It feels like every year, come early October, we find ourselves mystified that the Austin City Limits Music Festival has crept up on us once again. The anticipation of Chappell Roan’s Sunday evening set fueled the buzz surrounding this year’s lineup, but it would be criminal to not pay tribute to the rest of the ACL Fest 2024 ensemble. Here’s a look at a few of our favorite shots from a blistering hot Weekend One.
CultureMap's top 12 picks — all music and no pontification on big-stage headliners — are here. Discover a new jam band like Eggy, get down with disco sensations like Jungle, connect with some big personalities like Stephen Sanchez and Reneé Rapp, and more.
The weather was brutal, but the lineup was great.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Fresh off a pitstop at Austin’s iconic La Barbecue, Dua Lipa made the first of her only two U.S. appearances this year. She brought her arena-level production to the American Express stage on Saturday night.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Blink-182 closed out the first night of this year’s ACL Fest with a 24-song mix of new songs and old classics as they dirty-joked their way through the set. Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Sunday’s headlining slots offered a different taste for those who stuck around. While Tyler, the Creator was out east on the American Express stage, Sturgill Simpson was closing out the Honda stage, reminding folks why the Kentucky native was worthy of headlining ACL Fest.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
The Texas son and Fort Worth native Leon Bridges played right in the path of a setting sun, opening his Friday set with “Texas Sun," a collboration with Saturday artists Khruangbin.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
ACL has been and always will be a family affair.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Although Kehlani's set started right as Chappell Roan's was ending, the crowd at the Miller Lite stage was solid. it was a tough spot to fill, sandwiched between Roan and Tyler, the Creator, but the pop singer held her own and was able to pack in the fans.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
It’s been quite a year for Stephen Sanchez, who was seen on stage with Lana Del Rey in late June when the star sold out Fenway Park. The 21-year-old Nashville based singer-songwriter brought the nostalgia.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Mannequin Pussy have been hitting the road hard this year, making appearances at larger festivals like Primavera Sound in Barcelona while rocking mid-sized outings like Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. The band showed off their festival chops in the hot sun Friday afternoon on the Miller Lite stage.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
You can hear music pretty much anywhere in the park, which means you can dance...pretty much anywhere in the park.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Legend has it that country crooner Orville Peck once graced the inside stage at The Mohawk to a hundred or so early investors of his music. In just a few years, Peck was making his entrance on the Honda stage to thousands screaming his name.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Girl group The Beaches always put on a fun show, leaning into their all-female niche as part of the stage banter. But anyone can enjoy the tunes; the catchy riffs speak for themselves.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Khruangbin are known for their infectious instrumental jams, but it’s hard not to marvel at bassist Laura Lee’s incredible outfits, which change from show to show — a true fashion icon in the making.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Dancing in the hot sun was the M.O. this weekend.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
If you are a Marjorie Taylor Green fan, Reneé Rapp’s set may not have been for you. The pop star had some choice words for the Georgia politician.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
The Marias released their second album, Submarine, in June of 2024, so it was fitting that the LA band’s opening sound was a sonar pinging in cue with blue spotlights. Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Zella Day and Jesse Woods joined forces as Chaparelle in 2023 as their romantic partnership was taking shape. The duo performed with four other touring musicians on Friday with a vintage country sound and a little pink tambourine.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Hometown blues machine Zach Person brought his two-piece sonic force to the Tito’s stage Saturday afternoon, playing to a completely packed tent. Whether it was the reprieve from the intense heat or the good music, the Tito’s tent at 2:05 pm was THE place to be.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
A late addition to this year’s ACL 2024 lineup, Hudson Westbrook took time off from his college courses at Texas Tech to play for a few thousand people Saturday afternoon on the Honda stage.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
This is the feeling we're aiming for.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
That’s a wrap on weekend one — rest up, drink some water and we’ll see you out in the park for Weekend Two!