Austin City Limits 2025: Weekend One, Day One Overview

Day one of Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) packed everything you want in a weekend opener. Rising stars, wild crowds, good food, plus that unbeatable Austin energy. I spent the day wandering between stages, chasing good vibes, and catching the kind of moments that stick with you.

There is nothing like the first day of Austin City Limits Music Festival. The sun sits high. The grass feels alive under your shoes. You can hear a dozen beats mixing together from every corner of Zilker Park. It feels like stepping into a dream built on sound.

You start to notice the small things: the smell of food trucks, the hum of excitement, the steady crowd flow. The air feels light. So you dive right in, ready for a day that somehow manages to top itself with every set.

Spill Tab

Spill Tab kicked things off with pure charm. Her energy pulled you in right away. The set felt easy but tight, like she was jamming with a few thousand of her closest friends. You could tell the crowd felt it too. Heads bobbed. Shoulders swayed. Everyone locked in.

After the set, I grabbed a quesadilla from La Santa Barbacha. Cheesy. Crispy. Exactly what you need between sets. Then I wandered around to explore a few sponsor tents. Picked up some free stuff. Filled my bottle at the hydration station. Small wins between the music.

King Princess

King Princess owned the stage. She cracked jokes between songs, played with the crowd, then dove straight back into her music like it was nothing. You felt that balance, playful but powerful. Her voice carried over the crowd with ease.

Fans shouted every word. Some waved pride flags. It felt like a celebration more than a concert. I found myself smiling through most of the set. That is the best sign, when you forget to record anything because you are just too caught up in the moment.

MJ Lenderman

The Beatbox Stage always feels like a hidden gem. It sits low on a slope, tucked away, so every spot has a view. MJ Lenderman brought that laid-back energy you hope for late in the afternoon. His music hits slow, but it sticks.

The set had grit and mood, like an old photograph you keep coming back to. He sang with a kind of shrug, honest but funny, serious without trying. You could tell people came ready to listen, not just pass time. It was one of those rare quiet moments that still buzzed.

Role Model

Role Model had the crowd eating out of his hand. He walked out wearing a cowboy hat, leaning into the Texas vibe right away. His humor carried the show. Between songs, he joked, posed, even called the cameraman over. Then he turned around, reached into his back pocket, and pulled out a middle finger like a magician doing a trick. The crowd lost it.

Then came the big surprise: Hilary Duff. The screams said it all. People near the front were jumping, phones up, grinning from ear to ear. He was funny, confident, plus genuinely happy to be there. You could feel it from the back of the crowd.

Empire of the Sun

The Miller Lite Stage filled up fast for Empire of the Sun. The incline behind the crowd made it easy to see, even from far back. Their set design looked wild, glowing outfits, surreal lights, big sounds that made you feel like you were inside a dream sequence.

Every hit landed. People danced even when they did not know the words. The visuals did half the talking. You could just stand there and soak it in. It was theatrical in the best way, like a sci-fi movie with a perfect soundtrack.

Luke Combs

Luke Combs played like a man who knows every song he has is a hit. The crowd sang every line. You could look in any direction and see lips moving in unison. The skyline glowed behind him, making the whole scene feel like a postcard from Austin.

I stayed for half his set before heading to catch the end of another. Still, it was enough to see why he pulls crowds this size. His voice hit like a cold drink after a long day, steady, smooth, just right.

Hozier

Hozier closed out the night in the most fitting way possible. The crowd was massive. Everyone swayed with the music, lost in his voice. The moon hung low. You could feel a calm take over the park.

He played with patience, letting each note linger. People whispered lyrics, then stopped to just listen. It was one of those rare moments where thousands of people moved as one. Walking out after that felt like leaving a warm dream.

The Beat of Day One

Day one at Austin City Limits reminded me why this festival feels so special. You get the huge names, but it is the moments between sets that make it yours. The food, the walks, the random conversations. The little things that fill the space between the music.

If you go this weekend, take your time. Wander. Eat something new. Catch a set you never planned to. That is how the best stories start, without a plan, just a good day under the Austin sky.