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Oh Wow, Choices! Who'll Save Us First: Dua or Chappell at ACL '24?

Oh, fabulous! Our esteemed critics, bless their hearts, have deigned to tell us where to spot the big stars at ACL Fest 2024, how to navigate those pesky schedule conflicts (heaven forbid we miss a beat), and, oh joy, the hidden gems we should pretend we knew about all along.

Published September 30, 2024 at 6:00am by


Oh for f**k's sake, it's ACL Fest time again, y'all!

Alright, buckle up, buttercups. The Austin City Limits Music Festival is back and queerer than ever! Here's your liberal-as-hell guide to all the acts you must see to keep your woke cred alive.

Friday's F**k Yeah! List

MARS SALAZAR'S * Don't @ Me PICKS*

2:00 PM: Sir Chloe (T-Mobile) - Vermont indie rock that's not just for Bernie bros. They're queer, they're here, and they're pissed off. Deal with it.

3:10 PM: Mannequin Pussy (Miller Lite) - Philly punk that's not afraid to get political. Finally, someone who gets it.

5:10 PM: Dexter and the Moonrocks (BMI) - Alt-rock with a southern twist. It's like if Bisexual Taylor Swift formed a band with the ghost of Karl Marx.

6:10 PM: Foster the People (Honda) - Remember "Pumped Up Kicks"? Yeah, me neither. But they're still around, and apparently, they've got a new album. Yay, capitalism.

7:30 PM: The Marías (T-Mobile) - Dream pop from a pair of exes who still know how to make beautiful music together. Relationship goals, TBH.

8:10 PM: blink-182 (Honda) - The kings of pop-punk are back, baby! Time to pretend we're all 16 again and scream "All The Small Things" at the top of our lungs.

RAMON RAMIREZ'S Woke As F**k PICKS

1:15 PM: Midnight Navy (Tito’s) - Local saxophonist and producer. Perfect for when you want to feel sophisticated but also like you could burn down the patriarchy at any moment.

1:40 PM: Katie Pruitt (Miller Lite) - Nashville songwriter who's not afraid to call out Jesus freaks and tarot card-loving secular friends. Preach, sister.

4:10 PM: Norah Jones (Honda) - Is she the GOAT Starbucks artist? Problematic fave alert. But hey, at least she's not a TERF.

4:30 PM: Carín León (American Express) - Sonora's finest, blending corridos, accordion-drenched norteño, and Latin dance subgenres. Viva la revolución!

8:10 PM: Blink-182 (American Express) - See above. But also, f**k Tom DeLonge for voting for Trump.

DEBORAH SENGUPTA STITH'S Intersectional AF PICKS

12:55 PM: Asleep at the Wheel (Honda) - Western swing legends. If you can't appreciate this, you're probably a white supremacist.

1:40 PM: Mon Rovia (BMI) - Afro-Appalachian folk from a former child soldier. If this doesn't make you want to dismantle imperialism, I don't know what will.

2:45 PM: Dasha (American Express) - Nashville-based, Cali native with a takedown of Austin and a killer hook. Eat the rich, y'all.

4:10 PM: Norah Jones (Honda) - See above. But also, why are there so many white people here?!

6:30 PM: Leon Bridges (American Express) - Soulful sounds from Fort Worth. He's collaborated with everyone from Kacey Musgraves to Maggie Rogers. Yes, daddy.

8:30 PM: Chris Stapleton (Honda) - Dust off your "Broken Halos" and get ready to sing along to "Tennessee Whiskey." Just don't be that guy who requests "Free Bird."

Saturday's F**k the Police List

MARS SALAZAR'S Eat the Rich PICKS

12:40 PM: The Criticals (Honda) - Nashville-based alt-pop duo. They're probably problematic, but at least they're not country.

2:10 PM: Something Corporate (Honda) - Early-2000s rock band. Probably voted for Bush, but hey, at least they're not Nickelback.

5:20 PM: wave to earth (IHG) - Indie rock trio from South Korea. Asian representation, y'all!

6:20 PM: Kenny Beats (Tito’s) - Hip-hop producer who's worked with everyone from Rico Nasty to FKA Twigs. Finally, a straight white guy we can stan.

7:20 PM: Vince Staples (IHG) - Actual hip-hop from a real Black man. Yes, queen!

