The ACL 2025 Lineup features notable peak indie artists… but The Dare is currently the king of the indie sleaze revival and is bringing the genre back with a bang.
A legitimate chameleon of the New York City underground, The Dare has a backstory as colorful as his music. Prior to taking on the new role as an indie sleaze icon, Harrison Patrick Smith was a substitute teacher during the day and DJ at night. During this time, he mastered a sound that combined the party-hard attitude of the early 2000s indie scene, a modern twist, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. After “Girls,” Smith signed with Republic Records, flying onto the music scene with some of the biggest industry names.
The Dare’s career ascended to a new level with his contribution to Charli XCX’s Grammy-winning album, BRAT. For instance, he produced the track “Guess,” which blew up and spawned a viral remix with Billie Eilish. Working with her increased The Dare’s profile, introducing his indie-electronic sound to a whole new audience. Moving from underground club DJ to collaborating with pop’s biggest names shows his undeniable talent.
It has been a monumental year for the DJ. Earlier this year, he released the deluxe edition of his debut album, What’s Wrong With New York?, which featured additional tracks. Currently on the festival circuit, he’s been unstoppable as he brought his wild live show to stages at Coachella, Primavera Sound, and Reading & Leeds. In addition to this, those club nights he deems as “Freakquencies” are famed for their wild, anything-goes vibe.
The Dare is one act that absolutely must be seen at ACL 2025. If you have been an ardent worshiper of the indie sleaze revival or have heard too much about him, we recommend you check out the fuss for yourself. The Dare’s set is one full-sensory experience that will stand out at the festival, so get ready to party.
EDIT: On top of performing both ACL weekends, The Dare also brings his wild party to an official ACL Fest Nights show on October 4 at the Empire Control Room & Garage, which is now SOLD-OUT.
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.
