Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) - Weekend One - October 3-5, 2025 - Austin, Texas

Austin skyline rises behind a crowded ACL festival stage in daylight

Austin Texas Skyline at Zilker Park

Except where noted All Photos © Steve Galli for Full Access Detroit

Story by Chloe Catajan for Full Access Detroit

It was a familiar scene at Zilker Park: music in the air, festival flags blowing in the dust, the Austin skyline in the distance. Earlybird fans raced to the barricades, while others posed for photos in colorful fits. All signs pointed to the start of Austin City Limits (ACL).

The C3 Presents festival kicked off its first of two weekends with eight stages, 90+ acts, and hundreds of thousands of fans taking over the Live Music Capital of the World.

Friday leaned into folk and country with the likes of Hozier and Luke Combs. Saturday got a little rowdy with The Strokes and Sabrina Carpenter. And Sunday stayed upbeat as The Killers, T-Pain, and John Summit closed out Weekend One. In addition to iconic headliners, the bill featured viral acts and up-and-comers that kept the weekend nothing short of eventful.

Reporting from ACL, veteran photographer Steve Galli shares top moments from Weekend One. Make sure to check Full Access Detroit for highlights from the second weekend as well.

Grand entrances galore

ACL offered a lot of “firsts” this year, from festival debuts and historic moments to epic walk-ups.

With a stoge in hand, Doechii took the American Express Stage to the thumping beats of “Nosebleeds.” Her ACL debut featured a setup with moss and swampy visuals, a homage to the rapper’s Floridian roots, which felt right at home among the Zilker Park greenery. Doechii shimmied her way down the catwalk in low-waist jeans with a torn back pocket, but the only rip that mattered was how she absolutely ripped through her bars. Between cuts from breakthrough mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal and freestyled moments, the rapper’s delivery remained flawless.

Singer in a white cropped top dances with a microphone at ACL

Doechii

RIIZE brought the full K-Pop experience to the Beatbox Stage, making history as the first of the genre to ever perform at ACL. Their set began with a news broadcast introducing the group as heroes of a cyberpunk-esque world. RIIZE’s live vocals were crisp; choreography, on point; and outfits, bedazzled, studded, and fringed. In between the hip-hop heavy “Siren” and the poppier “Be My Next,” the six-piece took some time for extended banter with fans. Dubbed as BRIIZE, RIIZE fans waved lightsticks and homemade signs and were prepared to cover all the crowd chants.

Pop group performs before a large orange video backdrop

RIIZE

FINNEAS and Ashe, two pop stars in their own right, took the Miller Lite Stage to make their festival debut as The Favors. The superduo channeled a vintage pop-rock sound on material from their new album, The Dream. They also took turns performing some of their solo songs, including Ashe’s “Moral of the Story” and FINNEAS’ “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night.” Both Ashe and FINNEAS showed off their singing and instrumental chops, switching between vox, piano, and guitar, as the stage band drove the rhythm home.

Singer in a pink dress performs beside a keyboardist

Ashe & Finneas of The Favors

Moody Joody packed an electropop punch into their festival debut set at the BMI Stage. Their vibrant energy channeled the sounds of summer, which made their cover of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” hit extra hard. The Nashville group also performed a couple unreleased songs, “Heart-Shaped Bed” and “Oops.”

Two singers perform together on an outdoor ACL stage

Kaitie Forbes and Kayla Hall of Moody Joody

Kicking off her Praying For Your Downfall Tour, Jensen McRae took the Miller Lite Stage for what would be her first time playing (and being in) in Texas. She sang with focus, dialed into the emotions of latest album I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! and 2022’s Are You Happy Now? Her earthy, folk vocals and acoustic instrumentals reminisced the likes of Lucy Dacus and Ingrid Michaelson and turned the scene at Zilker Park into an intimate venue.

