In the middle of May, students all around Austin wait for the release of the Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival lineup for the event taking place the following October. This year, the ACL lineup was released on May 5, with artists such as Charli XCX, Lorde and Twenty One Pilots headlining, as well as smaller artists like The Chainsmokers, Bleachers and Suki Waterhouse.
Kicking off, we have Charli XCX, a 32-year-old artist with 32.4 million monthly listeners, performing the Friday of both weekends. She’s had recent success with 2024 being labeled “Brat summer,” causing many people to buy a variety of merchandise displaying her iconic green from the “Brat” album. Currently, her most popular song on Spotify “party 4 u,” describes the feeling of unrequited young love and not knowing how to process emotions for someone. Even though this song in particular is sadder, Charli XCX matches the vibe the ACL artists usually follow: large listener account, recent success and pop style music. Her music is very lively, setting an energetic tone for the festival.
Next in line we have Lorde, a perfect match with Charli XCX, performing the Saturday of both weekends. With her 27.2 million monthly listeners, her soulful techno-pop music appeals greatly to teens. Her most popular song on Spotify, “Ribs,” describes the teen experience of growing up and missing the past, a perfect pick for a music festival catered to teens and young adults. Outside of her older music, she also recently released her album “Virgin.”. Along with her music being a good mix of energy and meaning, Lorde was recently featured in one of the songs in the “Brat” album, “Girl, so confusing.” This sets up for two of ACL’s headliners to make a great duo, with fans hoping for at least one joint performance.
Twenty One Pilots will perform the Sunday of both weekends. They are a musical duo with 38.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, surpassing both Lorde and Charli XCX. Even though both of their most popular songs on Spotify are from 2015, Twenty One Pilots still actively produces music, with their most recent success being their single “Drag Path.” While they continue in the pop vibe, Twenty One Pilots has a little bit more of a mournful tone to many of their songs, often reminiscing over being a kid and the stress free life they used to live. They continue the theme of nostalgia, perfectly matching the vibe of Charli XCX and Lorde.
Outside of these three headliners, other artists such as The Chainsmokers (52.1 million monthly followers), Bleachers (9.2 million monthly listeners) and Suki Waterhouse (11.2 million monthly listeners) carry in more fans. Many of these artists have recent or upcoming releases, supporting their upcoming performances. Even though the other artists don’t all fit perfectly into the pop genere, each artist’s different style of music helps to overall round out the festival experience.
Tickets to ACL start at $170 for a general admission one-day ticket for the second weekend. The large price tag is definitely worth it, especially if you like any of the smaller artists outside of the headliners. This year’s ACL sounds like it will be a perfect combination of nostalgia, energy and pop, giving a perfect experience for those, especially young adults and teens, looking for a beautiful, lively and memorable experience.
