |
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Honda Artist Signing Shack Weekend One 1:40PM | William Clark Green 1:45PM | Echosmith 2:00PM | Milo Green 2:30PM | Unknown Mortal Orchestra 2:45PM | Ryn Weaver 3:00PM | WALK THE MOON 3:00PM | G-Eazy 3:00PM | San Fermin 4:00PM | Glass Animals 5:00PM | Houndmouth 5:00PM | MisterWives |
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Weekend Two 1:15PM | FIDLAR 1:45PM | Echosmith 2:00PM | Milo Green 2:30PM | Unknown Mortal Orchestra 2:45PM | Ryn Weaver 3:00PM | WALK THE MOON 3:00PM | G-Eazy 3:00PM | San Fermin 4:00PM | Glass Animals 5:00PM | Houndmouth 5:00PM | MisterWives 5:30PM | Shakey Graves 5:45PM | Luis Coronel |
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4th/11th
| Honda Stage The Weeknd, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM Check out Canada’s own alt-hip-hop star, The Weeknd (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) after cancelling in 2012, and after the more recent release of his highly anticipated sophomore record, Chapter III. |
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| alt-J, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Among all the overnight alt-successes, maybe no one has done it as quickly or as majorly as alt-J (QRO live review). Also known as ‘∆’ – that’s what you get when press the ‘alt’ and ‘J’ buttons on your keyboard – the indie-more quartet went from playing tiny places at terrible hours in 2012 (QRO photos) to winning their native England’s prestigious Mercury Prize later that year (QRO photos at a U.K. festival), and playing America (QRO photos at a North American festival) at much, much larger spaces (QRO photos). |
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| The Decemberists, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists (QRO photos at a festival) have been booming in recent years, from their showdown with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report (QRO Music on Late Night TV) to 2009’s excellent magnum opus, The Hazards of Love (QRO review), 2011’s The King Is Dead (QRO review), which earned them a Grammy nom, and this year’s What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World. Oh, and they taught the children of Springfield Elementary on The Simpsons, plus appeared on the season finale of Parks & Recreation! |
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| BØRNS, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Actually from Michigan, not Scandinavia, is singer Garrett Borns, a.k.a. BØRNS (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Lion Babe, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM |
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Miller Lite Stage NERO, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dubstep big-name NERO (QRO live review) does a full live set at ACL (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Chance the Rapper, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Two mixtapes, 2012’s 10 Day and 2013’s Acid Rap, have launched Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper (QRO photos at a festival) into the big time (his Chicago-sponsored South-by-Southwest showcase last year was shut down due to massive overcrowding – QRO recap). He comes to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind his latest mixtape, this year’s team-up with Lil B the Based God, Free Based Freestyles Mixtape. |
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| Sylvan Esso, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Durham, North Carolina indie-pop duo Sylvan Esso (QRO photos outdoors) have moved up very fast since the release last year of their eponymous debut full-length. |
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| Daughter, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM North London’s Elena Tonra + Swiss-born Igor Haefelli & France’s Remi Aguilella = indie-folk Daughter (QRO photos). |
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| Also: Waxahatchee, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend one) – QRO album review Marian Hill, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend two) |
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Austin Ventures Stage Dwight Yoakam, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Dwight Yoakam has done so much over the years, one can almost forget that he helped bring country music into the modern era. Hailed by none other than Johnny Cash as his favorite country singer, he somehow still hit a new peak this year with Second Hand Heart. He’s also dabbled on screen, from playing the abusive boyfriend Billy Boy Thorton killed (spoiler alert!) at the end of Sling Blade to being one of the most frequent musical guests on The Tonight Show. |
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| Kurt Vile & The Violators, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Even amongst all the lo-fi guitar-punks out there, Kurt Vile (QRO photos at a festival) has made a name for himself. The former member of The War On Drugs (QRO live review), Kurt Vile has since formed his own ensemble with his Violators, and contributed to/opened for alt-punk guitar god J Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr. – QRO live review) on his solo record, Several Shades of Why (QRO review), and subsequent tour. However, he’s since evolved into a big frontman of his own (QRO live review) with 2013’s Wakin On a Pretty Daze and just-out b’lieve I’m goin down…, including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Strand of Oaks, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM For those looking for something a bit more heavy, look no further than Strand of Oaks (QRO photos). Timothy Showalter is not afraid to be honest in his guitar-driven songs punctuated with soaring solos. There’s a touch of pop, some Neil Young and the cathartic release of Strand of Oaks (QRO photos at a festival) will have you feeling nostalgic and ready for the future all at the same time. |
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| Also: Years & Years, 2:30 PM – 3:10 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos Sheppard, 2:30 PM – 3:10 PM (weekend two) Sheppard, 1:30 PM – 2:10 PM (weekend one) Kaleo, 1:30 PM – 2:10 PM (weekend two) UME, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos at a festival The Hunts, 12:30 PM – 1:10 PM (weekend two) Night Drive, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend one) Knifight, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM (weekend two) |
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Austin Kiddie Limits Stage Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Naptime Players, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (weekend one) The Pop Ups, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (weekend two) Special Guest, 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM School of Rock, 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM (weekend one) Motown Pete, 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM (weekend two) Q Brothers, 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM Big Don, 1:00 PM – 1:25 PM (weekend one) School of Rock, 1:00 PM – 1:25 PM (weekend two) |
