Now that the dust has settled (literally), let’s take a moment to reflect on Austin City Limits 2016.
This year, ACL festival managers went for a younger crowd and the music skewed heavy on EDM. I wandered around and saw a number of bands: Catfish and the Bottlemen, Melanie Martinez, and Cage the Elephant all played fabulous sets, full of energy and showmanship.
Why You Need an ACL VIP Pass
There wasn’t a must-see band for me; honestly, I went because I had a Top Trip Rentals VIP pass.
I LOVE the VIP area of ACL. If you have the money, it is so worth it (a VIP pass is about $450 per day versus $100 per day). Just beyond the VIP gatekeepers lies the promised land–air conditioned flush toilets; free drinks from Tito’s Vodka and Troublemaker Wines; free food from local vendors, like Ranch 616, and catered meals from Central Market. It’s called the “Grove,” and the area’s shady and relatively quiet. There are even big-screen TVs showing the stages and others set up for football.
It’s an oasis for sure in a sea of people and heat.
ACL Venue is the Big Star
There are moments of pure transcendence at ACL.
Ironically, I ended up spending as much time watching the crowds and clouds as I did the bands.
Don’t get me wrong–the music is great. But Austin has a lot of great music happening at all hours in all places all across town most of the time.
What makes ACL such a great experience music is the setting. Austin’s Zilker Park, nestled on the edge of Lady Bird Lake, provides a great view across the water of Austin’s ever changing skyline.
It’s really a gorgeous site to experience live music.
