One of the longest-running music festivals in American history, Austin City Limits celebrated another year of success in Zilker Park. A destination for music fans around the world, the festivities this year were arguably the biggest of any year to date as the first day featured some of the biggest names in music, celebrated the industry’s newest voices, and everything in between over the weekend.
Starting the weekend, one of the most storied country acts in Austin history, Asleep at the Wheel, appeared onstage for their 24th consecutive ACL, setting the tone for the weekend. The only band to have played every year of the festival since its inception, the legacy act had no problem drawing a crowd as fans lined up early at the barricade to watch them inaugurate the speakers. The group, who over the years have become synonymous with the soul of Texas country music itself, put on a clinic in showmanship as they woke the crowd up early with their upbeat and homespun twang.
One of the country genre’s biggest breakout musicians of the year, California artist Dasha took the mainstage for a mid-day showcase of her young abilities. In a much-anticipated performance, fans flocked to the American Express stage to show their support. Her energy was contagious from the first seconds of her performance, as she lept onto the stage to begin with her recent hit “What Happens Now?” In staying true to form, her setlist ran the gambit of her range as she played a full repertoire of her music including “Leaving Don’t Mean Goodbye,” “Even Cowboys Cry,” and “King of California.” Ending with a bang, she finished her set on an appropriate note, choosing to play her Tiktok-famous sensation of a single “Austin (Boots Stop Working)” to close out her performance.
As the sun set over the Texas crowd, producer and indie pop act Porter Robinson closed out the Miller Light stage for the evening. A performer known largely for their contributions to the EDM scene, Robinson elated fans when he walked out with an electric guitar to play a predominantly upbeat emo-pop style show as he began his set with his recent hit “Knock Yourself Out XD.” A large inflatable cat beside him felt like the centerpiece of an ambiance reminiscent of the early 2010s pop-punk aesthetic that draped the stage, adding to the identity of the production and the artist. His show proved a well-rounded example of his music through the years including “Mona Lisa,” “Something Comforting,” and “Sad Machine,” even covering MGMT’s 2007 hit “Kids.”
Closing out the night on the Honda stage, Titans of the Warped Tour generation blink-182 gave a rousing performance that showcased their decades together as a project. Their first ACL appearance since reuniting with original member Tom DeLonge, fans appeared in masses to witness this event, despite the allure of Country superstar Chris Stapleton’s set conflicting with their own across the park. As the band walked onstage to a dramatic overture, they wasted no time playing the hits, as they immediately began their set with their 2003 single “Feeling This.” “I’m going to be honest, I came to mess with Texas,” bassist Mark Hoppus said early in the show, setting the tone for the sarcastic sense of humor the musicians would display throughout the evening. The trio spent the hours playing a full range of hits from their time together, including “All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again?” and “Up All Night” leaving little to be desired from their setlist. Blink’s reunion with DeLonge and the hatchets buried was addressed through their music in a sentimental way that was not lost on longtime fans. Late in the set, the band decided to cover “When Your Heart Stops Beating” and “There Is” from blink-182 spin-off projects “+44” and “Box Car Racer,” respectively, in a symbolistic gesture of rifts between the artists having been repaired. Ending with gusto and tender affection, the band sent fans into the night with the marquee single of their latest album and reunion tour, playing their recent single “One More Time,” as fans screamed lyrics alongside the artists the whole time.
