2025 ACL Music Fest Weekend 2 - Friday 10/10/2025 Recap

Austin, Texas – Our first time ever covering an Austin City Limits Music Fest as a media outlet started this Friday October 10th, 2025 and right away it felt special. The Austin weather gave us one of those sunny fall days that make Zilker Park come alive but I had to pace myself for the three days of music. It was a marathon, and with so many artists I hadn’t seen live before, the day was about discovery and catching the vibes in this new adventure.

I kicked things off at the BMI Stage with Judy Blank, a folk artist originally from the Netherlands who’s now calling Austin home. She brought heartfelt energy to her set and even performed “Amor Divino” in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which really hit home. Afterward, I got to sit down with Judy for an interview about her vision as an artist—that conversation will be up in our YouTube channel soon.

From there it was off to the T-Mobile Stage to catch Good Neighbours, an English rock duo that only formed in 2024 but already had the crowd singing along to their track “Home”. Then we switched things up with Texas native, Tanner Usrey at the American Express Stage, bringing some country to the day. His song “Take Me Home” paired nicely with an Aperol Spritz in hand to balance between music and festival vibes.

Jensen McRae took over at the Miller Lite Stage just before my Judy Blank interview, her LA singer-songwriter sound carving out an intimate pocket in the middle of the organized festival chaos. Later, as the sun started to dip, The Favors hit the stage with high energy rotations, introduced by FINNEAS and Ashe. This was actually the second time we’ve seen Ashe live this year, and this collaboration brought a different type of connection to the stage — one that felt both fresh and celebratory.

As night settled in, I found myself moving between Role Model at the T-Mobile Stage and Sam Barber at the Lady Bird Stage. Both carried the momentum, leaning into sets that were rich with folk and country vibes. Around this time, the energy of the crowd shifted too as people were relaxed, open, and happy to pause for a quick portrait. It felt like everyone wanted to be part of the ACL story, and capturing those moments was a real gift. To round it out, I also grabbed a shot of the iconic ACL scenery, the festival lights blending with the downtown Austin skyline.

Cage The Elephant lit up the American Express Stage with a high-energy setlist. Frontman Matt Shultz made full use of the extended platform at the center of the stage, giving himself more room to perform and connect with the crowd. Earlier on Friday, we noticed the band’s YouTube channel had dropped a Short from their set on Weekend One, filmed with a 360° camera mounted to a mic stand, and sure enough, that creativity carried into Weekend Two. It set the tone for a performance that was as visually dynamic as it was sonically charged.

Empire of the Sun lit up the Miller Lite Stage in what many described as a “life-changing” set for self-healing. From “We Are The People” to “Walking On A Dream” and “Alive”, frontman Luke Steele completely immersed the crowd into another dimension, cycling through dazzling outfits, vibrant effects, and a flood of color that made the performance feel cinematic. This corner of Zilker Park was absolutely packed, with fans pressed in tight, many eager to see the band after hearing how high the bar had been set during Weekend One.

Hozier closing out the T-Mobile Stage. Hozier showed up in earthy tones—brown suede jacket, white button-up, khaki pants, and as always, his voice carried timeless weight. Beyond the music, he spoke about the civil rights movements of the 1960s in the U.S. and how they inspired activism in Ireland, weaving human rights and peace into his set. It was a reminder of how music and justice often walk hand in hand.

We wrapped the night at the American Express Stage with Luke Combs. Otra X Favor hasn’t done much country coverage, but this felt like the right time to step in. Luke shared a story about his first-ever flight from South Carolina to Texas and introduced his family, who travelled him for Weekend Two. It was a personal moment that gave his set even more heart, and it felt like the right note to leave Zilker on.

Friday was about exploration—new artists, new genres, and new faces. The best part? The diversity of people all coming together in one space to celebrate music. For me, it was a reminder of how lucky we are to have ACL in our backyard, bringing the world to Austin.