Austin City Limits (ACL) is an annual music festival held at Zilker Park in Austin founded in 2002. It features lush greenery, the iconic backdrop of the Austin skyline, and thick dust. Typically lasting two weekends, the festival transforms the park into an agency for creativity and enjoyment. As everyone rushes in, vendors like Juiceland or Austin Pizza offer food and drinks, and people with signs directing to the bathroom, trash, or transportation are eager to help.
As a tradition for ACL on Oct. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, a large and diverse lineup of artists who represent many genres, such as hip-hop, indie, country, and pop music were present and ready to perform for thousands of attendees. This year’s headliners included Tyler, the Creator, Dua Lipa, Blink-182 and Leon Bridges, as well as smaller, non-headliner acts like Catfish and the Bottlemen, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, and Chappell Roan. It was scorching hot as the sun was overhead, but the attendees soaked it in regardless as they sang and danced, kicking dust into the air.
“I went to see Chris Stapleton, the Mexican OT, and a little bit of Tyler, the Creator,” senior John Duran-Ramirez said. “All of them were amazing.”
Tyler, the Creator was the only headliner that nearly every single student said they were excited to see. The musicians that were the most hyped up according to to students were the Mexican OT, Eyedress, and the newly famous popstar Chappell Roan. But the students were not the only ones excited to see those performers.
“Even though I’m working, every year my favorite part of ACL isn’t the headline acts- it’s the smaller acts that play off the stages on the side,” advanced placement language arts teacher Daniel Marakis said. “Because there’s lots of talent that nobody knows about.”
Many reported the performers were outstanding in the effort they exhibited for ACL. However, according to senior Aubrey Moore, the crowds were a major let-down due to their lack of enthusiasm and excitement.
“[Tyler, the Creator] was okay,” Moore said. “The crowd was really lame, but Tyler himself was good.”
