Best of ACL 2025: Top Performances and Festival Highlights
Heat, dust and all — Austin City Limits 2025 delivered a weekend to remember
Every year when Austin City Limits Festival rolls around, it feels a little like Christmas. Thrift stores fill with festival-goers hunting for funky fits, schedules are studied and strategically mapped out, and the city buzzes with the excitement of what feels like the Super Bowl for music fans. Despite the unrelenting dust and heat that made Zilker Park feel like a desert, the energy stayed high thanks to a lineup that spanned indie rock, electronic, and rap, offering something for everyone.
Longhorn Love
Brené Brown and Matthew McConaughey took over the Bonus Tracks stage for a lively Q&A on Friday, Oct. 10, diving into stories with warmth and humor. McConaughey read from his latest book, “Poems & Prayers,” while also sharing personal musings and loads of charm in the conversation. Both Brown and McConaughey shared heartfelt praise for Texas and their beloved UT Longhorns, celebrating the spirit and pride of their home state that concluded with a funny poem they recited together:
Deep in Texas, with the land of the does and the bucks,
No matter where you go, no matter where you look, it’s still the same story,
OU sucks
Empire of the Sun
Electronic music duo Empire of the Sun delivered a mesmerizing performance that transported the crowd to another galaxy. The musicians and backup dancers appeared in otherworldly, hyper-futuristic costumes, surrounded by props and swirling galaxy projections that lit up the stage screens. Their electronic pop anthems, such as “We Are the People” and “Alive,” had fans jumping and singing in unison like no other set of the weekend. Though they performed on the smaller Miller Lite stage on Saturday at sunset, the crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.
LP Giobbi
LP Giobbi opened her ACL set in the Tito’s tent with a stunning piano performance alongside the SoCo Women’s Choir, creating a soulful atmosphere from the first note. The harmonious vocals set an emotional tone before the energy shifted gears into the ultimate dance party. Giobbi transformed the stage, inviting festival-goers to hop on and dance behind her. The whole time, she was radiating joy with big smiles, and her infectious, high-energy beats had the entire crowd moving.
Dancing down memory lane with T-Pain
Festival goers were swept up in a wave of nostalgia, as T-Pain charmed the crowd spinning on stage while singing hit after hit, all while dressed in a head-to-toe leather cowboy getup — something he joked about regretting given the sweltering Texas heat. If you attended his set on either Saturday, then you can attest that there’s something special about being in a sea of people dancing along to the songs that filled clubs in the late 2000s.
The Strokes
Saturday night headliner The Strokes delivered a transcendent performance on the festival’s T-Mobile stage during weekend two. It had been ten years since the band last played ACL Fest, and anticipation ran high. Lead singer Julian Casablancas’ distinct, effortless vocals sounded nearly identical to their recordings. The band powered through fan favorites like “Reptilia” and “The Adults Are Talking,” and surprised the crowd with “Ode to the Mets,” which Casablancas said was “by popular request of last week’s crowd,” giving weekend two attendees a special moment to remember.
ACL’s new “party space”
Stepping into ACL’s new “party space” feels like a breath of fresh air—literally. The private, speakeasy-style lounge offers an instant cool down with its blast of air conditioning and ruby-red draped walls that glow under chandelier light. Plush couches and intimate lounge seating fill the tent, while a TV streams live sets from the festival outside. Guests can enjoy a full menu of food and drinks, including an open bar, in a space designed for comfort and escape amid the crowd.
Doechii
Rapper Doechii proved herself a true tour de force at ACL, capping off an incredible year that included a Best Rap Album win for “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” The “Swamp Princess” commanded the American Express stage both Saturdays, performing just before Sabrina Carpenter, and danced her ass off, even tearing her jeans during weekend one. In kitten heels, no less. At the rate she’s rising, Doechii seems destined to become one of the biggest names in music.
The best bowl around
A full day at the festival is bound to work up an appetite. And while the light bites and sweet treats are tempting, few dishes actually keep you going from set to set. Enter the chicken bowl from Four Brothers Venezuelan Kitchen. Loaded with sweet plantains, shredded chicken, black beans, rice, and cheese, it’s the kind of meal that keeps you full, happy and ready for whatever act comes next.
