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Austin City Limits Music Festival 2018: Photo Retrospective

October 15, 2018 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Fans Going Crazy ACL Fest 2018

Tito’s Stage during Austin City Limits Music Festival 2018 (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Zilker Park has been reclaimed. The massive stages torn down, ticket booths folded up. Mountains of debris, discarded AMEX swag, and unused ponchos carted away as though they never existed.

All that’s left of Austin City Limits Music Festival 2018 is in the minds and memory cards of those lucky enough to experience it. From the incredible headliners to your new favorite band, ACL Fest has always held something for anyone daring enough to brave the crowds and take it all in.

With our signature focus on the hyperlocal, here’s how The Austinot team experienced this one-of-a-kind festival, through pictures and words.

Many thanks to Brandon Navarro for contributing his time and talent to this article. You can check out more of his photographic work at eyehearmusic.com.

Austin Music Well-represented

While the headlines were filled with major acts from decades past, our local heroes represented the ATX in style. From guitar goddesses to afro-jazz and everything in between, Austin music had a strong and vital presence at this year’s festival.

NAM

NAM ACL Fest 2018

Nora Luders’ silky, moody vocals lounge atop a sleepy bed of synth lines, subtle percussion, and mind-expanding soundscapes (Credit: Bill Tucker)

NAM ACL Fest 2018

Sam Simmons of NAM (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Asleep at the Wheel

Ray Benson ACL Fest 2018

Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Asleep at the Wheel ACL Fest 2018

Asleep at the Wheel performing at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Asleep at the Wheel ACL Fest 2018

Down home, old school country played with energy and enthusiasm, Roy Benson’s crew of fiddlers and fun lovers personify timeless Texas music (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Golden Dawn Arkestra

Golden Dawn Arkestra ACL Fest 2018

Visual and audio spectacle the world hasn’t seen since Sun Ra (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Golden Dawn Arkestra ACL Fest 2018

Joyous melange of afro-funk, Chuck Mangione jazz, and P-Funk groove (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Golden Dawn Arkestra ACL Fest 2018

Transported to a realm where time means nothing and music reigns supreme (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Golden Dawn Arkestra ACL Fest 2018

Golden Dawn Arkestra’s 19-piece group (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Molly Burch

Molly Burch ACL Fest 2018

Little bit country, little bit blues, and a whole lot of incredible (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Molly Burch ACL Fest 2018

Molly Burch performing on the Barton Springs stage (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Jackie Venson

Jackie Venson ACL Fest 2018

Jackie Venson, one of Austin’s premier guitar goddesses (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Jackie Venson ACL Fest 2018

Jackie Venson has grown in national prominence thanks to her tight songwriting and award-winning technique (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Sweet Spirit

Sabrina Ellis ACL Fest 2018

Sabrina Ellis of Sweet Spirit performing live at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Andrew Cashen of Sweet Spirit ACL Fest 2018

Andrew Cashen of Sweet Spirit (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Sweet Spirit ACL Fest 2018

Sweet Spirit blends power rock chords, brassy horns, and Ellis’s incredible pipes (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Sabrina Ellis of Sweet Spirit

Sabrina Ellis of Sweet Spirit (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Sailor Poon

Sailor Poon ACL Fest 2018

Down and dirty post-punk of Sailor Poon (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Sailor Poon ACL Fest 2018

Sailor Poon is earworm hooks wrapped in barbed wire (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Shakey Graves

Shakey Graves ACL Fest 2018

The modern face of Austin music is Shakey Graves (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Shakey Graves ACL Fest 2018

Classic Americana played with soul, style, and a hint of Texas twang (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Eating Well at ACL Music Fest

Usually, the culinary options at music festivals are comprised of fried food, pizza stands, and some sort of mad combination of the two.

ACL Music Fest shuns that trend in favor of a wide variety of local food trucks, restaurants, and eateries. When I can get Micklethwait brisket, Chilantro kimchi fries, and a frozen banana courtesy of Bananarchy at a major event, I know the organizers care about our local scene.

Chilantro Kimchi Fries

Chilantro kimchi fries are an ACL tradition (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Mighty Cone ACL Fest 2018

Mighty Cone representing at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Celis White ACL Fest 2018

Nothing like a delicious Celis White at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Micklewaith BBQ Acl F est 2018

Micklethwait barbecue making mouths water (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Tito's Vodka ACL Fest 2018

Tito’s Vodka had a delicious presence at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

People Make the Party

Roaming the many stages and sets of ACL Fest as a lone wolf makes for great exploration. But some of my favorite moments involved hanging with my fellow photographer and co-conspirator, Brandon Navarro. Live music is a communal experience unlike any other medium. Sharing it with friends and loved ones makes the experience all the more special.

Beyonce Sign ACL Music Fest 2018

Half of the fun of ACL Fest–the signs (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

ACL Fest 2018 Picture Frame

ACL Fest’s iconic picture frame makes for fantastic shots (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Couple Carry ACL Fest 2018

Young love in the air (Credit: Bill Tucker)

ACL Fest 2018 Couple

ACL Fest brings out the smiles (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Stunning Views

Zilker Park in October is something to behold. Filled with a sea of over 75,000 people, the park takes on a life of its own.

AMEX Stage at ACL Fest 2018

View of the American Express Stage (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Honda Stage ACL Fest

The Honda Stage looks beautiful during sunset at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Storm Clouds ACL Fest 2018

Storm clouds threatened Zilker during Weekend One of ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

ACL Crowd Shot

ACL Music Festival at night provides stunning silhouettes (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

Late Night Vibes

During the day, ACL Fest takes on a relaxed vibe. Families camp out between stages; there’s plenty of room; and the lines are more than manageable.

Once the sun goes down, it’s a whole other ballgame. The evening hours of ACL Music Festival produce magic, mystery, and exceptionally good times.

Honda Stage at Night

The Honda stage at night looked absolutely stunning (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Globe ACL Eats

ACL Eats from around the world–see what I did there? (Credit: Bill Tucker)

ACL Fest Glowing Hat

Even the clothing accessories light up the night at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Cell Phone Show ACL Fest 2018

ACL Fest through a cell phone (Credit: Bill Tucker)

ACL Fest Sign at Night

The iconic ACL beacon is a perfect meetup spot, especially at night (Credit: Bill Tucker)

AMEX Stage at night

So long and good night to Austin City Limits Music Festival 2018 (Credit: Brandon Navarro)

 

@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

How did you spend your ACL Fest 2018 weekends?

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Bill Tucker
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Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: acl fest

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