Live music preview: 11 bands to see at ACL Festival 2023 weekend one

As the 22nd version Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) is poised to begin on October 6 at Zilker Park we’re focusing on what bands to see during weekend one. Just like every year but the first, ACL Festival takes place over three days (now two, three-day weekends) which means with seven stages plus Austin Kiddie Limits there are around 70-80 acts slated to perform. If as a music fan, you cannot find at least four to five performances a day that please your aural senses then you’re just not paying attention. ACL Festival 2023 is no different. We’ll admit, some of the headliners are underwhelming but look down the bill and find incredible acts. The Mars Volta, Little Simz, Jimmie Vaughan, Bass Drum of Death plus headliner, the Grammy-winning Kendrick Lamar? And that’s just day one.

The truth is if you explore the festival enough, you’re bound to find music that moves you. The odds are likely with that many artists performing, you’ll find music that resonates with you and may even discover an act you’d never heard of before. Below we’ll detail, by day, our weekend one recommendations. Right now it would be appropriate to remind you to review the festival’s security policy as bags larger than a fanny pack must be clear plastic to enter for example. It would also be beneficial to review the sponsor page on the ACL Festival website that details what activations will be at the park that are primarily free to all with a few exceptions. For example, if the weather turns out warm, you might want to know that the Hulu experience provides space in air-conditioning with TVs broadcasting sets appearing on the platform’s exclusive live stream.

Last thing before we delve into who to see at the festival. If you’re attending and you are from Austin, be a good ambassador to others; be helpful, courteous and basically act towards fest goers how you’d like to be treated. There are always a fair percentage of people at ACL who are from out of town. Some don’t speak English well. Some may be disoriented from the scale of the event. Please be mindful of that while you’re enjoying the festivities and try to make everyone feel welcome and seen if possible. A little kindness goes a long way.

Friday, October 6
Kendrick Lamar – Amex Stage – 8p

This might seem like a no-brainer to some but hip-hop traditionally translates poorly to large format festival stages which means choosing to see any performance by a solo MC, a bit of a crapshoot. Thankfully Lamar has not only garnered accolades for his recorded music, he’s also been identified as an incendiary live performer, famously recording what Austin City Limits TV deems one of their most entertaining episodes. His supercharged performance of “Alright” during the 2016 taping was energized by enthusiastic crowd participation that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. Add that performance potential to the fact that Lamar holds not only Grammy wins but a Pulitzer Prize too and yeah, it’s a no-brainer to catch his set opening night. The gifted performer is an ideal candidate to take the ACL Festival crowd out in style on the first evening.

The Mars Volta – Miller Lite – 7:10p

For experimental rock fans in Texas perhaps there is not a more vaunted act within the state to carry that mantle than El Paso’s The Mars Volta. The group has spawned numerous other projects, most notably early incarnation, At the Drive-In but it’s their ground breaking prog-rock work with the first two Mars Volta records that catapulted the band to legendary status within Texas music circles. Led by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala with latest edition on bass, Josh Moreau who recently toured with Pulcifer, a Tool side project. That said, their latest full-length which dropped Fall of 2022 is a huge departure from those heady, experimental days. Pitchfork called it, “a kind of airy, Caribbean yacht rock” which means this set is unpredictable much like this band. If you decide to see this performance which closes down the Miller Lite stage on Friday, keep an open mind and just soak it in.

Bass Drum of Death – BMI – 5:10p

We first heard Bass Drum of Death back when LEVITATION Festival was at a single location (Carson Creek Ranch) before moving to a venue-based format several years ago. The trio had been booked early in the day on the main stage which signaled to concertgoers that perhaps we should pay attention to this heavy rock act. We’re sure glad we did because we were treated to an impressive performance by a band that sounds bigger than the Mississippi trio they are. They’re currently touring in support of their latest record, Say I Won’t (Fat Possum Records) which has been out since January of 2022. This might be one of the last stateside performances for this group this Fall as the band heads for Europe October 11. They’re also slated for an ACL Fest Nights after show at Stubb’s on October 7.

Little Simz – T-Mobile Stage – 5:10p

You may have noticed our first scheduling quandary. Do we see the aforementioned Bass Drum of Death at this time slot or opt for UK rapper Little Simz? Consider this suggestion as a way to give you options on what acts to see at ACL Festival. Little Simz  duly impressed our writer, Brian Hillsman to the point he felt he had to write about this performer for The Cosmic Clash.

