ACL Fest 2023

by Brian Maass on October 23, 2023 in Entertainment,
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The Austin City Limits (ACL) festival has once again come to a close, leaving music lovers with unforgettable memories and a yearning for more. Over the course of two weekends, Zilker Park was transformed into a musical wonderland, showcasing a diverse lineup of artists from various genres. From rock to hip-hop, country to electronic, ACL had something for everyone, solidifying its reputation as one of the premier music festivals in the world.

 

The festival kicked off with a bang, as headliners like Kendric Lamar, the Foo Fighters, and Mumford and Sons took to the stage, captivating the massive crowds with their electrifying performances. The festival may not have started off like Kendric Lamar wanted to, but he made sure to use every minute he was allotted to entertain his fans. During their performance of “The Best of You,” the Foo Fighters invited Shania Twain on stage to sing along. 

Beyond the music, ACL also offered a wide array of food vendors, art installations, and interactive experiences, ensuring that attendees had a truly immersive festival experience. Bonus Tracks returned featuring a conversation with Dave Grohl, of the Foo Fighters, and Brene Brown on the “Music that Moves Us,” and the always popular “Bob’s Dance Shop.” This year’s festival featured an aerial drone light show and the annular solar eclipse, which had everyone looking up at the sky.    

Below is a look back on the most memorable moments from ACL Fest 2023.

You can also visit Texas Lifestyle Magazine’s YouTube channel to see the interviews we did at the festival. Also be sure to check out ACL Fest’s website for information on next year’s festival

As we bid farewell to another incredible year of Austin City Limits, the countdown to next year’s festival has already begun. With its stellar lineup, immersive experiences, and vibrant atmosphere, ACL continues to set the bar high for music festivals around the world. Until then, we’ll cherish the memories made and eagerly await the return of this musical extravaganza.

Kendrick Lamar had a rough start to ACL Fest 2023, but made sure his abbreviated set entertained his fans. Photo Pooneh Ghana.
The School of Rock continued the tradition of appearing at ACL Fest 2023. The non-profit music education school gives Austin area youth the opportunity to grow their passion for music. Photo Caley Hansey.
Dave Grohl and Brene Brown discussed the music that moved them, and how Brown’s new research shows how music has the power to “bring us together.” Photo Dusana Risovic.
Texas country music legend and new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Tanya Tucker, entertained fans young and old at the T-Mobile stage. Photo Jackie Lee Young.
Lead singer Jared Leto knows how to make an entrance. Instead of taking the stage in the usual fashion, Leto instead leaped from the top of the Honda stage. Photo Quinn Tucker.
Rising star Noah Kahan drew a massive crowd at the T-Mobile stage. As Kahan looked at the crowd that gathered to watch him perform he was overcome with emotion, and joked with the crowd saying “That’s a lot of people…Holy (expletive)!” Photo Pooneh Ghana.
Shania Twain’s “Queen of Me” tour, her first tour in five years, made a stop in Austin for ACL Fest 2023. Not only did Shania play all of her hits, she even found time to join the Foo Fighters on stage to sing “Best of You.” Photo Jackie Lee Young.
Denver Colorado’s indie folk group The Lumineers co-headlined on Friday night both weekends. Photo Quinn Tucker.
Dave Grohl and the always entertaining Foo Fighters rocked the American Express stage. Photo Charles Reagan.
Marcus Mumford is no stranger to bringing the annual ACL festival to a close. Whether he is performing as a solo artist or with his full band Mumford & Sons, he knows how to close down the festival. Photo Calet Hansey.
For the first time ever festival goers were not looking at the stages, but up at the sky and the drone light show. They were also looking up, albeit with special sunglasses, at the annular eclipse which occurred as the gates opened on October 14. Photo Ismeal Quintanilla III.

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Cover Photo Taylor Regulski.

Brian Maass is a native Austinite who has a passion for music, travel and sharing his experiences through his camera lens. He lives in Round Rock, Texas, with his wife Dana Kent Maass and their faithful dog Chester.