One of the country’s most anticipated events, Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Festival) celebrates its 15th anniversary during this year’s installments. On September 30-October 2 and October 7-9, head to Zilker Park to witness exciting performances by artists of all calibers, including Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem and Central Texas’ most notable performer, Willie Nelson.
With 120 acts taking the stage, navigating the festival can prove daunting. To help out, we highlight the ten performances we believe you shouldn’t miss. To simplify things even further, download the official ACL Fest app and create a custom schedule that you can access at any time. To see the full lineup, click right here.
Radiohead
Friday, September 30 and Friday, October 7: Samsung Stage, 8pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
Arguably the most popular indie rock band in the world, Radiohead will headline the festival during opening night both weekends. The UK rockers are touring in support of their critically lauded album A Moon Shaped Pool. The band famously deleted all posts from their social media accounts prior to the album’s release last May, prompting widespread speculation about an imminent record announcement.
Willie Nelson
Sunday, October 9: Samsung Stage, 6pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
At 83 years old, this may be country music great’s Willie Nelson last appearance at the festival, which is reason enough to add him to your schedule. Watch out for Nelson’s instruments on stage as he still plays the same Martin acoustic (Trigger) he’s been using his entire career. The instrument is now an amalgam of glue, wood filler and layers of finish that has kept his trusty six-string ticking.
LCD Soundsystem
Sunday, October 2 and Friday, October 9: Honda Stage, 8pm
Photograph: Courtesy YouTube.com
New York underground dance-punk band, LCD Soundsystem famously disbanded at the height of their career five years ago but have come back together recently. The group is one of the hottest festival acts on the circuit this summer, playing a slate of festivals in Europe before heading back across the pond for a pair of dates at Red Rocks, Lollapalooza and closing out both weekends at ACL Festival. Having cancelled the Asian leg of their Back from the Dead tour to work on their forthcoming album, the band’s festival appearance has garnered even more attention.
Kendrick Lamar
Saturday, October 1 and Saturday, October 8: Samsung Stage, 8:30pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
Saturday headliner Kendrick Lamar is known as one of the most explosive hip-hop live performers currently on tour. With a record 11 Grammy nominations for last year’s To Pimp a Butterfly (and 5 wins, including Best Rap Album), the West Coast rapper’s set is highly anticipated.
Die Antwoord
Friday, September 30 and Friday, October 7: Honday Stage, 6pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
South Africans Die Antwoord may be the craziest act scheduled. Fans will have two chances to see the rap/rave act go over the top on the Honda Stage. The trio comprised of Ninja, Yolandi Visser and DJ Hi-Tek makes music inspired by a South African counterculture movement called Zef.
Cage the Elephant
Saturday, October 1 and Saturday, October 8: Honda Stage, 6:30pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
Fans will have two chances to see the Kentucky garage rockers play their set, which is sure to include hits "Come a Little Closer" and "Cigarette Daydreams." There will be plenty of stage diving and crowd surfing in what promises to be one of the most fun acts at the festival. Touring in support of their latest release, Tell Me I’m Pretty, the group is trying to build on the success of Melophobia (2013) which garnered a Best Alternative Album Grammy nomination.
Anderson Paak & the Free Nationals
Saturday, October 8: Home Away Stage, 5:30pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
Oxnard, California artist Anderson Paak is a rapper, percussionist and producer who was one of the hottest acts at SXSW last year. Paak is featured on 8 of the 16 tracks on Dr. Dre’s Grammy-nominated album Compton. The attention garnered from the latter effort propelled the singer to pursue a solo career. His sound contains elements of R&B, hip-hop, funk and soul—which makes for an irresistibly fun performance.
City & Colour
Saturday, October 1 and Saturday, October 8: Samsung Stage, 2:30pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
City & Colour, otherwise known as Dallas Green (get it?), is a Canadian musical juggernaut. The act’s lineup at the festival is a supergroup of sorts, featuring Texas rocker Dante Schwebel (Hacienda, Spanish Gold) on guitar and Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs) on bass.
Blue Healer
Saturday, October 8: BMI Stage, 6:30pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
The trio formed last year with members of popular local alt-country band Sons of Fathers. This iteration consists of an upright bass, guitar, analog keyboards and drums. With the latest Saturday slot of any local act, this is certainly a must-see.
Local Natives
Sunday, October 2 and Sunday, October 8: Honda Stage, 4pm
Photograph: Courtesy ACLfestival.com
This L.A. five piece band is known for putting up outstanding live shows. Although indie rock easily defined the group’s previous record, Sunlit Youth, Local Natives’ new material, Hummingbird, takes the sound a step further, reveling in a variety of different musical influences.
Bonus info: Morning live broadcasts presented by local radio stations KUTX and KGSR take place at the Four Seasons Hotel and Threadgill’s World Headquarters during the first weekend. With a small donation, you can also enjoy breakfast tacos, coffee and snacks. Find more information about the KUTX Live at The Four Seasons and KGSR’s ACL Live Broadcast by clicking on the links.