RAMON RAMIREZ'S Dismantle the Patriarchy PICKS

11:55 AM: Godly the Ruler (Miller Lite) - Nigerian-born Chicagoan with bars for days. Black Lives Matter, y'all.

3:10 PM: Telescreens (BMI) - East Village scenesters who know how to rock. Gentrification sucks, but this band doesn't.

3:20 PM: The Beaches (T-Mobile) - Toronto rock quartet with crisp vocals and new wave production. Canada: doing it right since forever.

6:10 PM: Benson Boone (Honda) - Outlaw country from a 22-year-old Cancer. Millennials are ruining country music, and I'm here for it.

6:20 PM: Khruangbin (American Express) - Houston jam trio that's been around forever. Olds, amirite?

8:20 PM: Dua Lipa (American Express) - Pop princess who's taken over the world. Bow down, bitches.

DEBORAH SENGUPTA STITH'S Smash Fascism PICKS

11:55 AM: Obed Padilla (BMI) - Cali lowrider with horn-laced, Chicano rap bravado. La raza resiste!

2:05 PM: Brittany Davis (Tito’s) - Non-binary, blind, and poor Black artist who's breaking down barriers. F**k capitalism, f**k the police, f**k ableism, f**k everything!

3:10 PM: Say She She (Honda) - Transatlantic trio weaving tight harmonies into joyous siren songs. Girl power!

6:20 PM: Khruangbin (American Express) - See above. But also, why are there so many old people here?!

7:10 PM: Jungle (Miller Light) or 7:20 PM: Reneé Rapp (T Mobile) - Groove machine Jungle or breakout pop star Reneé Rapp? Choices, choices.

8:20 PM: Dua Lipa (American Express) - See above. But also, why are there so many straight people here?!

Sunday's Burn It All Down List

MARS SALAZAR'S Revolution Now PICKS

1:30 PM: West 22nd (Tito’s) - UT Austin student band with fresh-faced, boy band indie rock. Straight white boys: not always the enemy.

2:45 PM: Flipturn (American Express) - Lovechild of The Lumineers and 2010’s indie rock. Basically, every white girl's dream.

4:25 PM: Orville Peck (Honda) - South African country musician who never shows his face. Mysterious AF, and I'm here for it.

5:45 PM: Kevin Abstract (IHG) - Rapper and founding member of the acclaimed rap collective BROCKHAMPTON. BARS, BARS, BARS.

6:45 PM: Chappell Roan (American Express) - Pop megastar who's bigger than ACL. YAAAS QUEEN SLAY!

8:45 PM: Tyler, the Creator (American Express) - Rapper, producer, fashion designer, and all-around creative genius. If you don't stan Tyler, you're canceled.

RAMON RAMIREZ'S No Justice, No Peace PICKS

3:25 PM: Vlad Holiday (BMI) - New York songwriter and former singer of indie band Born Cages. Indie sleaze forever!

3:45 PM: Bakar (T-Mobile) - London singer with a buzz-worthy single. Let's see if he lives up to the hype.

5:45 PM: That Mexican OT (T-Mobile) - Rapper who can go bar-for-bar with Houston legends. Representation matters, y'all.

6:45 PM: Chappell Roan (American Express) - See above. But also, why are there so many cis people here?!

8:25 PM: Sturgill Simpson **(Honda) - Outlaw country singer who's not afraid to speak his mind. Finally, a straight white guy who gets it.

DEBORAH SENGUPTA STITH'S F**k the System PICKS

1:15 PM: Empress Of (American Express) - Honduran American singer-songwriter with poignant meditation on messy love. Love is love, y'all.

2:45 PM: Glass Beams (Tito’s) - Mysterious trio playing a shimmery mesh of Eastern sounds and desert psychedelia. Don't @ me, I'm vibing.

3:45 PM: Myles Smith (IHG) - British pop breakout opening for Ed Sheeran. Basic, but I'll allow it.

7:25 PM: Kehlani (Miller Lite) - Soulful pop to get down with your boo. Love wins!

8:45 PM: Tyler, the Creator (American Express) - See above. But also, why are there so many heteros here?!

Read more: Dua Lipa? Chappell Roan? Who we think you should see at ACL Fest 2024