Austin City Limits
Weekend one down, weekend two to go
These are the three items received in the mail after purchasing an ACL ticket, including the envelope they’re sent in. The wristband is a pass to enter the festival, the paper is an info sheet and the hologram is a collectible with the lineup on the back of it.
October 7, 2015
Three days, upwards of a hundred artists and 100,000 people, it can only mean ACL. This year’s lineup included everything from The Weeknd to The Strokes, and for anyone who missed out on weekend one, there’s always weekend two.
One of my favorite bands, Modest Mouse, didn’t perform at weekend one, but will be there for the second. If someone’s wondering who they should see, they shall wonder no longer. Some great performances came from Drake, the Foo Fighters, Chance the Rapper, Alt-J, 21 Pilots, and a small two-man band from Denver, Colorado by the name of In The Whale. Unfortunately, you’ll have to make the decision between seeing the Foo Fighters and Disclosure on the first night and then Deadmau5 and Drake on the second.
“ACL was so much fun,” junior Lydia Singleton said. “Even with the massive crowds and intense heat, I still had an amazing time. There is something about live music that unifies everyone in the audience.”
My personal experience was adequate. While I loved seeing the live music and some of my favorite performers, there were way too many people and the food was overpriced. If you have any sort of social anxiety or get claustrophobic, this is not something I’d recommend. Also, the water was sold in cans which made me oddly uncomfortable.
The festival didn’t begin until 2002. It was inspired by the Austin City Limits television show which began 41 years ago in 1974. The show originally displayed the music of Texas, but later led on to having musicians from all over the world be featured on the show.
“There’s nothing in the rest of Austin or even Texas that brings this many people together,” junior Evan Hays said. “When Foo Fighters played the first note of Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh” and some 50 year old man and I completely fangirled together, that’s how you know you’re at the greatest place in the world.”
ACL can be a controversial topic depending on who you speak to. Some people love it, and others hate it. A lot of people who live in the surrounding area of Zilker Park aren’t big fans of it, but there were less complaints this year made to the city. All in all, it can be slightly overrated, but it’s still pretty cool.
