ACL 2025 is packed with huge names this year. Those headliners will give you the fireworks, the sing-alongs, the Instagram shots – no question about it.
But the real fun is often tucked lower on the poster. That is where you find the acts that surprise you. The ones you stumble into on a smaller stage and later brag about seeing first. So here are five artists I am circling on my schedule.
MJ Lenderman: Raw but Real
MJ Lenderman sounds like a band warming up in a garage. Loose. Messy. Then a lyric drops and you feel it in your gut.
He cracks jokes without trying too hard. He gets serious without turning cheesy. That balance is tough, but he makes it look easy. His set will feel both irreverent plus honest, which is rare at a festival this big.
I still remember listening to him on a road trip and suddenly zoning out, thinking, “Wait, did he just say that?” That is Lenderman.
Julie: Music That Feels Like Weather
Julie makes noise that feels like a thunderstorm rolling in. Heavy, loud, but somehow comforting.
Their songs drift between dreamlike and chaotic. One minute you are floating, the next you are rattled awake. It is not music you just hear. It is music you feel in your chest.
If you like finding bands that make you stop mid-conversation just to listen, Julie will do that for you.
Hans Williams: Honest and Close
Hans Williams writes songs that sound like late-night talks with your best friend. Simple. Honest. No walls up.
His voice is warm in that perfectly imperfect way, he shares stories that feel personal but still easy to connect with. Hans does not lean on flashy production, as he trusts the lyrics to do the work.
Picture an open field feeling as small as your living room. That is the kind of intimacy he brings.
Hey, Nothing: Pure Jo
Hey, Nothing makes the kind of indie rock that feels like summer. Bright guitars. Sticky hooks. Energy that bounces off the stage.
Their music is not overthought. It is fun, it is real, and it reminds you of those high school bands you swore were destined to be huge.
I can already see people leaving their set grinning, saying, “I did not know them before, but I am hooked now.”
Geto Gala: Austin’s Hip-Hop Pulse
Geto Gala is Austin hip-hop at its best. Smooth beats. Sharp words. A vibe that feels rooted in the city.
They nod to old-school hip-hop but keep things fresh. Their songs feel like a neighborhood cookout where everyone is welcome. You do not just watch. You join in.
Catching them at ACL will feel less like a concert and more like stepping into the local heartbeat.
The headliners will bring the big moments to ACL 2025. That is a given. But the smaller sets often become the ones you remember most. MJ Lenderman, Julie, Hans Williams, Hey, Nothing, plus Geto Gala all have something different to offer. None of them need pyrotechnics or giant screens to connect with you. Just a crowd and an open mind.
So, when you plan your ACL 2025 weekend, leave room for discovery. Wander into a stage you might have skipped. You never know which artist will end up being the soundtrack to your fall.
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 an Austin-based photographer and filmmaker. I'm a mother of two (cats) and I love picking up expensive hobbies to spend all of my money on, whether that be tattoos, vinyl, or concerts. My top three artists are Dijon, Mk.gee, and Dominic Fike. I love to travel and learn new ways to fulfill myself creatively. My biggest aspiration is to find the most imaginative way to seamlessly combine my 3 favorite things: film, photography, and music.