Singer in a black top plays an acoustic guitar at a microphone

Jensen McRae

ACL day ones Asleep at the Wheel continued the annual tradition of opening the festival with a set of their signature swing. Good vibes and honky tonk radiated from the T-Mobile Stage, as the Austinite outfit dove into fiddle- and horn-heavy tunes, including a fun cover of “Hot Rod Lincoln.”

Bearded guitarist in a white hat performs before a colorful backdrop

Ray Benson of Asleep At the Wheel

Surprise collabs and covers

In common festival fashion, a handful of artists at ACL had surprises up their sleeves. Some had fun setlist additions, while others brought special guests onstage. Few even did both, leading to many a viral moments.

One of the most-asked questions on Friday might have been, “Who’s gonna be Sally tonight?” It refers to ROLE MODEL live performance of “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out,” during which the singer-songwriter brings a guest onstage to be his Sally. Sometimes Sally’s a fan, and other times, a famous figure. Role Model ripped through a high-energy set of songs mostly from 2024’s Kansas Anymore before bringing out actress Hilary Duff as the surprise guest.

Singer in a white cowboy hat gestures to the crowd with an acoustic guitar strapped on

ROLE MODEL

Luke Combs turned the American Express Stage into a honky-tonk as he brought his signature baritone twang to his first headlining ACL set. The North Carolina country singer is no stranger to cover songs, especially with the popularity of his “Fast Car” rendition. On top of performing the Tracy Chapman hit and songs off This One’s For You and What You See Is What You Get, Combs delivered a medley of songs that included Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” He also performed Ed Sheeran’s “Drive.”

Singer in a black cap plays a red acoustic guitar at ACL

Luke Combs

It’s well known that Sabrina Carpenter’s sets are a masterclass in pop-girl stardom. Her flashy outfit changes, jazzy choreography, and phenomenal vocal range are just a few of the many feats that come to mind. Certain songs also come and go with surprises, like the improvised “Nonsense” outro and the “Juno” positions. For her ACL set, Carpenter was joined by country superstar Shania Twain to sing Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Joe Keery, also known as Djo, made an appearance as well to be handcuffed for “Juno.”

Singer in a yellow blouse and dark shorts stands on a pink-lit stage

Sabrina Carpenter – Photo by Alfredo Flores for ACL

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast has been on the road supporting her latest album For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women). Her recent shows have been full of whimsy, set to an aquatic theme and often featuring fun cover songs performed by her camp and tour opener Ginger Root. For her set at the Beatbox Stage, she brought Magdalena Bay’s Mica Tenenbaum onstage for a joyful throwback cover of MGMT’s “Time To Pretend.”

Guitarist in a pale outfit bends forward while playing under pink lights

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast

Sydney Rose opened the American Express Stage on Saturday with a set of soft-spoken tunes for the romantics and tenderhearted. Songs like “I Stopped Trying” sounded especially beautiful, featuring a vulnerable delivery punctuated by a heart-tugging violin solo. The singer-songwriter also performed a cover of Phoebe Bridgers’ “I Know The End,” which suited her style and set seamlessly.

Singer plays an acoustic guitar beside a microphone at ACL

Sydney Rose

Big singalongs

The festival experience isn’t complete without a good ol’ singalong. From The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” to Hozier’s “Take Me To Church,” there’s no catharsis like screaming along to a song you love, surrounded by others who feel the same. Moments like that popped up everywhere across ACL, lighting up the weekend with one core memory after another.

As we saw at Shaky Knees, Cage the Elephant absolutely tears through their sets with high energy, pyro, and pure rock and roll. The band did the same at ACL’s American Express Stage, delivering back-to-back fan favorites. Songs like “Cold Cold Cold” and “Social Cues” (honestly, the entire setlist) had the crowd screaming every verse. And of course, “Cigarette Daydreams” had fans head over heels.