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Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage (weekend one)/Zilker Stage (weekend two) GRiZ, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Spinning beats and more at ACL will be GRiZ (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Classixx, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Los Angeles DJ duo Michael David & Tyler Blake (QRO photos at a Los Angeles festival) – a.k.a. Classixx (QRO photos at a festival) – come to ACL (QRO photos). |
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| Also: Kalie Uchis, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Disciples of Chris, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Kings of Harmony +1, 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM |
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BMI Stage Muddy Magnolias, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (weekend one) Lanz Pierce, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (weekend two) The Suffers, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend one) – QRO photos at a festival Steelism, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend two) Kehlani, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend one) Spirit Family Reunion, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (weekend two) – QRO photos at a festival Hunter Sharpe, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (weekend one) Mandolin Orange, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (weekend two) |
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HomeAway Stage Hozier, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Ireland’s Andrew Hozier-Byrne (QRO live review in England) comes to Austin City Limits (QRO photos at a festival) off of last year’s massive breakthrough single “Take Me To the Church” – not to mention being impersonated on Saturday Night Live! |
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| Vance Joy, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM From the other side of the world, Melbourne’s Vance Joy (QRO photos) is the rare footballer (that’s soccer to you yanks) turned singer. |
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| Also: Halsey, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Amason, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Boom Forest, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend one) Beat Connection, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (weekend two) – QRO photos at a festival |
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Samsung Galaxy Stage The Strokes, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM (weekend one) Back in 2001, The Strokes’ Is This It and “Hard To Explain” basically launched the alternative music revival, starting in Lower East Side before going to Brooklyn, Canada, Sweden, and everywhere else (not to mention drummer Fabrizio Moretti dating Drew Barrymore). However, follow-ups Room On Fire and First Impressions of Earth were way too similar to what the band had broken through with, while countless indie acts had taken advantage of the opening & the internet to make The Strokes feel like old hat, and fans say, “Is This It?”. Various members did their own thing, such as solo records from guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (see above) and singer Julian Casablancas (QRO solo photos at a festival), but didn’t light the world on fire (QRO review of Casablancas solo record), and Barrymore & Moretti broke up, leaving the band something of a forgotten caricature (or, as The Onion so excellently put it in a side headline, ‘Guy from The Strokes accused of looking like guy from The Strokes’). But maybe that’s what the band needed – no follow-up or solo record could live up to Is This It, and there was enough time that them getting back together for 2011’s Angles (QRO review) practically counted as the first ‘twenty-first century reunion’ (on the lines of the popular eighties & nineties alt-reunions – we need a name for the last decade…). However, last year saw them release Comedown Machine (QRO review), which seemed like a ‘last record’, from the chosen name to the band not doing any promotion to it being the final one on their RCA contract. Casablancas, Hammond, and others are already looking to solo projects again, so this might be your last chance to catch The Strokes (QRO photos at a festival) in a while/ever (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Florence & The Machine, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM (weekend two) Known for her yearning vocals and crooning howls (QRO photos), Florence & The Machine (QRO live review) have garnered the reputation of the world’s most renowned indie pop artists (QRO photos). However, their singles “Shake It Out” and “You’ve Got The Love” from 2011’s Ceremonials (QRO review) are only a short glimpse of her haunting soundscape (QRO photos). The group (QRO live review) will come back to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) after the release of follow-up How Big How Blue How Beautiful (QRO review). |
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| Of Monsters and Men, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Things moved quite fast in 2011 for Iceland’s the next-gen alt-folk collective Of Monsters and Men (QRO live review), on the back of killer single “Little Talks” (QRO video) and debut full-length My Head Is an Animal (QRO review). In addition to ruling the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival) and headlining bigger & bigger venues (QRO photos), they even played Saturday Night Live (QRO Music on Late Night TV). They (QRO photos) come to ACL (QRO photos at a festival) behind Animal follow-up Beneath the Skin (QRO review). Hey! |
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| Ben Howard, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM English singer/songwriter Ben Howard (QRO photos in England) channels ‘60s & ‘70s folk, but keeps up with the times (QRO live review) – he’s also got a great cover of “Call Me Maybe” (but will he play it live?…). He comes back to ACL just after playing Radio City Music Hall (QRO photos). |
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| Lord Huron, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Los Angeles label IAMSOUND is best known for electronic acts, but found a nice local indie-folk act in Lord Huron (QRO photos in Los Angeles), who is also a festival regular (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Jidenna, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM |
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Honda Artist Signing Shack Weekend One 2:00PM | UME 2:30PM | Of Monsters and Men 3:30PM | Years & Years 5:00PM | Strand of Oaks 5:15PM | Jidenna 6:00PM | BØRNS 6:00PM | The Suffers 6:45PM | Kurt Vile |
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Weekend Two 2:00PM | Mandolin Orange 2:30PM | Of Monsters and Men 2:40PM | Kaleo 4:00PM | Spirit Family Reunion 5:00PM | Strand of Oaks 5:15PM | Jidenna 6:00PM | BØRNS 6:00PM | Steelism |
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For festival website, go here: http://www.aclfestival.com/
