15 Years, 17 Festivals. ACL Fest is Part of My Identity.

Native Austinite shares pro tips and why the music festival is not-to-be-missed

I’ve seen ACL Fest evolve, from 2004 to 2019, from a free-flowing, laid-back music experience centered on discovery to a trendy “scene” for the Instagram party set focused on big names. I’ve watched the lineup transition from a majority of rock and alternative acts to a fair amount of EDM and rap. I’ve sweltered in 105-degree heat, breathed in an outrageous amount of dust (that I then proceeded to cough up for days), danced in the rain to Tom Petty (and then sang “Free Fallin’” with all of Zilker Park as we watched a sky dive tribute the weekend we lost him), stood on one foot for four hours by myself next to a dude that peed in a bottle to be up front for Coldplay, witnessed a couple of death-defying stage climbs, out-sang all of the VIPs backstage for Catfish and the Bottlemen, was brought to tears when Foo Fighters performed “Aurora” for the first time I’d seen in years, celebrated the end of a long drought during my first Young the Giant experience, survived the Muse blackout, come to terms with scheduling conflicts (Florence and the Machine versus Weezer, really?!), and so much more.

At the age of 31, I’m now one of the ACL elders, holding my own in a sea of high-schoolers and college students. And I’m still committed to attending every year, both weekends if possible. Here’s why.

I freaking love music. My friends know me for my love of music. I am the person they come to for new recommendations. I am the person that rallies groups together to go see a show. I spend all of my money on vinyl and concert tickets. I have a playlist for every occasion. I plan trips based on concert calendars. And I take every chance I get to enjoy live music in my city. My most vivid memories are often tied to specific songs or albums. Music energizes me, lifts me up when I’m feeling low, or provides commiseration when I need it. I cannot go a day without music in my life.

Festival shows are different from headlining shows. While crowds can be a mix of true fans, general music lovers, and scenesters or people waiting for the next act, ACL sets are still some of the most fun. The bands tend to try different things than they do with more choreographed tour shows, and there’s an edgy urgency and thrilling excitement emanating from bands that are just breaking out and playing the festival for the first time.

I’m a local. I have the privilege of attending without the mess of airfares, delayed flights, hotels, and Ubers that so many other festival-goers have to deal with. When a global experience this unique takes place in my own backyard, I’d feel crazy not to take part.

I’ve discovered some of my favorite bands at the festival. ACL has sparked numerous love affairs for me. From the Raconteurs to Young the Giant, who I’ve now seen perform live 9 times, I’ve been able to catch bands in the early stages and follow and support them along their journeys.

I still make discoveries. There’s no better place to wander from stage to stage until an artist catches your ear and draws you in. I discover artists I’ve never heard before every year and compile a shopping list to take to Waterloo Records the week after the festival. The element of the unexpected makes the festival fun and unique, whether or not you’re happy with that year’s lineup.

It’s a battle against the elements that I’ve come to take pride in. THE DUST. THE HEAT. THE DUST. THE RAIN. THE MUD. THE HEAT. THE DUST. THE ALLERGIES! Going all day, all three days of the festival is a hard-earned badge that you can brag about for at least a week.

ACL brings in big acts that may otherwise skip over Austin on their tours. We have The Drum and now COTA, but we don’t have a huge stadium in town the likes of which you’ll find in Dallas or Houston. Artists that may typically pass over Austin for these larger arenas or don’t have the sway to pull off a Rolling Stones a la Bigger Bang Tour-esque stunt sometimes appear on the festival lineup (Coldplay, Paul McCartney, etc.).

I’ve formed and destroyed significant relationships at the festival. Did I break up with someone because he was angry that I stuck to my schedule and went to see different bands than he did? Why yes, I did. Did I bring newcomers to the festival for an authentic Austin experience and forge an unbreakable bond? Why yes, I did. Do I run into friends I haven’t seen in years each festival and reconnect? Yes, I do. Do I fall more in love with my husband every time we dance together as the sun sets on another breathtaking performance? Definitely. ACL has a way of bringing out passion and emotion that can both strengthen and break ties.

There’s still a sense of community. The crowd may look different these days. They may dance and sing less, take more selfies, drink more expensive beer, and dress inappropriately for the Texas heat for the sake of looking cool. But there’s still something about the shared experience that allows people to feel comfortable talking to strangers, helping fellow festival goers that may need to borrow water or sunscreen or find someone they lost in the crowd, or placing a feather headdress on someone’s head while hula-hooping across the park. There’s still an exciting tension that builds the seconds before a band takes the stage, and those “hell yeah, we’re in for something great” acknowledgement grins and nods when you make eye contact. Music has a power like no other to brings people of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, genders, and ages together and have everyone feel safe and excited to participate. Together, we make the ACL experience. And we’ll always have that.

My tips for the ultimate ACL experience:

1. Do the Bill Murray. Drink one full bottle of water per alcoholic beverage you intake. Or just stick to water if you’re trying to make it all day all three days.
2. Don’t skimp on sunscreen. Just don’t.
3. Go bagless. When you find that band that just makes you want to dance and throw your hands in the air, it’s nice to be able to. Going sans bag also allows you to roam freely and conserve energy. There’s plenty of good food and free water available onsite. You can link your credit card to your wristband for easy payments. And the ACL Cares nonprofit booths usually have fans or sunscreen if you need them (thank you, ACL Cares!). Plus, you’ll get to go in a shorter security line when you enter the festival.
4. Weave from the outside of the stage, not the back. If you’re dying to get up close to the stage but don’t have all day to camp out, it’s easier to make your way in from the sides after walking along the edge to the front. Follow the lines that people naturally form as they stand, so you don’t accidentally push anyone or surprise them from behind. Be sure to say “Excuse me,” and “Thank you,” and be courteous as you move.
5. Take a break in the A/C at a nearby restaurant. I hesitate to give away all my secrets! If it’s just too darn hot and you need to hit refresh in the heat of the day with a cool space and a real toilet, walk down Barton Springs Road to one of the many fine establishments that include Chuy’s, Baby A’s, Uncle Billy’s, and more. Be sure to tip generously.
6. Don’t try to see two bands in the same time slot. Alas, this one’s still hard for me. But it never works out. You end up missing the crescendo of one performance, wasting energy running across the field, and, if you’re lucky, getting about 10 minutes in of the other act from not as great a spot as you had for the first one.
7. Be kind to strangers. Kindness is the key to meeting new people, having fun, and contributing to that unforgettable and undeniable ACL community experience.

Disclaimer: I missed ACL Fest 2018, as my daughter was born the week of the festival (pretty much the only good reason to miss!). I’ll be back in action next week, Oct.4–6, 2019, as well as Sunday, Oct. 13.