Vocalist in sunglasses leans toward the crowd with one arm extended

Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant

Guitarist jumps beside a large orange stage screen

Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant

The Dare might say that “[he] Destroyed Disco,” but the singer and producer brought pure, sweaty nightclub energy to the Miller Lite Stage with his brand of nonchalant electroclash. Mic swings and a suit and tie have never looked cooler. He switched between his guttural vox, keys, and a soundboard, while fans danced and frat flicked away, echoing the words to “Girls” like a Sunday sermon at the church of indie sleaze.

Vocalist in a dark suit and tie leans forward with a handheld microphone

The Dare

Honestav brought a cool blend of hip-hop and folk punk to the Beatbox Stage. The Missouri musician jumped to the barricade during “I’d Rather Overdose,” meeting fans face-to-face as they sang at the top of their lungs.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise delivered a groovy wall of sound to the T-Mobile Stage. Fans sang passionately to the song, “Painkillers,” whose heavy riffs alone were already quite moving.

While the BMI Stage is known for hosting emerging artists, acts like Inoha and GoldFord drew packed crowds ready to get loud.

Fans showed up for INOHA’s first festival performance ever and totally took over the vocals for “Seventh Heaven.” GoldFord’s passionate fanbase also turned up, echoing the words to “Ride the Storm” and “Orange Blossom.”

Tattooed shirtless vocalist sings into a handheld microphone

Honestav

Singer bends backward beside the drum kit during an energetic performance

Ela Melo of Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Guitarist in a black shirt smiles while playing a white electric guitar

Keanu Bicol of INOHA

Guitarist in sunglasses and an orange neckerchief plays an acoustic guitar

Goldford

Fitted and fresh

Between cowboy hats and dopamine dressing, ACL brought fresh fits on and offstage.

T-Pain’s set at the American Express Stage honestly checked all of the above boxes. He made a thunderous entrance with the stage set as a giant saloon, bursting through swing doors to open with “Cyclone” and “2 Step.” He threw in fun covers of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” He also sported a brown, pink, and blue custom LA ROXX cowboy fit that tied the wild west-themed set together. On top of all that, he sounded at the top of his game. The rapper has been on the road for his 20 Years of T-Pain Tour, and his performance was a true testament to his chops, singular style, and influence across the music industry.

Vocalist in a colorful western outfit performs before a saloon-style stage set

T-Pain

Haute & Freddy is the self-proclaimed “Anti-Superstar” of avant-pop. The group’s songs are camp and catchy, a dopamine rush at the drop of a beat. Their onstage attire matches that energy, channeling court jester couture. By keeping production at the American Express Stage pretty simple, the focus was all on Michelle Buzz, Lance Shipp, and Eren Cannata and their combined theatrics.

Singer in a colorful costume reaches upward while holding a microphone

Michelle Buzz of Haute & Freddy

Flowerovlove has been making statements across the festival circuit for her lovestruck anthems and festival fits. At ACL, she was rolled out onto the Lady Bird Stage in a giant cigarette pack. She stepped out in a babydoll dress made entirely of cigarettes and dove into songs like “BOYS” and “ARE U SERIOUS?”

Singer in a short white dress stands before a yellow cartoon backdrop

Flowerovlove

Lucius delivered indie power-pop to the Beatbox Stage in style. The quartet donned matching red fits as they assembled their positions and performed several songs off their 2025 self-titled album. Two fans in the crowd even dressed as lead vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, matching red jumpsuits, bob wigs, and all.

Two musicians in red outfits perform at keyboards and drums

Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of Lucius

LA LOM’s style screams cool across multiple senses. Sonically, they have a vibrant rhythm that channels cumbia, 1950s surf rock, and as the kids say, aura. Visually, they rock classic camp shirts and an impressive rig that includes a beautiful Kay Style Leader, a modded upright Johnson bass, and a vintage National Val-Pro.

