FAD returns back to ACL for the 4th straight year !

Pre-fest story by Chloe Catajan

Austin City Limits (ACL) returns to the Live Music Capital of the World for two October weekends, with 90+ acts set to perform in Zilker Park. Covering every year since 2009, Full Access Detroit’s ‘senior’ photographer will on site both weekends. Look for the complete story and images later this month.

While both weekends have a slightly different bill, their upper and undercards offer nothing but solid picks. Headliners include the likes of Hozier, Sabrina Carpenter, The Strokes, and The Killers. Indie greats, electronic gems, Austin’s best, and artists of many more sounds will hit the scene as well.

It’s paradise in live-music form, with a hint of Choose Your Own Adventure as each day has so much in store. Stuck on building a schedule? Unsure how to start your afternoons? Want to discover your next obsession?

Here are some hand-picked recommendations based on artists you might have already been planning to catch.

For fans of Phantogram and Empire of the Sun…

Call it indie sleaze, call it digital disco. Phantogram and Empire of the Sun are two acts you can’t miss if you’re a former Tumblr kid in the mood to dance or on the hunt for a sick beat. But while you’re at it, make sure to feast your ears on Magdalena Bay.

Magdalena Bay is synth-pop bliss from another dimension. Between lush melodic layers, vibrant tones, and an otherworldly stage setup, this duo has been making waves on tour in support of 2024’s Imaginal Disk. The album is a good starting point, but we recommend older songs like “Top Dog” and “You Lose!” for extra listening. Magdalena Bay plays the Lady Bird Stage on Saturday, 10/4 and 10/11.

Additional picks include The Dare (playing Miller Lite 10/5 and 10/12), whose hyperpop songs like “Girls” undoubtedly propelled the indie sleaze revival, and Confidence Man (playing Tito’s 10/3 and 10/10), a fest circuit crowd-favorite for their fun choreography and feel-good beats.

For fans of Doechii…

Doechii has experienced a meteoric rise following the success of 2024’s Alligator Bites Never Heal. Her fierce rap game and magnetic stage presence have also made her a fan favorite in the live music scene. To keep that energy going on Weekend 2, be sure to add Dizzy Fae to your rotation.

A classically trained singer and dancer, Dizzy Fae forges her own groove with Y2K-flavored R&B, wispy vocals, sugary-sweet lyrics. Her latest single, “Blush,” attests to that. She’s opened for Lizzo and Toro Y Moi and was part of Taco Bell’s Feed The Beat Class of 2025. Dizzy Fae plays the BMI Stage on Saturday, 10/11.

For fans of MARINA…

As the Princess of Power, MARINA’s throne sits somewhere between art- and alt-pop. Check out Haute & Freddy for a sound equally maximalist, empowering, and simply iconic.

Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp of Haute & Freddy know a thing or two about writing pop anthems, with credits in Britney Spears and Katy Perry hits. On their own project, they tap into retro beats, dopamine dressing, and medieval-inspired theatrics. If you’re down for something fresh, fun, and a little freaky, their set is the one for you. Haute & Freddy plays the American Express Stage on Sunday, 10/5.

Additional picks include Alemeda (playing Lady Bird 10/4 and 10/11), a pop-rocker who deserves her flowers, and MALLRAT (playing Miller Lite 10/4), who’s on the road with MARINA herself this fall.

For fans of Hozier…

Besides being affectionately referred to as a forest god by fans, Hozier is known for his blend of soul, blues, folk, and rock. If you’re up for something up that alley, give Yoke Lore a listen.

Yoke Lore also channels a mountainous atmosphere with his hybrid-folk sound. While his most recent single, “Hyperventilate,” throws more synth-pop into the mix, older songs like “Seeds” and “Chin Up” could easily be a moment that sounds like Hozier’s yell. Yoke Lore plays the Miller Lite Stage on Saturday, 10/4 and 10/11.

For fans of Modest Mouse and Car Seat Headrest…

While some call them slacker rock and others keep it simple with the indie label, bands like Modest Mouse and Car Seat Headrest define their own sound by mixing textures from lo-fi grit to disjointed and dissonant riffs.

If you’ve got a taste for similar tendencies, julie might be up your alley. The Los Angeles trio is known for its part in the Gen Z shoegaze revival, often dubbed “zoomergaze.” Guitarist Keytan MTA and bassist Alex Brady trade between vocals, and Dillon Lee takes the drums. While still a young band, experiments with song structures and sonic layers, for a sound that’s only bound to grow from here. Julie plays the American Express Stage on Sunday, 10/12.