Nané (Lady Bird): Your new favorite Austin band wants to sweep you up in glorious swells of sound, rock your body and start your fest right.ġ:45 p.m. Either way, it’s a lock that Strait will deliver a fine performance that stays faithful to the way his hits sound on the radio. George Strait (Lady Bird): Will the country legend’s die-hard fans that sell out the Erwin Center every time he plays there go to Zilker for his first-ever ACL Fest show? Or will it be more a case of younger-generation festivalgoers checking out this dude their parents and grandparents listen to? Our guess is a mix of both, but we’re intrigued to find out.

If it turns out to be not your thing, head east or west for the marquee sets (or to the adjacent food booths at dinner hour).Ĩ p.m. Nestled between, in the Tito’s Handmade Vodka tent, is a slot labeled simply “Surprise Performance.” Might be worth showing up at the start, just out of curiosity and the chance for something special. Surprise Performance (Tito’s): Austin’s Black Pumas and Houston’s Megan Thee Stallion, twin Texas titans of recent stardom, anchor the two big stages at this hour. (And those years have all been weird enough that we fully endorse the extended series.)Ħ p.m. Tkay Maidza (T-Mobile): A native of Zimbabwe who now lives in Australia, this eclectic 25-year-old artist blends hip-hop, synth pop and more on the three volumes of her “Last Year Was Weird” EP series released across the last three years. She’s gotten enough attention for the emotional impact of her songs that she scored a coveted “Austin City Limits” TV taping while she’s in town.ĥ p.m. Joy Oladokun (Lady Bird): Daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Nashville-based Oladokun has earned widespread praise for her two-volume set “In Defense of My Own Happiness,” released last year and this year.

Ray Benson’s group will celebrate its golden anniversary later this month at Waterloo Park, but in the meantime, catch them in their traditional festival-kickoff slot.Ģ:30 p.m. Asleep at the Wheel (Honda): The only band to play every single ACL Fest is also the only Austin band that has existed for 50 years and is still going strong. What to see at ACL Fest on Friday Peter Blackstock's picksġ p.m. You're overwhelmed with decisions, we know. There wasn't an Austin City Limits Music Festival last year, and it returns to Zilker Park this year for two weekends, Oct.

Sky force anniversary guide