Austin City Limits offered a vast array of talent, from up-and-coming artists to some of the most mainstream artists right now. The three-day festival lasted from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., which provided plenty of time for a series of highlights from the weekend.
Day One Friday, October 11:
Royel Otis
Royel Otis gave an unforgettable performance that featured songs like “Big Ciggie” and “Oysters in My Pocket.” They also performed their most listened-to covers on Spotify, “Linger” and “Murder on The Dance Floor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The band’s set was enhanced by their use of illuminating synchronized speakers and background visuals. It also featured a massive shrimp statue that differentiated their set from others.
Foster The People
Foster the People brought an electrifying, cool energy to the stage. The band’s lead singer Mark Foster wore an all-black outfit, but a psychedelic screen filter created delayed multi-colored clones following Foster’s every move, amplifying the vibrance of the night. They performed their hits “Time to Get Closer,” “Sit Next to Me” and, of course, “Pumped Up Kicks.” Mid-performance, Foster emphasized the uniting power of music and encouraged the audience to check out smaller artists at the festival.
Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton serenaded the crowd with a soulful set that included “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Millionaire” and “Think I’m In Love With You.” He dedicated much of his performance to his wife, Morgan Stapleton, who performed percussion and sang vocals on stage throughout his set. Stapleton also brought out Willie Nelson to sing “Whiskey River” and “Bloody Mary Morning.” Later that weekend, Orville Peck brought Nelson out for his set to perform “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other.”
Blink-182
During Blink-182′s high-energy set, drummer Travis Barker lit the stage up with a drum solo in “Not Now” that left the audience screaming. In their set, the band performed “All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again” and “I Miss You.” At the end of their show, they lit up the sky with pyrotechnics as lead vocalist Mark Hoppus sang an exciting rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
Day Two Saturday, October 12:
Teddy Swims
Teddy Swims had a tender performance and captured the audience’s hearts. He had frequent check-ins with fans, ensuring they were drinking water in the Texas heat. He performed his hit songs like “Lose Control,” “Devil in a Dress” and “The Door.”
Remi Wolf
Remi Wolf brought calming, pop energy to her set, framed by a nostalgic ‘90s backdrop. She sang “Cinderella,” “Photo ID” and a cover of “Life is A Highway,” from Pixar’s “Cars,” which she revealed during her set as her favorite movie.
Khruangbin
Khruangbin mesmerized the crowd with their hypnotic stage presence. Despite performing mostly instrumental songs, their synchronized movements and symmetrical set designs left the audience wanting more. Before ending their set, they brought out the all-female band, Say She She, where they performed a cover of George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas.”
Dua Lipa
As a headliner, Dua Lipa delivered a high-energy, action-packed show that lasted nearly two hours. Her performance was visually stunning as she incorporated dynamic lighting and impressive choreography, especially as she moved up and down stairs on her set. She performed her hit songs, “New Rules,” “Houdini” and “Don’t Start Now.” Before singing “Be The One,” she threw on a University of Texas at Austin jersey, celebrating their win earlier in the day.
Day 3 Sunday, October 13:
Cannons
Cannons set the stage for Chappell Roan with a dreamy performance on the American Express stage. The lead vocalist, Michelle Joy, wore a beautiful, reflective gown that shined bright as the sun set in front of her, creating a breathtaking backdrop. During their performance, Joy emphasized that 10 years ago, the group was only making music for fun, and now they’re performing on stage for Austin City Limits. She said that what has remained the same is the amount of fun and liberty they have in making music.
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan followed with an upbeat performance of “Naked in Manhattan,” “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe.” She also sang her unreleased single titled “The Subway,” a ballad about a breakup and recovering from it. In Chappell fashion, she noticed a filter being used on her and yelled, “Take that red filter off of me, that’s ugly.” Though her set wrapped up about 10 minutes early, she left her audience with a long-lasting impression.
Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator closed the festival with a captivating and creative set that transported the audience to the wild west. His high-energy show was arguably one of the most fire sets, literally. Flames added more energy as they flew into the air through many songs in his set. He performed songs like “Earfquake,” “See You Again” and “New Magic Wand.” Before ending his set, Tyler hinted that he may not perform for a while, “Y’all better enjoy because I don’t know the next time I’m on this stage, you know?”
Despite the dust and the congestion that follow, Austin City Limits may prove that maybe everything is better in Texas.