Guitarist in a cream shirt leans forward while playing an acoustic guitar

Zac Sokolow of LA LOM

Mallrat’s Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw has said that she likes to channel characters through her stage outfits, which goes hand-in-hand with coming-of-age, alt-pop anthems like “Teeth” and “Groceries.” At ACL, she channeled her inner “Rockstar,” wearing an R&M Leathers skirt with silver hardware, a patchwork vest, and her signature over-ear Audio-Technicas.

Singer wearing headphones holds a microphone at the ACL festival

Mallrat

Rock solid

There was no shortage of good riffs across ACL, but rock made itself especially at home at the T-Mobile and American Express stages.

Saturday at the T-Mobile Stage featured solid sets from Hotline TNT, Modest Mouse, and The Strokes. Each band brought their own blend of fuzzy riffage, layered sonic textures, tasteful dissonance, and propulsive rhythms.

Detroit icon Jack White’s Third Man Records rockers Hotline TNT performed several songs in support of latest release Raspberry Moon.

Modest Mouse managed to condense their iconic catalog into a 13-song setlist, delivering hits from “Float On” and “Ocean Breathes Salty” to fan-favorite deep cuts like “Third Side of the Moon,” “King Rat,” and “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes,” which featured a cool, distorted arrangement on the intro.

Isaac Brock and company were sharp with their chops, ripping through the winding licks of “Never Ending Math Equation” and the like, probably seasoned from their recent tour with The Flaming Lips. Droves of people tuned into the band’s golden-hour set, as they should. Closing song “Broke” was even dedicated to “the man with the sign.”

Bassist sings in front of a floral stage display

Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse

The Strokes remained elusive throughout their whole headlining set, hidden in the saturated shadows of red, green, and blue stage lights. But despite the band’s nonchalant attitude in their songs, their onstage mannerisms deviated a bit. Frontman Julian Casablancas would occasionally throw in cheeky ad libs mid-lyric, and even did some self-deprecating banter with the crowd. The band covered a lot of ground with their setlist, which had a heavy focus on breakthrough album Is This It.

Vocalist performs with a handheld microphone under red stage lights

Julian Casablancas of The Strokes

Wet Leg and Hey, Nothing took the American Express Stage on Sunday.

English outfit Wet Leg was cool and quippy, delivering a nearly even split of songs between their self-titled and new album moisturizer. Lead singer-guitarist Rhian Teasdale rocked an acrylic, neon green B.C. Rich guitar, and with the rest of the band, packed a punch on each riff.

Singer crouches near the front of the stage with a handheld microphone

Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg

A recent addition to both weekends, Hey, Nothing switched up the alt-rock theme in the best way possible, mixing things up with their emo-folk rhythms. Songs like “Black Bear” and “Waiting Room” were beautifully poignant, the crisp acoustic guitars bringing an intimate-venue feel to the American Express Stage.

Hey, Nothing performs as an acoustic duo before an orange ACL backdrop

Harlow Phillips and Tyler Mabry of Hey, Nothing

Other quick takes from the 55+ acts we caught at Weekend One.

It wouldn’t be a music festival in Texas without some Southern flair. Country, folk, and Americana largely made up Friday’s soundtrack, but trickled through the rest of Weekend One. Friday, Day One, saw performances from Maren Morris, MJ Lenderman, Amble, Willow Avalon, Tiera Kennedy, and Dylan Gossett. Clover County, Next Of Kin, and Yoke Lore played Saturday, while Wild Rivers and Bebe Stockwell closed out Sunday.

From indie and electronic to bedroom pop, countless acts brought good energy to ACL.

King Princess, Spill Tab, Good Neighbours, and Nicky Youre played Friday. Saturday was stacked with performances from Latin Mafia, Sammy Virji, Ocean Alley, The Heavy Heavy, Animal Arcade, Olivia Dean, S.L. Houser, and Spacey Jane. And finally, Sunday was graced by Phantogram, Lamont Landers, Anderson East, and Chezile.

Last but not least, the BMI Stage delivered hidden gems with performances by LVVRS, Aaron Page, Tyler Ballgame, Chuwi, and Zinadelphia.