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
Nora Luders’ silky, moody vocals lounge atop a sleepy bed of synth lines, subtle percussion, and mind-expanding soundscapes (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Sam Simmons of NAM (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Asleep at the Wheel
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Asleep at the Wheel performing at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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
Visual and audio spectacle the world hasn’t seen since Sun Ra (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Joyous melange of afro-funk, Chuck Mangione jazz, and P-Funk groove (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Transported to a realm where time means nothing and music reigns supreme (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Golden Dawn Arkestra’s 19-piece group (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Molly Burch
Little bit country, little bit blues, and a whole lot of incredible (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Molly Burch performing on the Barton Springs stage (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Jackie Venson
Jackie Venson, one of Austin’s premier guitar goddesses (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Jackie Venson has grown in national prominence thanks to her tight songwriting and award-winning technique (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Sweet Spirit
Sabrina Ellis of Sweet Spirit performing live at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Andrew Cashen of Sweet Spirit (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Sweet Spirit blends power rock chords, brassy horns, and Ellis’s incredible pipes (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Sabrina Ellis of Sweet Spirit (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Sailor Poon
Down and dirty post-punk of Sailor Poon (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Sailor Poon is earworm hooks wrapped in barbed wire (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Shakey Graves
The modern face of Austin music is Shakey Graves (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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 are an ACL tradition (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Mighty Cone representing at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Nothing like a delicious Celis White at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Micklethwait barbecue making mouths water (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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.
Half of the fun of ACL Fest–the signs (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
ACL Fest’s iconic picture frame makes for fantastic shots (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Young love in the air (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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.
View of the American Express Stage (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
The Honda Stage looks beautiful during sunset at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Brandon Navarro)
Storm clouds threatened Zilker during Weekend One of ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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.
The Honda stage at night looked absolutely stunning (Credit: Bill Tucker)
ACL Eats from around the world–see what I did there? (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Even the clothing accessories light up the night at ACL Fest 2018 (Credit: Bill Tucker)
ACL Fest through a cell phone (Credit: Bill Tucker)
The iconic ACL beacon is a perfect meetup spot, especially at night (Credit: Bill Tucker)
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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