• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!

  • Things To Do This Weekend
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

ACL Fest 2020 Rises From the Ashes and Goes Virtual

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Bill Tucker

When COVID knocked out SXSW back in March of this year, I was crestfallen. Seven months later, my sadness seems petty, but at the time, it was crushing. And as we all know, everything else live music related fell along with it, including the other marquee music event of the year, the Austin City Limits Festival.

Luckily, the ACL Festival team refused to stay down and crafted a weekend long virtual event that both pays homage to the past while keeping an eye towards the future. All without the need for masks, social distancing or even tickets.

A Blast to the Past

Spoon ACL Fest 2017
Spoon performing at ACL Festival 2017. (credit: John Cabuena)

This year’s event will run from October 9th to 11th exclusively on YouTube. The virtu-show starts at 7 p.m. each night and will feature iconic performances from past festivals. From last year’s headliners Billie Eilish and Gary Clark Jr to Phish and LCD Soundsystem in 2010, a decade’s worth of ACL Fest memories will be on offer.

But it’s not all “re-runs” of classic ACL Fest moments. Determined to keep the lineup current, the festival will feature a variety of new content and recorded performances featuring some of Austin’s finest talent. One of the coolest examples of old meets new is an animated video of Willie Nelson’s 2016 ACL Fest performance of “On the Road Again” presented by Texas Monthly.

New Content with a Local Flair

Melat at ACL
Melat stole the show during her stunningly sultry ACL 2017 set. (credit: John Cabuena)

Like the in-person event, this year’s edition leans heavily on both local talent and organizations. Yearly sponsor, Austin Parks Foundation, will showcase local artists performing in unique locations around Austin:

  • Melat from the Zilker Botanical Gardens.
  • Jackie Venson from Pan Am Neighborhood Park.
  • Los Coast from Zilker Clubhouse
  • Otis the Destroyer from the Heath Eiland and Morgan Moss BMX Skatepark.

Another long time sponsor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, hosted a series of brand new performances from the Black Pumas, Mobley, and Paul Cauthen which will be broadcast throughout the weekend. And as they do every year, Tito’s will match all donations to the Austin Parks Foundation up to $10,000 made during ACL Fest 2020.

More Than Just Music

A special thank you to the Austin Parks Foundation for keeping Zilker beautiful throughout two weekends of musical madness! (credit: John Cabuena/Flipintex Fotos).

Anybody who’s been to ACL Fest will tell you the weekend is more than epic live music. It’s a gathering place, an innovation showcase, and sometimes a social call to arms. ACL Fest 2020 continues this important piece of the festival puzzle in this year’s virtual format.

In the conversation department, Salesforce has partnered with ACL Fest 2020 to create the Make Change initiative. Matthew McConaughey will host two sessions, one starring tennis legend Andy Roddick and a group of community focused entrepreneurs while the other will center on providing educational assistance to underserved high school students. While these smaller sessions often get swallowed by the music, please make a point to attend these enlightening and important sessions.

Other sessions and partnerships include:

  • Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to changing the American electoral landscape by ensuring everyone is registered and empowered to vote.
  • The Equal Justice Initiative, committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishments in the American penal system.
  • The All Together ATX Relief Fund, a joint partnership with Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin designed to combat the economic impact of COVID-19 on already vulnerable neighborhoods.

New Location, Same Energy for ACL Fest 2020

Jumping from the ACL Fest picture frame is a yearly tradition (credit: John Cabuena/Flipintex Fotos).

And the list of awesomeness goes on and on! When many festivals packed it in and said, “see you next year” when COVID struck, the Austin City Limits Festival team dug in and found a new way to celebrate. While it won’t be the eight stage, 400,000 person extravaganza we’re used to, this year’s virtual edition is a thoughtfully curated and planned event that does more than make the best out of a challenging situation. ACL Fest 2020 uses the limitations to create something different but equally impactful.

Enjoying some of the best moments of ACL’s past from the comfort of your couch for free sounds like a lovely way to spend an evening. Try to do so at least once this weekend!


@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

Do you have a favorite ACL Fest performance? Tell us about it!

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Bill Tucker
Bill Tucker
Bill Tucker
Latest posts by Bill Tucker (see all)
  • Austin Volunteer Opportunities – Holiday Charities & Giving Campaigns For 2024 - December 21, 2024
  • Austin Trail of Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Zilker Park Holiday Displays, Tickets, Parking, & More! - December 16, 2023
  • Who Wins the SXSW Music 2023 Superlative Awards? - March 21, 2023

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: acl, acl fest, austin city limits

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Popular Right Now

Best Events in Austin in July 2025

Celebrate Summer Right: Best July Events in Austin 2025

Things to do in Austin this Summer

Keep It Cool: 2025’s Hottest Things to Do in Austin This Summer

Summer Camps in Austin 2025

Summer Camps in Austin 2025 – STEM, Sports, Arts & More Top Programs Your Kids Will Love

Things To Do in Austin With Teens

50 Things to do in Austin with Teens| Fun Teenager Activities

Recent Posts

  • Best Fun Events in Austin July 18 -20
  • National Hot Dog Day Deals in Austin 2025
  • 20 Best Museums in Austin, TX – Art, History, & Unique Gems 2025
  • 40 Best Indoor Things to Do in Austin – Fun for Rainy Days, Summer Heat & More
  • Where to Get Free Fries in Austin on National French Fry Day 2025

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in