More rain and Stevie Wonder, too

Rain showers fired up crowds for the second day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, even as much of the excitement Saturday was for headliner Stevie Wonder, who had fans claiming spots by the main stage throughout the afternoon.

Out-of-towners might not have understood the joyful reaction — which included singing and dancing — that rain got throughout Zilker Park. "I say, 'God bless the rain,' and we need it," said Austin photographer Greg Davis, who for the fifth year was selling his photos in the fest's art market. "It's bad for business but great for the community."

Some people used shelters put up for extra protection from the sun to escape the intermittent showers, while others didn't let a little water keep them from staking out spots early around the stage where Motown legend Wonder was to perform. The periphery filled so quickly that by the time R&B singer Cee Lo Green took the stage at 6 p.m., several hundred fans had planted chairs in nondesignated areas, causing security to ask them to move so the expected throng of people would have space to approach the stage.

"Our whole plan today has been to scope out a spot so that we don't have to fight the crowds," said Joelle Barnes of Austin, who along with her husband, James, were among the people asked to move their chairs. Although Barnes and her husband had enjoyed Alison Krauss and Union Station, Cee Lo and other performers they had seen on Saturday, the day was all about Wonder. "He's a legend — you can't argue with that," James Barnes said. "This is such a rare opportunity."

Another fan, Justin Telepak, said Wonder was the act he had been waiting to see as well. "He's Stevie Wonder, 'Songs in the Key of Life'!" he said. "He's truly a musical genius, anything he does."

Wonder took the stage about twenty minutes late, opening with "How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved by You)" and continuing on to hits including "Higher Ground," "Living for the City" and a cover of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel."

Lindsay Hoffman, spokeswoman for festival producers C3 Presents, said that the fest saw no significant problems Saturday. "After months of expecting brutal temperatures, the cooler weather and sporadic rain has been a pleasant surprise for all," she said.

Unlike two years ago, the rain — a recorded 0.16 of an inch at Camp Mabry — didn't cause any mud, and it kept the temperature around 80 degrees through much of the day.

The sold-out festival concludes Sunday with headliners Manu Chao and Arcade Fire.

pmongillo@statesman.com

Additional material from staff writer Sharon Chapman.