Austin City Limits 2024: Weekend One, Day Two Recap
Written by Audrey Marston, Martina Mondini on October 6, 2024
On Saturday, October 5th Zilker Park was electric as the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival kicked off its first day. With the sun shining and the Austin skyline in the back, there were many unforgettable performances across all genres. From indie-rock to jazz to electronic, we saw it all on Saturday. Join us as we recap the highlights and standout moments from the second day of Austin City Limits 2024!
Geese
Geese, hailing all the way from New York, put in a spectacular show at the T Mobile stage early on Saturday afternoon. The set featured many electric guitar riffs, rock n roll and blues flair, and drew a sizable crowd. Bringing an old school rock drive to their performance, the energy was beyond contagious to all those around. Cameron Winter’s vocals in particular, varying from screams during high energy songs to more bluesy during mellower tracks, was the backbone of the energy of the set. This was definitely an act worth checking out!
Zach Person
Atlanta based artist Zach Person kicked off his set at the Tito’s stage with a bang. Diving right into loud drums and guitar riffs, the crowd was hype from the get go. This was his second time returning to the festival and he brought the energy. He kicked the set off with songs like Nothing to Lose from his latest album Let’s Get Lost. Drummer Jake Wyble gave it his all on the drums really adding the rock element to the songs. Zack’s wailing guitar was a stand out of the set, giving the songs that psychedelic vibe. Fans could be seen enjoying the set, head banging to the beat of the drums. The energy could be felt from the front all the way to the back. He performed Feel It asking the crowd “if I jump will you jump?, and of course the fans jumped with all the energy they had.
Lola Young
British indie artist Lola Young powered through the Texas heat to deliver an unforgettable show at the American Express stage. Despite having to stop mid-set to cool off, Young’s energy and stage presence never wavered. From her Amy Winehouse-esque vocals, to production ranging from electronic to pop funk, Young and her band kept the energy up and groovy. Closing with the songs “Messy” and “Conceited” from her 2024 album This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, Young showed us exactly what she’s about: bold in your face lyrics and an unapologetic presence. By the end of the set, which unfortunately had to end a little early, it was very clear that Young and her band had the audience hooked.
Teddy Swims
Teddy Swims, the soulful artist hailing from Georgia, brought his unique energy to the Honda Stage, delivering a memorable performance filled with passion and authenticity. Among the standout songs were “911” and “Funeral,” both of which resonated deeply with the crowd. He also introduced a new track, “Bad Dreams,” giving fans a glimpse of his evolving sound, and, of course, performed the fan-favorite classic, “Lose Control,” which had everyone singing along. Throughout the show, Teddy took a moment to emphasize the importance of crowd safety, encouraging everyone to look out for one another and keep each other safe.
Benson Boone
Benson Boone put on an incredible show! Starting out with a backflip off of a grand piano, his unmistakable energy continued throughout the entire set. Playing into the “Austin” theme, he incorporated a longhorn belt buckle and a cowboy hat into his outfit, clearly proud to be at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. His second song of the set “” was his favorite of the nightContinuing his set with more flips, flair, and acrobatics, his undeniable chemistry with the crowd made it a show to see. Boone truly knows how to command a crowd, both through fun anthemic high energy moments, and more mellow pensive ballads. Slowing it down with the song “Slow it Down”, Boone also showed us that he knows his way around a piano and is an instrumentalist himself. Near the middle of his set, Boone dedicated his song “My Greatest Fear” to the audience, saying that his greatest fear in life is losing them. Closing his set with the mega hit “Beautiful Things”, Boone, who is currently on tour, delivered an amazingly entertaining show.
Khruangbin
Khruangbin, the Houston-based trio, created a chill yet infectious vibe on the Amex Stage, effortlessly blending their smooth, funky sounds with a relaxed atmosphere that still had the crowd grooving. As the sun finally set, cooling down Zilker Park, their set provided the perfect soundtrack for the evening, allowing the audience to unwind while swaying along to the band’s signature grooves. Just when the crowd thought the night couldn’t get better, Khruangbin surprised everyone by bringing out Leon Bridges for an unforgettable finale, adding a soulful touch that left fans buzzing long after the last note.
Reneé Rapp
Hailing from Broadway, the pop R&B artist Reneé Rapp showcased a diverse range of sound throughout her showstopping set for night 2 of Austin City Limits. Rapp opened her much-anticipated set with the hit “Talk Too Much”. From the second she graced the stage, the energy coming from her, her band, and from the audience was palpable. From there, Rapp- clad in a white button-down with the words “BLEACH BLONDE BAD BUILT BUTCH BODY” in a nod to a viral dispute between Congresswomen across the front- dedicated her second song, “Poison”, to Marjorie Taylor Greene, unafraid to get political throughout her set. After this, she slowed down the set with “Bruises”, “Pretty Girls”, and “The Wedding Song”, all of which she introduced by asking the crowd how they were doing and then following that up with “good, because you’re about to get really f*cking depressed right now”. Rapp delivered with her unfiltered stage presence, dancing, and of course with her live vocals, proving that she can handle both unabashedly fun moments and more emotional moments with the same grace. She incorporated her signature raunchy humor throughout the night, playing well with the audience and keeping them engaged the whole time. After shouting out her band, Rapp ended her set with the emotional “Snow Angel”, making this set a highlight of the weekend for sure.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa wrapped up ACL’s second day with an incredible performance, launching into “Training Season” and instantly energizing the crowd. Her dynamic choreography, along with her dancers’ seamless moves, carried on throughout the entire set. She showcased tracks from her latest album, *Radical Optimism*, while also taking fans on a nostalgic trip with hits from her earlier releases. Reflecting on her journey, Dua shared that her last Austin appearance was at SXSW, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the audience for helping her realize her dreams on such a massive stage. Each song was accompanied by stunning visuals, with medleys and mashups adding a fresh twist, and even a moment where her dancers broke into an impressive vogue routine. She closed the main set with “Happy for You,” but quickly returned for an encore, lighting up the stage with “Physical” and “Houdini” as fireworks illuminated the sky. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable Day 2 at ACL.
Conclusion
As Day Two of the Austin City Limits Music Festival wrapped up, the vibe was absolutely electric! We had a blast catching some big-name acts that we’ve been dying to see, and they did not disappoint. But honestly, the real treat was discovering so many awesome up-and-coming artists, each bringing their own unique sound to the stage. It was such a fun mix of established favorites and fresh talent, and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!