Live at Zilker Park: ACL in Review
Image courtesy: Pinterest
One May weekend of my junior year in high school, my close friend Sophia and I took a quick trip to Austin, Texas. The plan? Tour the University of Texas at Austin, but really, to see Olivia Rodrigo live. We had planned the trip with her family as a way to see one of our favorite artists, zero interest in the city involved.
We left with an all-consuming obsession with Austin and its funky yet Southern vibe. And when neither of us ended up at UT, we made a pact to make it to Austin City Limits (ACL), the city’s annual massive music festival each October.
And this year, our pact came to fruition. Sophia along with my friend Addison and I flew out from our respective colleges to Austin for weekend two of ACL. Armed with a cross referenced game plan for each day’s sets and multiple pairs of boots, we took on the dust storm and 90 degree Texas heat for three days of incredible music.
Day One
Friday was my favorite overall lineup by far. After being greeted by the ACL signature flags, we headed over to secure some merch and get our bearings of the six stages dotting the edges of Zilker Park. First we watched The Favors, followed by Role Model, Cage The Elephant, Empire of the Sun, and finally our chosen headliner: Hozier.
Sing-alongs and fangirl screams rang out across the park during Role Model (Lizzy McAlpine came out on stage as Sally!). Cage The Elephant, my personal most-anticipated set, was simply electric. After listening to them since middle school, finally hearing their well-loved songs alongside my best friends was euphoric. We sprinted into the crowd singing “Cold Cold Cold” and ended the set sweaty and smilingwith “Come a Little Closer.”
As the sun set and lit up the open sky, the park welcomed thousands more fans. Each night, the air cooled under the moon yet retained a sort of uniquely festival stickiness. We awaited Hozier, who played a perfect set. His visceral lyrics and love songs never fail to make me emotional.
Day Two
Following a day of learning how to leave sets early, weave through crowds and sprint across the park, Saturday allowed for a more relaxed pace. I began the day dressed in a sheer leopard print dress and ankle-high boots, ready to take on our first set in the blazing heat: Olivia Dean. Although my friends were fans, I had hardly heard of her. Her jazzy pop vocals and excellent stage presence definitely put me on to her music, and I was so glad to have experienced her set.
The next highlight was Doechii, who we love for having attended high school less than 10 minutes from my house in Tampa. The self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess” rapped in her denim capris surrounded by a stage draped in moss and Florida vegetation. The crowd adored her, and so did we.
Saturday’s headliner, The Strokes, was a perfect end to the day. After jumping incessantly to “The Adults Are Talking,” we called it a night.
Day Three
Sunday morning was an opportunity to see more of Austin beyond Zilker Park. Two Waymo (self-driving uber) rides, a brunch of breakfast tacos, and several shopping damages later, we arrived on our final day in the early evening. While my friends got a spot for Passion Pit, I watched Gigi Perez, whose performance topped the first time I had seen her at Highwater Festival back in April. Her voice is unlike any other, her lyrics are stabbing, and her overall live presence is confident yet vulnerable. Watching her album, “At The Beach In Every Life” be sung live was a truly cathartic experience, as these songs carried me through much of my summer.
Unexpectedly, I found myself at the second row behind the barricade for Gregory Alan Isakov. I had received the incredible opportunity of witnessing his band’s beautiful strings and soft folk melodies for half an hour before running to catch our final headliner and set of the weekend: The Killers. Hearing some of, in my opinion, the most covered songs in the country live was a joyous and perfect end to our 3 days of music.
I left Austin with plenty of souvenirs, a raspy voice, and a pair of aching legs, but most importantly, the memories of a lifetime.
Strike Out,
Anna Kadet
Editor: Maddie Launer
Athens