Austin City Limits festival showcases a variety of acts


In the past, I always regretted never taking the time to collect my thoughts after festivals to really look back and appreciate my experience there as a whole. But this year, after attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival, I finally took the time to sit down and reflect. As I gathered my thoughts, I had major issues determining what exactly made this particular experience so special. ACL can be a place for interesting experiences, whether you’re a festival newbie or a seasoned attendee. I, however, am no festival amateur. I’ve traveled to Spain for Bilbao’s BBK Live; I’ve raved at Mexico City’s EDC and gotten the Coachella experience. Now, it was time to head to  the self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world. The result was a fantastic weekend in Zilker Park to end the 2015 festival season.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day event in Austin featuring some of the most eclectic and major names in the music industry. My friends and I left Los Angeles Thursday evening and embarked on a three-hour flight to Austin. After reaching our destination, we woke to the arid heat the next day that eased into the warm haze. Before leaving, I had highlighted the artists I could not miss: Disclosure, Alabama Shakes, G-Eazy, Halsey and Borns, among others. To have only a handful of “must-sees” is the best way to go to a festival because it gives you the opportunity to see a variety of artists you would normally not be exposed to.

One thing struck me about ACL right off the bat: I have never seen so many children at a music festival. And though taking kids to a music festival is generally a bad idea, the crowd at ACL is on average older than those at other mega festivals. For the first time, I felt weird dancing in front of others — not that it stopped me, of course. Between the Austin Kiddie Limits stage, the available shade and green areas to play around, ACL provides families comfort without diminishing the experience. I mean, how bad can it be to see your kid jam out to the Foo Fighters?

A few hundred die-hard fans gathered around the gates before they opened at 11 a.m. sharp on Friday. The Star Wars theme played in the background as I chatted with another ACL first-timer who was accompanied by his brother, who had been to the festival about 10 times. The brothers said they came mainly for that night’s headliner, the Foo Fighters. I have never been a huge fan, but I was more than willing to see Dave Grohl live and that Game of Thrones seat he’s been performing in since a leg injury left him debilitated.

Friday began with a new discovery. Soul/pop band Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas were playing at the BMI stage and were fabulous and dreamy. Hernandez has a beautiful lush voice, framed perfectly by a band of Detroit rockers.  Midway through Jessica and the Delta’s performance, I decided to leave my friends to wander the fields on my own and went to check out a random stage. I walked into the enormous Samsung Galaxy Stage and was blown away by British rock duo, Royal Blood, who impressed the crowd with their chopping riffs and catchy choruses. When it comes to rock and roll, the British never cease to surprise. “Figure It Out” is now on my Spotify “feel good” playlist.

My friends and I found each other and continued on to watch Albert Hammond Jr. at the HomeAway stage. Hammond led his four-piece through a set of pop-rock gems from his recently released LP, Momentary Masters. The highlight was “Losing Touch.” The Strokes guitarist and his ensemble wrapped things up at 3:45 p.m., with a full 15 minutes of their schedule still available. At the front, die-hard fans chanted his name for an encore, but the show was over. They had to wait until Sunday to see Hammond again during the first weekend finale.

We finished on the Honda Stage with Disclosure, one of the most successful electronic duos in recent music history. I found myself in the crowd during their Friday set for my second time seeing them live in the past week. With a set list that balanced old and new, brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence showcased that they are more than a typical electronic artist. The visual spectacle, the projections and light shows were on point, highlighting the duo’s drum kits, strapped-on guitars and feisty vocals. The two heaviest dance tracks, “Bang That” and “When a Fire Starts to Burn,” turned the Honda Stage into a pulsing rabbit hole of rhythm. “Latch,” of course, was their last song. If Disclosure’s set had any disappointment, it was the lack of guests. But ACL attendees can always hope for weekend two.

The Austin City Limits music festival provides a family atmosphere that is conducive to an eye-opening experience. I entered the Zilker Park grounds thinking I was a festival expert, but I realized every day’s like a school day, and I still have a lot to learn about music festivals.

Ikram Navia is a junior majoring in broadcast and digital journalism. Her column, “Fresh Beats,” runs every other Monday.