Excerpt: Simbi, as she is often called, released her first mixtape, Stratosphere, in 2010.  Simz followed this with three other mixtapes and five EPs before unveiling her first full-length studio album.  Just over a decade after the release of Stratosphere, the gifted lyricist has cemented herself as one of the world’s dominant forces in hip-hop.

Heady words for an up and coming (in the U.S,) hip-hop artist but Hillsman is rarely wrong about musical trends particularly when they originate in UK like Little Simz does.

Other notable acts performing Friday:
Lil Yachty
Portugal the Man
Abraham Alexander
Jimmie Vaughan

Saturday, October 7

Foo Fighters – AMEX Stage – 8p

Saturday’s main stage lineup is perhaps its strongest with Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters in the top slot. Without longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins who tragically passed away last year, this new lineup with veteran drummer Josh Freese (Offspring) brings the latest incarnation of the beloved rock band to Zilker Park. While Grohl is modest about his musical talent, he more than makes up for it with the kind of joy of performing that makes audiences appreciate his point of view which is to be grateful for the opportunity to play music for a living. That positivity comes through in every Foos performance and has made Grohl a particularly well-liked international rock star. Who can pass up a show like that? Not us.

Alanis Morrisette – AMEX Stage – 6p

Prior to the Foos, 90s star Alanis Morrisette takes the ACL Fest stage for the first time to much anticipation from the Gen Xers who might be in the crowd for this booking. The sheer impact of Morrisette’s ground-breaking record, Jagged Little Pill coupled with her dominance on MTV should be enough to garner a sizable crowd at ACL Fest this year. Like Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Morrisette has an outsized influence on female artists who have come after her 90s popularity.

Die Spitz – Tito’s Tent – 11:45a

For those who arrive when gates open, this is going to be a surprising treat at the Tito’s Tent. Austin hard rockers, Die Spitz have had a metoric rise, touring with Amyl and the Sniffers and OFF! in their second year. This all-girl outfit sounds like Nirvana if they’d all been women and frankly, far more entertaining on stage. The wild rock show pyrotechnics and energy this band delivers every set makes them a must see for wide swath of music fans. Check their latest album, Teeth.

Other notable acts performing Saturday: 

Shania Twain
Tanya Tucker
Calder Allen

Sunday, October 8

Death Grips – IHG Stage – 7:15p

Sacramento-formed experimental hip-hop act Death Grips leaves nothing on the table with each performance, rising each year in stature in the underground scene with their ear-splitting, genre-bending performances. It’s no surprise their ACL Fest Nights after show at Emo’s is already sold-out which makes this even more of a no-brainer for music fans wanting something different that stands out from the long list of performers at ACL Festival. This set is worth putting a reminder on your phone for. Trust us.

The Breeders – IHG Stage – 6:15p

Anyone who came of age in the 90s knows The Breeders. While that makes the band sound like has beens, that’s the furthest thing from the truth for rock n roll twin siblings Kim and Kelly Deal, founding members of the band. If you don’t remember the group’s “Cannonball” video from MTV we’ll forgive you for being young and beautiful and know it’s the truth when we say the track was a ubiquitous part of MTV culture. Forerunners of the the original Grrrrl Rock movement, the Deal sisters previously performed with The Pixies.  Throwing Muses front woman Tanya Donnelly was also a founding member of the group. Now you know reasons why you should go see them at ACL Festival in 2023. Rock legends.

Yves Tumor – Tito’s Stage – 4:30p

Experimental neo-psych act Yves Tumor puts on quite a show as evidenced at their Austin Psych Fest performance last April at Far Out Lounge. The throwback hard rockers combine hair metal band aesthetics with a heavy, loud Neo-psych-rock bent to the the music. They are currently touring the band’s fifth studio effort, the wordy, Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)… whew. In any case, this act is certainly worth checking out and we have a sneaky suspicion this set might be one of the better late afternoon options on the final day of the festival.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Honda Stage – 6:15p

Korean-American artist Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs might be one of the most influential rockers of the early 2000s, affecting the likes of Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner and countless other female artists of color. The indie rockers from New York City are touring their fifth album, Cool It Down which dropped in September of last year, meaning the band has been pushing the album for months and should be tour sharp for their third appearance at ACL Festival if we’re not mistaken. They’re known for consistently delivering the goods on stage as much for their exceptional catalog of music.

Other notable acts performing Sunday:
Hozier
The Walkmen
Jane Leo