Returning to Zilker Park is Japanese Breakfast, led by Michelle Zauner, who will be gracing ACL Fest with new sounds from their latest album For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).
Japanese Breakfast is the indie project led by the multi-faceted Michelle Zauner. Initially, this project was just a side gig. Over time, Japanese Breakfast blossomed into an indie powerhouse as Zauner mastered the recipe of dream-pop and emotionally charged lyrics. Zauner’s remarkable evolution from indie darling to full-blown cultural touchstone was sealed with her best-selling memoir, Crying in H Mart. Her memoir allowed listeners to connect more intimately with the joy / grief that shaped Zauner’s work as an artist.
The band’s latest album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), was released on March 21, 2025 – four years after their Grammy nominated album, Jubilee. For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) is in a completely different place musically than Jubilee, departing from the cheerful presentation to a more personal and complicated space. This album was recorded in an actual studio for the first time for the band, as they worked to sonically refine the melancholic vibe. From an artist perspective, the record is emphatically Zauner exploring new ideas and themes – the contemplation of death, desire, and experiencing through a different lens.
After the release of the album, Japanese Breakfast embarked on “The Melancholy Tour”, their first real tour in three years. Their first show drew a huge crowd at Coachella, a great comeback for the band. Whenever Jbrekkie performs live, they always built an energetic production to capture their complex studio sound.
Japanese Breakfast will make their return to Austin City Limits this Fall, the perfect chance to catch a glimpse of their new songs on a festival stage. Their set is not as melancholic as you’d think – they often incorporate fun twists to their performances (like a full-out GONG). The band will offer a powerful, unforgettable performance that you don’t want to miss. We promise that it’s going to be extremely cleansing for the soul!
Austin City Limits 2025 will be happening on 10/3-10/5 and 10/10-10/12. Check out the full lineup and get your ACL tickets here: https://www.aclfestival.com/
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
