Austin City Limits 2023 is right around the corner – crank out the sunscreen, festival fits and hydration packs this October because sh** is about to get real in Austin!
Austin City Limits is a major music festival that happens in the iconic Zilker Park every year, each year with a large number of fan-favorite musical acts. Past lineups included major acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paramore, the Killers, Childish G and so many more. This year is no different: major acts include the 1975, Shania Twain, Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, and Hozier. What makes this year’s lineup such a solid one is the reminiscent nostalgia that some returning artists bring, making this lineup an indie kid’s absolute dream. ACL 2023 brings the likings of artists like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tegan and Sara, M83, Declan McKenna, and many more acts that will draw major crowds to the festival grounds this year. Check out a few of our favorite artists that we are looking forward to seeing at this year’s fest.
Miya Folick (Weekend Two)
Miya Folick is THAT artist – she’s toured with musicians like Pale Waves, Sunflower Bean, and Aly + AJ. She definitely gained more recognition during her tour with Bishop Briggs in 2018, which was the same year Folick released her debut album titled Premonitions. The album features popular tracks like “Deadbody” and “Leave the Party,” songs that always get people dancing. Earlier this year, she released her sophomore album titled ROACH, and we’re excited to see what songs she plays from her discography.
Sunrose (Weekend One)
Cathartic lyriscm, unmerciful vibes, and fueled by protest? Sounds like the sound of Sunrose, a band that hails from Nashville and are known for embodying the grunge-like persona. They released their debut album Self-immolation in April of 2023, which is full of transcendence and rage with hints of alt-rock riffs. If you like bands like the Skallywags, Rendez Vous, Subpar and Beach Goons, Sunrose is a band you need to check out live.
Ivan Cornejo (Weekend One & Weekend Two)
While ACL hasn’t featured multiple latin acts since 2019, Ivan Cornejo stands out from the rest with his name on the bill. Most latin acts today are focused on the new-age reggaeton sound, but not Cornejo. Cornejo is only 19 years old and specializes in Regional Mexican music, contributing to the genre’s long-awaited revival. His most well-known track called “Esta Dañada” gave Cornejo the recognition he deserved as it landed on multiple music lists such as the Billboard Hot 100. Cornejo has released two albums thus far since launching his career in 2021, and it’s exciting to see how he will perform at his first major festival appearance in Texas.
M83 (Weekend Two)
Midnight City is coming to Zilker Park – M83 is no stranger to performing at music festivals. With their captivating hooks and aesthetic stage presence, this french electronic pop group knows how to entice crowds. Besides their most well-known tracks like “Midnight City” and “Wait,” they have so many underrated tracks that are ultimately great contenders for them to play live. From “We Own the Sky” and “Solitude,” staying through M83’s eclectic and mesmerizing set will be the perfect way to end the night.
Julia Wolf (Weekend One)
This singer from Queens is sure to get you in your feels – her influences may include artists like Avril Lavigne and The All-American Rejects, but her sound is unique in many ways. Through pop-riddled tones and catchy choruses, Wolf does an amazing job at doing one thing that fans adore – just simply being relatable. She might be a singer who performs on massive stages around the world, but she expresses her love for storytelling, as heard in tracks like “Hot Killer.” You can catch Wolf jumping around on the Tito’s stage this upcoming October!
D4VD (Weekend One & Weekend Two)
From playing two sold-out shows across North America and being featured in major festivals like Lollapalooza and (soon) Camp Flog Gnaw, Houston’s one and only D4VD has been on the rise. Also a young artist who is only 18 years old, he launched his career in 2022 with his first single “Romantic Homicide.” He released his debut EP Petals to Thorns in May of 2023 with his second EP on the way, a perfect chance to showcase his popular songs and unreleased tracks on the Barton Springs stage.
Die Spitz (Weekend One)
Fun fact: Die Spitz means the Point in German, which is why this punk-quartet took on the name in correlation to Ringo Starr’s film of the same name (KUTX, 2023). The band hails from the streets of Austin and are known for their high-energy sets across multiple local venues, including Sagebrush and Hole in the Wall. For the first weekend of ACL, they are trading in performing their songs like “Hair of Dog” and “Grip” in small venues to kicking off the Tito’s Stage on Saturday, October 7th. We highly suggest to get ready to mosh in the hot burning Texas sun with Die Spitz before they head off on tour with Amyl and The Sniffers this fall.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Weekend One & Weekend Two)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been in the game since the 2000s – the band is apart of the iconic music scene in New York and are grouped with the likings of the Strokes, Interpol, LCD Soundsystem and many more. With their debut album Fever to Tell and second album Show Your Bones, the triple Ys have defined this early alternative era with Karen O’s scratchy yet powerful vocals, Nick Zinner’s shredding guitar lines and Brian Chase’s killer drum hooks. They released their fifth album Cool It Down in 2022, approximately ten years after their last album Mosquito. They have been featured in numerous festivals across the world, but are now making their return to Austin since their last one-night show that happened in 2019. Check out their set on Sundays before Odesza closes out the festival on the Honda stage.
Tegan and Sara (Weekend Two)
Speaking of nostalgia, Tegan and Sara are another household name within the indie-rock community. This Canadian Sister Duo formed in 1995 and reached mainstream success when they released their third album If It Was You, as it featured the hit song “Living Room.” They continued to release music, as their discography now consists of ten studio albums, three video albums and numerous appearances with different artists like Beach Bunny and Vincint. If you haven’t heard their song “Closer” in a TV show like Bojack Horseman or Glee, you’d recognize the memorable piano intro to “Back In Your Head.” The duo released their latest album Crybaby in 2022, and we can’t wait to hear all of their hits when they take on the Tito’s stage.
Rina Sawayama (Weekend One & Weekend Two)
Rina Sawayama is on the way to being the hyperpop princess of today – with the success of her debut album released in 2020 called Sawayama, she has become a well-known name in the music industry that we know and love. She released her sophomore album titled Hold the Girl in 2022, and even made her acting debut in John Wick: Chapter 4 as Akira. The Japanese-British singer is also known for her lavish outfits and choreographed performances – an incredible show everyone needs to check out, even if you don’t know any of her songs.
Check out the full lineup below, and get your tickets NOW as they are selling fast. The full schedule is also available here.
Keylee is a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, Texas. She has received a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston. As an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, she aspires to create her own path as a content creator by bonding with others over the power of local music and media. If she isn’t listening to her favorite band Paramore, you’ll catch her hanging out with her brothers or playing with her husky Luna.
