Austin City Limits 2023 is coming to a close, but it’s not stopping us from catching some of the best acts in the lineup.
The T-Mobile stage was a major attraction throughout the afternoon. The barricade line seemed like a diverse crowd of fans, each eagerly awaiting a different artist. “I am really excited for Del Water Gap to play Better Than I Know Myself”, one crowd member said. “OMG, I’m hoping he plays Perfume!”, replied another. A group of friends who flew in from Arkansas took turns holding each other’s spots when taking bathroom breaks to ensure they did not miss Little Simz’s performance. And of course, there was no shortage of dedicated Labyrinth fans waiting for his closing set.
During Del Water Gap’s performance fans screamed and sang along to the anticipated “Perfume” and “Better Than I Know Myself”. Del Water Gap remained energetic throughout the performance, darting back and forth on the stage to ensure all fans caught a glimpse of the action. In a touching moment he opened up about his doubts during the 2020 pandemic, admitting that he had considered giving up his music career. He expressed gratitude to dedicated fans who continued to listen to his music. For the patient fans who stayed after his set, they were rewarded with the opportunity to get up close and personal with Del Water Gap, as he returned to the stage to interact and take pictures with those in the front row.
As the Del Water crowd dispersed, there was an hour wait for the Little Simz, a prolific rapper from London. Slowly, the crowd grew in number as conversations started about what songs everyone hoped to hear. The crowd got hyped as Little Simz took the stage beginning her set with “Silhouette”. Right from it was clear Little Simz was in her element, captivating the crowd with her eloquence and lyric delivery. With this show being her last before going home to London, Simz gave it all and proved to be a top performer in the world of rap and a must-see talent.
Performing the last set of the Miller Lite stage was regional Mexican sensation Ivan Cornejo. The newly found regional mexican singer drew a large crowd, everyone ready to hear the songs of heartbreak. He garnered multiple awards since the beginning of his musical trek, such as New Regional Mexican Artist at the 2022 Premios Juventud. The singer put the crowd in a trance with his tracks like “Me Hiciste un Loco,” “Aquí Te Espero” and “No Me Quise Ir.” Fans were beyond content and sang along with every lyric as the sun went down, it was indeed a beautiful set.
One of the most anticipated acts of this year was the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who last performed in Austin in 2019 for a one-off show to celebrate the anniversary of Fever to Tell. The band is currently en route for their world tour in support of their latest album titled Cool It Down, and have performed shows in Houston and Dallas. The trio currently consists of Karen O, Brian Chase and Nick Zinner, with the addition of Imad Wassif as their touring multi-instrumentalist. The band performed tracks from their latest album such as “Spitting Off the Edge of the World,” “Burning” and “Blacktop.” They also performed classics such as “Soft Shock,” “Y Control” and “Heads Will Roll,” which made for a chilling and energetic combination. Karen O yelled about how much the band loved Austin, and dedicated the track “Maps” to all the fans and lovers in the crowd. The band ended with their usual closer “Date with the Night,” where the band received a standing ovation.
Mumford and Sons is no stranger to Austin City Limits, and the 2023 festival marked their fourth appearance (excluding lead singer Marcus Mumford’s solo appearance). The weekend two finale performance at the Honda stage also marked the band’s final show of their summer of 2023 tour, so in true fashion, they went out with a bang. They performed all of the hits from their album Babel, such as “Below My Feet” and “I Will Wait.” To spice things up, the band brought out The Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir for their track “October Skies,” and were later joined by Hozier for an endearing performance of “Timshel” and “Awake My Soul.”
The festival once again proved to be one of the best festivals in North America through its unique atmosphere, its eight spread-out stages, and its unique blend of artists. Austin is always vibrant, but ACL always brings out the best out of the city, as everything always feels like one huge party. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for ACL 2024!
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.
I'm a southern bred writer and devoted bike-rider from Mission, Texas. I am known for crafting the finest assortment of playlists for every occasion. I received her Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, and I enjoy dabbling in a variety of hobbies and am always down to learn something new. I'm also an ISFJ (Defender Personality) according to 16 Personalities, do what you will with that information.
