Live music preview: Six buzz bands to see at ACL Festival 2024 Weekend One

Each year when the lineup for Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Festival) drops, reactions to the headliners listed often dominate the online discussion that follows but logically with nearly 80 acts on the bill each weekend, there are bound to be buzz bands to see. Weekend One has quite a few artists that made our list of acts to watch perform. We narrowed that list down further to two recommendations per day. Also included are the remaining bands that we took note of when examining the exhaustive roster which includes newbie pop sensation, Chappell Roan whose set got moved from Saturday to Sunday in order to move her performance to the largest stage at the festival, Amex. The move angered some Roan fans who’d already bought single day tickets to see the much hyped red-headed singer, but it was the right call after the festival suffered heavy crowd congestion at the Miller Lite Stage several years ago when Lizzo played it and 70,000 plus fans clamored to the minor stage area to catch a glimpse of the then hottest pop star of the Summer.

Friday, October 4

Mannequin Pussy – Miller Lite Stage – 3:20 p.m.

We last covered Mannequin Pussy at a sold-out Mohawk on 420 Day. The show was slightly cut short due to thunderstorms but by Case Cockrell’s account, a good time was had by all:

“Mannequin Pussy posted on their Instagram earlier in the day that the show would indeed go forward despite the messy forecast. It looked like we were in the clear for most of the evening. Nope. About five minutes into MP’s set, the rain started to pour – hard. Marisa “Missy” Dabice has an angelic indie rock delivery that mixes well when things drift towards a raw punk rock freakout. The show’s pace started slow with the track “I Don’t Know You” opening the set, which was slightly confusing at first after the barn-burning Soul Glo performance the crowd had just witnessed. The tempo started to pick up with “Control,” which showed the entire ensemble assisting with energetic backing vocals. Mannequin Pussy takes an emotional indie rock angle to their explosive punk rock sensibilities.  Sometimes this leads to the ensuing songs to erupt into d-beat monstrosities.

At one point in the set, Dabice comedically asked the audience, “Is it raining out there yet?” It was indeed pouring, and the audience continued to jump around and sing along as the water continued to splash. It was a moment akin to Death From Above 1979’s Levitation 2023 set, which also resulted in a wave-making endeavor. Bassist Colins “Bear” Regisford is also a joy to watch, assisting in the group’s power-chording pieces with a backboning sound that allowed for that much more of a punch.

Eggy – Tito’s Tent – 4:30 p.m.

New Haven jam band, Eggy has been getting traction outside of Connecticut after years of playing in the area. Eggy formed from a high school band into a full-fledged touring act. The group formed in 2016. The lineup consists of Alex Bailey (drums, vocals), Jake Brownstein (guitar, vocals), Mike Goodman (bass, vocals) and Dani Battat (keys, vocals). Their latest release, Waiting Game was released three weeks ago on September 6. The album was produced by none other than, James Petralli, bandleader of White Denim who formed in Austin. After watching the clip above, it’s only reinforced our belief that Eggy are band to see at ACL Festival.

Other recommended acts:
Leon Bridges – 6:30 – Amex
The Marias – 7:30 – T-Mobile
Blink-182 – 8:10 – Honda

Saturday, October 5

Balthvs – Tito’s Tent – 3:05 p.m.

Balthvs are a psychedelic funk act from Columbia featuring Balthazar Aguirre (Guitar, Vocals), Johanna Mercuriana (Bass, Vocals) and Santiago Lizcano (Drums, Vocals). The group has previously played a Cosmic Clash / Play to the Plants SXSW show at The 13th Floor. They’ve also been on the LEVITATION lineup, returning to Austin to while on tour frequently. Balthvs played the Marshall Amplifiers Fun House at SXSW last year. Our writer Case Cockrell:

“On the final day of the Marshall Funhouse showcases, Columbian world-psychedelic trio, BALTHVS returned to Austin for yet another SXSW appearance, even after returning for last Fall’s Levitation kickoff show. For the group’s live performances, the band veers on sounds of indie-jam stylings similar to acts like Khurangbin and Los Bitchos, with touches of world music and Cumbia that result in cathartic shows that captivate entire rooms into a dance party. The South American band’s instrumental chops are not to be understated, and their confident stage presence carries audiences into its eccentric trance.”

Khraungbin – Amex Stage – 6:20 p.m.

It’s not surprising most of The Cosmic Clash staff are Khraungbin fans, we’re music nerds. What’s more surprising is the largely instrumental psych-world music trio is hugely popular with music fans in general. The group drew over 7,000 people to The Granary in Salt Lake City earlier this year and that crowd size is small for the Houston group we first saw at Austin City Limits’ BMI Stage years ago. They’ve grown in stature considerably since that performance, touring the world, recording with Leon Bridges and gaining new fans everywhere they go. This ACL Festival should be no exception, as they’re performing on the AMEX Stage, the festival’s largest.

Other recommended acts:
Geese -1:35 – T-Mobile
CAAMP – 4:20 – Amex
Hermanos Gutierrez – 5:20 – T-Mobile
Jungle – 7:10 -Miller Lite
Pretty Lights – 8:10 – Honda

Sunday, October 6

Glass Beams -Tito’s Tent – 3 p.m.

Australians Glass Beams hail from the robust Melbourne scene. The band was formed by Indian-Australian producer, Rajan Silva during the Pandemic in 2020. The band blends Eastern musical elements with contemporary Western jazz. The group is known for wearing bejeweled gold masks. The identity of the other two performers in the trio is left anonymous. Glass Beams latest EP,  Mahal is worth a listen and might pull back the shroud of secrecy that swirls around this act.  The group is slated to play an ACL Fest Nights after show at Emo’s on October 10.

Chappell Roan – Amex Stage – 6:45 p.m.’

Perhaps no artist booked at this year’s ACL Festival has generated as much anticipation and excitement than pop singer, Chappell Roan who has already drawn gargantuan crowds at Lollapalooza and other stops on her tour supporting debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Indeed, the 26 year-old Roan hails from Willard, Missouri. Her campy performance style is influenced by drag queens while her music is informed by 80s synth-pop and early 2000s pop songs. the album has proven to be a “sleeper hit” gaining momentum slowly but steadily into the current fever pitch around the young singer. Like many fans, we’re looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about. The buzz around Roan feels significant. Her performance at ACL Fest promises more.

Other recommended acts:
Empress Of – 1:15 – Amex
Orville Peck – 4:25 -Honda
Sturgill Simpson – 8:25 – Honda