Photo By Charles Reagan Hackleman
October 13, 2019
Sunday—the final day of ACL Festival of 2019—was one for the books. There’s nothing this festivalgoer loves more than discovering new artists to add to her heavy rotation. On Sunday, like many others rallying to soak up as much of the festival as possible, I found myself dancing along to FISHER, Third Eye Blind, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Lizzo, GRiZ, and Mumford & Sons.
Third Eye Blind brought about a sweet jovial feel at the Honda stage as they played their notorious sing-alongs, “Semi-Charmed Life” and “Never Let You Go.” These California rockers created a uniquely communal vibe by asking fans in the crowd to tell a stranger around them, “thank you for being here.” This is what festivals are all about.
Photo By Greg Noire
Without a doubt, the talk of the festival that night–and perhaps the festival on the whole–was Lizzo. She drew what is rumored to be the largest crowd for a non-headlining act in ACL history. This dancing rapper entertained tens of thousands of captivated fans who packed in to watch her set from both the Miller Lite stage (where she performed) and the adjacent Honda headliner stage. The addition of the displays on the second stage was added only for the second weekend to accommodate the surprising mass that had packed in a bit too tightly the weekend prior. Even from the heart of the pit—from what felt like miles from her stage—her good-vibes resonated to everyone who came to see her spirited, mind-blowing performance.
As the closing act of the night, Mumford & Sons drew an expansive crowd for one last dance at the American Express stage. About half-way through their two-hour set, the British folk-rockers brought some special guests to support them in closing out their second headlining weekend. Fans were wowed to see the Austin High School marching band take the main stage to join the headliners in playing “The Cave.” This was a unique surprise for festivalgoers, and it was a lovely way to engage Austin youth musicians in this year’s festival.
Photo By Chad Wadsworth
With so many incredible acts and wonderful memories made this year, festivalgoers are sure to excitedly await what’s in store from Austin City Limits Music Festival next fall. Until next year!
