Jane Yermakov

Standing in the golden hour’s orange light, Irish music artist Hozier performs at Austin City Limits’ biggest venue. The annual music festival provides opportunities for attendees to both enjoy familiar artists and discover new ones. “I didn’t know Thirty Seconds to Mars [before I went to ACL], but I really love them now because the lead singer put on a great show,” sophomore Mykaela Tapia said. “He was inviting people up to the stage and at one point there were almost sixty people on stage. Matthew McConaughey was there too. [The lead singer] started off the show on a platform right below the roof and he jumped off that platform and I thought that was so cool. The concert was really hype. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the music, I still liked the performance.”

There is a constant rumble of vibrations as thousands of people scurry, scream and cry excitedly in the presence of their favorite artists and bands. Concert venues boom and shake the fields the people populate, adding to the grumble in the ground.

Taking place every October for two weekends at Zilker Park, Austin City Limits, or ACL, is a music festival that boasts a large number of famous names such as Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Foo Fighters and more. ACL partners with the Austin Parks Foundation to provide enhancements to Austin’s parks or the weekend concerts?.

“It’s a very fun but tiring weekend,” sophomore Mykaela Tapia said. “All your dreams come true if you’re a really big music fan. For me it’s just a very joyous time. I wouldn’t say it’s very overwhelming because I like to be out in public. It’s cool to be able to go from one concert of an artist you really love to another one that you also really enjoy. Time after time it’s just new experiences that you’ve always wanted to have. It’s cool to be surrounded by people who you know love this same artist as you.”

During the festival, varying sizes of stage venues, areas for restrooms, food and shops are placed all over Zilker Park. The shops include clothing, jewelry and merchandise.

“My favorite part is getting ready with my friends,” sophomore Ahnna Breiner said. “The build-up to seeing your favorite artists is so exciting. I also love that everyone your age is really nice and you get to meet a lot of cool people. I met girls from Vandegrift and Lake Travis and you just get a lot of opportunities to make friends.”

ACL was established in 1974 by the PBS affiliate KLRU-TV but only started hosting at Zilker Park in 2002. Since being established, it has received several awards, such as the National Medal of Arts and a Peabody Award. 

“This is my third year going [to ACL],” senior Zoe Byabagye said. “I would say that my first year was the most fun because it was my first year ever. I remember Doja Cat was so fun. To this day, she’s still one of my favorite artists that I got to see perform. It was such a spontaneous decision. My friends and I bought the tickets that Saturday morning and ever since then we’ve been going every year. I think that this year definitely beat last year’s. The lineup and the crowds this year were just so much better.”

Every year there is a new array of artists ranging from popular, well-known performers to smaller artists, all of many different genres. An artist’s popularity affects how large or small of a venue they are given to perform at.

“It’s really fun and it’s not as overwhelming as you [would] think it is because it’s so spread out,” Breiner said. “There’s a lot of stuff to do other than standing in the sun and listening to music. You can lay down in the grass or just walk around and look at all the sets. There’s always something to be doing without stressing yourself out.”

In order to get closer to the stage, Tapia suggests getting to the set early or going up through the sides and then cutting through the middle. Since ACL happens during a time when it is usually still very hot in Austin, it is recommended to bring sunscreen, water and a bandana to wipe off sweat.

“I’ve been in the first or second row for a lot of concerts,” Tapia said. “I like being up front and in close proximity to the artist because I feel more in the moment. When you are very much surrounded by it all, it’s easier to be in the moment, just enjoying your time. I feel like when you’re further back and the show is more in the distance, your mind wanders more. In the front you can really focus yourself in the moment.”

Every year around 450,000 people attend ACL. According to Breiner, having so many people there makes her feel not embarrassed about being loud and having fun.

“I loved how energetic the crowds were, that’s what always makes it,” Byabagye said. “Something that separates a really good concert [from] a not-so-good one is definitely the crowd. ACL is such a staple and I look forward to it every year. The food, the people, the dressing up and just being able to see the artists are all such a unique thing to experience. It’s fun, energetic, memorable and it’s so cool to see how everyone comes together just for a common reason. Even there, all the people are so nice. It’s just so interesting how many people can gather just to all do the same thing and enjoy each other’s favorite artists.”